The sun., 1919-01-11

Recalling that in November, 1917, a
zeppelin went from Bulgaria to East
Africa with twenty-five tons of medicine
and ammunition, only to find the Ger
man forces already dispersed, and re-
turned safely to Its base without land
Ing, Gen. Squier said:
with a non-infiammaple gas, not only
comfortable and expeditions but also
safe Unconstitutional and transatlant
travel In dirigibles will, 1t is believed,
soon be commonplace"
He said that under the effective direc-
ton OF Major w. r. Blair, commissioned
from the Weather Bureau, about twenty
upper air stations were established In
England and France. and a forecast
based on data furnished by these sta
lions was made regularly to the A. II. r.
He continued:
THE use which such forecasts may
serve. both in connection with the avia-
ton mail service and ultimately with the
transatlantic service, may be seen from
the fact that above the level OF 10 900
feet. 95 per cent OF the winds both In
the United States and Europe are from
west to east and often attain velocities
OF about 100 miles an hour. On Novem-
Der 8. 1918, at Chattanooga. a velocity
of 1874 miles an hour at an altitude of
$4,000 feet was observed.
1T Is because of the westerly direc-
tion OF these upper air currents that all
of the long flights thus far have been
made from west to east The impor-
| lance OF forecast Of such currents for
the purposes Of long flights will be ap-
preciated as soon as the facts are under
stood. An airplane capable Of a velocity
OF 154 miles an hour In still air either
would remain stationary. or travel at
3Os miles an hour. depending on whether
hon n1 tVatN vrlth
the velocity Of that observed at Chat
tanooga.
Exploring Air Currents.
| THE problem Of exploring the upper
| air currents OF the Atlantic was at first
thought tnsoluble on account OF the alb
senCe OF fixed bases. but the meteorolosi-
cal service has developed propaganda
balloons which already have flown at an
average altitude otz1s,00o feet from
Omaha to New Jersey, a distance OF
more than 1000 miles.
The success Of the project has made
possible the mapping OF the upper air
| highways across the Atlantic and ar
rangements are being made to send up
from both coastal stations and transat-
lontic steamers these long range bal
looms designed for from 1000 to 1000
mile flights and adjusted to maintain
the constant altitude. and to drop in
western Europe their records Of average
winds in these heretofore unchartable
regions. The Importance OF this work
for the future OF aviation needs no en-
phasis"
OF the applicants for aviation SERVED
70.7 per cent. were qualified. Labora-
tories demonstrated that 81 per cent
of avia tors were capable of ascending
to 10000 feet or more. % per cent
should not fly above $4,000 feet and II
per cent. were unsafe above 5000 feet
THE science and research division OF
the Signal Corps at the time OF the sign
ing of the armstice had in progress
sikh -four problems Gen. Squier said
Among the work completed was the de-
signing and development OF new and
improved Venturi-Pitot tube for use in
the determinations Of airplane air speed
Many New Developments.
There also was developed a new and
improved compass. a new film camera
capable OF taking 100 pictures without
rcfillng. new plate camera, carrying
fifty plates, to handle photographs &c
be made from airplanes, showing enemy
terrain. leak proof tank which played
an important part in the saving OF live.
of aviators, trench signalling lamp. q
light from a distance of eighteen miles
a secret daylight signalling lamp with
a range of five miles, and lamp which
with the aid of ultraviolet light. per
mitted secret signalling at night. An
other development was the propaganda
balloons with range Of more than 1000
miles and a portable landing light fol
use on aviation fields
Among engineering achievements o.
TT
phasis on the development OF the radio
apparatus. The airpIane radiophone. o,
wireless telephone adapted to the air
plane. had justly been heralded. he said
las one of the most spectacular achieve
ments OF the whole war
The satisfactory performance OF thi!
apparatus has resulted In a new type o
military unit known as a voice-com
, manded squadron. The commander o
en- airfieet directs the movements of tn,
|, Individual units in any manner desired
the effectiveness OF the squadron as
military machine is thereby enormousl!
increased. The principal use of radi
, communication made during the wa
, was In sending radio telegraph signal
from observation airplanes for contro!
, ling artillery fire The French devel
oped a set which consisted Of severa
units. making the installation and op
!, |
, developed a self contained set whic
has been demonstrated to be far supe
, r!or to any other airplane set.
by a wise policy OF readjustmen
, utilizing Immediately our machines an
our surplus aviators for the rapid eS
pansion of the aerial mail and specis
passenger services It will be possible
, salvage for the nation a greater per
centage Of the money and energy ir
vested for strictly war purposes tina
, from any other feature OF our war az
= tivities."
In his victory creed" Gen. Squit
a summarized the general principles {
the whole enterprise:
To foster individual talent. imaginf
q ton and initiative: to couple with this
:, high degree of cooperation. and to SUI
, ject these to a not too minute direction
l. the whole vitallzed by a supreme pul
: pose which serves as the magic key
unlock the uppe. strata OF the energit