Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1919-03-25
flight ACROSS ATLANTIC
The First Successful Trip Is Now
Imminent
COMPETE FOR DISTINCTION
It Is a Matter Of Chance as to Wheth-
or America, England, France, italy
or Germany Will Win, and II is also
a Toss Up az to Whether It Will Be

er America, England, France, italy
or Germany Will Win, and II is also
a Toss Up az to Whether it Will Be
AirpIane or Airship.
Christian Science Monitor.
The projected flight from Senegam-
bia, Africa, to Brazil, South America,
has been arrested by breakdown Of
the machinery Of Lieutenant Fontan's
Caudron. This means simply post
ponement, and the attempt to cross the
South Atlantic Is almost certain to be
made shortly. To those in northern
climes this will lack something, even
if successful, of the full achievement.
A transatlantic flight, to the great
majority of the people Of the north
ern hemisphere, means the passage
between some point in North America
and some point in Europe, or an air
voyage between these continents over
the great routes Of transatlantic
ocean traffic. Still, Lieutenant Fon-
tan's success would take some of the
spice out Of the desired accomplish
ment; at the least, it would be the
first fight between the eastern and
western hemispheres, and all later
successful ones, no matter how much
nearer the popular ideal in achieve
.nent, would call for a little note Of
explanation.
The first steamship voyage was made
between Savannah and Liverpool. The
first Atlantic cable was laid between
Ireland and Newfoundland 1t has
long been a fond expectation that the
first trans Atlantic fight would follow
either the line of the great eastern
or the wake Of the modern ocean grey
hounds between Liverpool and New
York, whether westward or eastward
bound.
1t is known that Great Britain has
now, and practically ready for flying,
,hrce over ocean going airships. The
latest of these is the R-so. now receiv-
ing some final attention in tho aero
irome at Barrow-in Furness. This
) a rigid machine and is said to be
The last word in aerial construction.
\ detailed description Of the craft re-
eals how far ahead even of popular
imagination the construction Of air
ships has gone. The hull is Of steam
line shape, and is equipped with three
bow mooring attachments, which en-
able the ship to be moored out from
over in such a manner that 1t Is "left
free to turn in any direction and lie
with the wind" as an anchored steam
ship amidstream might swing and lie
with the tide. Four cars are attached
-eo-tiHs -truff-,-a- cunrfof car Forward, a
passenger car, and two wing cars
fer machinery. The control car
Is large enough to accommodate all
navigating controls, instruments. and
navigating crews. Then there Is q
special type Of buffer bag and bouyant
covering fitting to the forward car and
to each Of the machinery cars. These
will enable the airship to float on
water, and they become shock absorb
ers when landing. In every other way
devices to insure safety and comfort
the results of recent invention, are
availed of, and the vessel when she
puts forth upon her maiden voyage,
will apparently be as thoroughly
equipped as the latest floating palace
from the yards of Belfast or the Clyde.
The vessel is only Of trio likely to
speed across the ocean from England
early this summer. Announcement
has already been made Of four ocean
going aeroplanes Of United States
naval construction, all Of which are
expected to be in commission early.
ne"lc os in time 20 anticipate sue
cessful trip over the Atlantic by a
British airship or aeroplane. So far
as the United States and Great Brit
ain are concerned, any rivalry that
may be developed in this connection
will be entirely friendly, and as much
may be said for such competition as
may later be attempted by France and
Italy. 1t Is not believed that either
of these latter nations will be pre-
pared to make the transatlantic at
tempt in avitaion early this summer,
although it is no secret that both will
be ready for the venture, should Great
Britain and the United States fail In
the enterprise or too long post
pone it.. It Is matter OF know
ledge, too, that at Doberitz, Germany,
q new large Siemens-Schuckert BIZ
plane is now undergoing trials "os-
tensibly with the view ultimately OF
making a bid for the transatlantic
record" This machine as designed
would, it is estimated, accomplish the
flight from Hamburg to New York In
twenty hours. Tanks Of capacity
of about 75O gallons are fitted on the
Siemcns- -Schuckert machine, and it is
calculated by the builders that the
total fuel required, amounting to about
three times the quantity just men
I'OneQ, COulQ DC Wy liiS pip'S1AS'
which has six engines, with a total OF
/ 800 horsepower, driving four propel-
lers.
All the indications point to an in
aucuration of trans Atlantic aviation
service this year, no matter what ma
ton shall be first in the field. All that
is necessary for emulation and en-
terprise in the new realm of activity
is a successful beginning. The null
tiplication Of aircraft will undoubtedly
be much more rapid than was the
early multiplication of steamships, a
hundred years ago. At the beginning
the steamship was very crude and
unsatisfactory affair. The Savannah
the first to cross the Atlantic, would
look like a tender alongside a modern
ocean going vessel, and 1t required
twenty-five days for her initial voy-
age. Aircraft, of all known types, on
the other hand, are highly developed
They have performed feats in the air