The Dayton forum. [volume] (Dayton, Ohio) 1913-1949, 1919-04-25

We continued 10 ascend to more than
1000 feet. moving all the time with
Increased speed toward the city OF
Rome. ten miles away
Panorama Of Rcrns
AT speed Of 40 to 10 miles an hour
We sped over farinhuslses and ruins
of the Appian way toward the city.
within five minutes the miles Of arched
stone aqmeduets that stretch from
Rome TO the mountains ilad been
passed and we were In the outskirts
or the town with the River Tiber Just
ahead threading rhe solidly packed
rows OF houses like dull blue ribbon.
They tell you In Rore that the most
satisfactory view of the wrecked Coli
scum, where the Caesars used to mur-
der Christians by the hundred and
where tbs gladitoriaI combats Of the
old days were held, may be had by
moonlight.
However, much better idea Of the
Coliseum and ita size can be obtained
by viewing III from the air. From
| 900 to $500 feet above earth you can
get better estimate OF It's Size. and Us
you font by you have to scrutinize
closely to notice the damage time has
brought 10 walls and arena.
Near the Coliseum the other ruins
sre less distlnguishable. They are too
small to stand out In the panorama.
The palace of Augustus Is a mere pile
Of bricks. The world-famous paiatine
hill near by In to all appearances an
irregular strip Of brick-strewn mead
owiaud and loses all of the grandeur
that the fancifu tourist. on foot among
the ruins, liz able to reconstruct from
his imagination.
On the other hand, the Qulrinal pai-
ace, the Rome residence OF the king Of
Italy In peace times. Ii notably unin-
spring when viewed from rhe street.
But seen from the air, the magnificence
OF the Quirinai Ia impressive.
Wonderful Scene unrolls.
TO all appearances we 'rere barely.
moving Whole sections OF landscape
presented themselves smoothly and
seemingly slowly. We had ample time
To Inspect with considerable care The
larger points of interest from our van
tage point In the steady basket, and 1t
Was only after landing that we learned
our speed had averaged 40 miles an
hour. The distance above the ground
Was responsible for the aeluslon OF
slew speed.
THESE dlrlgibles seeGi utterly una
fraid OF swooping along d very few
feet above the church towers when II
Il desirable 10 NY low. When Presl-
dent Wilson arrived In Rome several
airships few along the line of march,
keeping 30 close 10 the ground tint
tile faccs OF the crew were Visible
from the crowd
The glories of ST. Peters, viewed
from the air, are no small purf OF the
joy OF flying over Rome. Ii Ii only from
IL high elevation that one In able ta al.
I,reciate the perfect symmetry at de-
ttsign that represents the hest genius OF
architectural thought III Rnme through
four centuries under The patronage OF
over score OF papes.
Naturally enough tie finer emheliish-
ments Of st. Peters are more or less
Invisible from the MIR The famous
Egyptian nbelisk, brought 10 Rome by
one of the old ernpefois, who utilized
500 men aud lao horses 10 perform
part OF the work and spent sInull for
tune In geld an the enterprise. lis dot
In the landscape. The statues are
Etinere blurs. the fountains are simply
brighter spots In the landscape. You
have III brief, below you sort OF
miniature model OF ST. Peters III color
resembling III architects clay model
OF building.
Trip Quickly Made.
One of the disappointing features OF
a first flight over Rome IL the quick
ness with which the trip II accom-
plisned. You have. no aa0ner gotten
into the spirit OF viewing things from
| Rloft until your machine scoots out
side the city over the green fields again
and you have groups OF country peo.
pie below gazing skyward for the eyer
interesting sight Of an airship.
| Once headed toward the alrdrome.
you will probably worry bit about
how efficiently the crew la going to
manage the descent and landing. You
commence TO realize what an unwleldy
thing an alrship is how sensitive 1t is
TO the air currents, how much Ii weighs,
and, above all other things. how far
away the ground appears. You con.
slider, after q bit OF thought, that after
| all II was an idiotic idea to ny while
the airship business Ii In state OF
! comparative infancy.
About that time the alrdrone, with
Its Immense roof and sides of CORFU
| gated Iron. is In sight. The pilots cir
Gle the airdrone and do sort of
| figure SIX In the air. On the ground
| nearly q battalion OF men are rushing
| along 10 the spot the pilot has picked
| for the landing. Sure enough. lust IA
you feared they are dropping the huge
machine just like an elevator, The
| ground snddealy looks very CLOSE
| About that time you get your frs
| slight jari 1t la the crew dumping aav
| eral barrels Of watSr ballast to lighter
The machine and stop the car. Th,