South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-09-14

simultaneously with the aeronau-
teal exposition. held recently IN
New York City. there were publish
ed two volumes on aerial navigation,
one recOunting what mas been ac-
complished under stre-s OF war IN
the United States and the other re-
veallnE in detail wharEreat Britain
IS planning for the future in order
TO control the air.
How America grew wings and
learned TO use them IS described by
the Aircraft Year Book. issued by
the Manufactures Aircraft associa-
ton. The work shows that the air
plane belongs 10 the United States
by right OF discovery. 1t reveals
how national Indifference was large
~ responsible for aeronautfcal un-
preparedness when we entered the
var against Germany. But, begin
ming April. 1917. a tremendous in
dus.ry was created, and, at the time
the armistice was signed. airplane,
motor and parts Investments repre-
sented a total OF 500. 900, 900. From
production OF a few planes. the out
put increased so rapidly that. at the
close OF the war. more equipment
was being delivered 70 the govern
raent than could be shipped over
seas.
Freedom And The Airplane.
The opening chapter Of the Air
craft Year Book IS entitled The
Future OF Aviation"
Freedom" II says. has become
the most significant word OF the day.
This new sense OF freedom and the
science of aviation have come into
the worlds experience at thu same
time. The airplane itself IS the
material embodiment OF freedom
It's streamline body and poised wings
go suggest freedom that the most
prosaic bystander is thrilled by the
sense Of Il. There IS freedom in the
lift OF the plane from the ground
There IS indescribable and hitherto
unknown freedom IN flight. for the
airplane subjects the air to its will
and f. freer than the air itself
"Of still greater significance thar
this physical manifestation OF free
dom is the fact that in the science
OF aviation. man has once more ad-
vanced toward scientific truth; BY
this science man has freed from the
old belief in HIS limitations, from the
cramped power OF one who is g
creature OF the earth and subject q
it.. Now, neither earth's mountains
nor deserts. nor storms are obstacles
10 his passage. Not only the world
but the sky has been given TO mans
dominion.
"Dreamers' and Progress.
cit is an old story that the way
OF the world has ever been to regard
those who made each new advance
toward scientific truth as dreamers
The fact that Calico stood the only
man in all his world who knew the
earth was but a part OF a greater
universe. did not in any degree
change the truth. Columbus was the
only man OF his world who glimpsed
the truth that the earth Is round
and that man is not limited 70 q
small part OF IT, He had the cour.
age 20 put his faith TO the test and
the fact that no other man believed
did not prevent his demonstration
The world was sceptical about th'
railroad. iron ships, the telegraph
the telephone and the automo bile
but this scepticism did not keel
these utilities from the world. Tn,
fact that men laughed at Langley
the Wright brothers and Curtis be
cause they thought that they coulC
fly did not keep these men on tn,
ground
1T is true that men did not laugh
AZ the inventors OF the airplanes a
they laughed at Calico or Colum
bus. They were not quite so scep
tical as they were in regard TO tn
railroads and the telegraph. Tn
airplane came at the time when tn
world urgently needed It. The ply
steal need was great and the min,
OF men was ready TO accept IL. s,
70 came with Liberty riding upon IL
wings"
Reconstruction Ahead.
The industry Is now confronte,