The sun., 1919-03-09
Radio Operator on Roof Gives
Commands to Inquiring
Aviator.
TOO HIGH TO BE LOCATED
Franklin D. Roosevelt Urges
! American Control Of Air as
Peace Measure.

immense crowd in the Aeronautical Ex-
position at Madison Square Garden yes
terday afternoon. Franklin d, Roose-
|, yslt. Assistant Secretary of the Navy,
insisted upon America gaining suprem-
acy OF the air not only for defence In
event OF possible future conflict but for
commercial and travelling purposes as
we'll
While he told Of America having orig
mated the science OF flying, only to have
other countries take its development and
control out Of her grasp, De Haviland
afrplane. manned by two American
pilots. sailed over the roof of the Gar
den. its maneuvres directed by wireless
telephony, an aerial device also produced
by American genius. In the rear OF the
Garden auditorium the voices OF the
pilot aloft and of the man directing his
operations from the roof could be heard
through the amplif1er which megaphoned
the communications.
Z THE people of the country have a
right to say to the Government that the
United States shall remain In the van
Of aircraft production and enterprise"
said Mr.. Roosevelt. but only the interest
Of the people and its cooperation will
make such possible. This exposition
shows the future possibilities of aerial
navigation, but r. united public, thor
oughly interested, must back up the
manufacturers II America Is TO keep
pace with Italy. France and Great Brit
AIN. who are now preparing craft for
future use in all conceivable fields.
Control of Air Necessary.
Control OF the air is necessary in the
United States for commercial purposes,
for travel and for defense in future pos
sible wars I hope the public will take
SUFFICIENT interest to see to 1t that the
Government adopts a definite policy to-
ward the control OF the air. and the
control OF building and the cooperation
the friendly cooperation-of tho people
who are building and OF the people who
are using private planes.
Once upon a time, not so very long
ago. the United States discovered how
to fy, but during the intervening years
other nations OF the world took up our
two years ago-thev knew lot more
about II than we did, and had done
lot more. But to-day We have got back
on even terms. and the question now is.
are We going to fall behind again in the
racer ! have been over on the other
side Just lately and have seen prepare
tions in England. France and italy for
must say 1t Is time We need in ad-
dition to the efforts Of all these manu-
faeturers represented at this exhibit
the hearty cooperation and interest of
the American public in the promotion
OF air endeavors'
Up on the roof OF the Garden an
army wireless expert had rugged UP his
sending and receiving set in expects-
ton of visit overhead from an air
ali Pro- all AZ
Frequent attempts at wireless comnun nj
cation had been made previously. but
due to atmospheric and other faults
had been unsuccessful The eyes of the
great crowd on the roof were scanning
the heavens for sight OF the aerial visit
tor. The operator plugged In his con-
nections, got in communication with the
Sixty-ninth Regiment Armory wireless
station, and was flashing his voice
hither and yon among the clouds to
nnd the scheduled plane.
A Voice From the Heavens.
Shortly after o'clock. after the opera :
tor had given up hope OF the arrival OF
the airplane. and while those of the
crowd who were equipped with receivers
were about 10 put them down, there
came a strange voice from the invisible.
saying
hello, Madison Square roof! Hello,
Madison Square roof"
The operator turned in on the voice,
gave his station, and called into the
transmitter:
who are your'
This is plane No. 37s35, Lieut.. Camp
hall. pilot and Sergeant r J. Sauve-
sneau. observer and operator. We are
trying to locate you, Madison Square
roof. VIII you put out a panel so we
can find your"
A white sheet was spread upon the
roof. and the operator switched In with
"We are unable to SEQ you. II you
are above the clouds. spiral down below
them. How high are your"
AS though from iufinity came the
voice:
I'VE are at an altitude of 5000 feet.
and can see entire New York. but can't
md Madison Square roof. We will glide
down TO 1000, and perhaps you can
see us"
All eyes were focused aloft for the in
visible plane. Presently il came into
view from the patches of wispy cloud 10
the northeast OF the Garden.
Handwriting by Telephone.
"Thsre you are" said the operator on
the roof. Now follow my directions and
n. oyer the roof:
Tight bank Right bank Risht
hank 70
The machine cooked over on its right
ear and turned.
Now fly dead ahead =" was the COM
maud sent through space. The machine
new forward until II was directly over
the roof.
Now do vertical bank ="
The left wing was lowered until II was
ut right angles with the earth and the
machine spun around directly above the
Garden in the fashion of humming bird.
At this moment a captive propaganda
balloon broke from its moorinKs over the
Sixty ninth Regiment Armory and shot
into tho clouds. spilling leaflets, its an
choTage dangling, Up TO approximately
1000 feet II sailed. where II exploded In
n burst OF brown smoke, falling upon a
roof In the neighborhood of Fifth ave-
nue.. Came the wireless comment from
aloft:
Did you see that? 1t burst about a
thousand feet under us-oughto make
good stuff for the reporters. BY tho
way, are any down there"
Yes" broke in n newspaper man
standing near the wireless set. "and will
you spell your observers name for the
rsporters?"
VESTS Sergeant S-s-u-v-e-g-e-a-u.
He had a date to come TO New York this
afternoon. and although he's coma he
can't III his date very well. unless he
comes down and lands on the crsnkshaft.
Anything else?"
"No. thanks said the reporter as he
hung up on the first interview by wire-
less telephony yet recorded.