The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-03-08
TRANSPORTATION

The airplane, which was at one time thought to be capable
of use in commerce, has already encountered an obstruction
which may prove a serious setback. This is the tariff on
imports maintained by many countries. In passing from one
country to another the big arplane is equipped to carry a ton
or more of freight, just as it carried a ton or more of explosives
during the war, and this freight would probably be contraband
goods, upon which a duty is colectible, This would mean that
the customs and postal authorities would have to police the air
in order to prevent smuggling. 1t is difficult to police terra
firma, and the difficulty would be increased MANIFOLD should
the task be transferred to the air. As one English officer points
out, the smuggler provided with a high-power plane could out
strip the policeman, and when pursued too closely, hide behind
a dark cloud until the danger was passed. This would not be
easy, because a plane cannot remain static or poised in the air
In order to keep afloat it must progress at a rapid rate, and must
soon emerge from its place of concealment An alrPIane might
carry its own barragc, as ~batteships do, that, by the combus-
ton of certain elements, generates an enVeIopng smoke that
completely conceals them from view. Smuggling will be tol-
lowed because of the enormous profits in the enterprise. Han
a ton of opium, loaded in China and delivered in America, would,
if properly disposed OF, net the importer quite a fortune. Dta-
monds, silks and laces and other articles Of great value and small
compass would be seized upon as profitable objects OF illegal
commerce, and where the flight is short John Baneycorn would
surely attempt to break through the prohibition laws.
This revolution in transportation will require time to adjust
itself to existing conditions, but it will finally be controlled
and regulated, By cooperation among the nations this can be
done. An arplane is so objective that 1t cannot easily be
hidden. 1t must have a prepared place from which to start,
and, arriving at its destination, it must have a prepared place
to make a landing. 1t is not a bird that can aight on a limb
or a lamp post. 1t must have room, a wide, level place, and
these places can be held under surveillance, and all contraband
goods seized as soon as landed. One ingenuity meets and over
comes another. When armorplate was first invented 1t was con-
sidered to be the last word IN naval warfare soon however
was invented the projectile that was capable OF piercing and
destroying the heaviest armorpate that could be MADE Strange
to say, the softnosed bullet or projectile does the business.
The helmet and the coat of mail Of the ancients are useless
at the present day, although the German tin hat is a revival OF
the former and was found to be serviceable in the late war.
Nothing is invented for the use and service Of man that is not
abused. Our civilization is so set about by artifcialifes that
every movement jars and DISCREPANCIES something. IT we RACED
all tariff barriers the airplane could, like the wind, go whittier
soever it lsteth.
The birds of the air and the fishes of the sea do not legis-
late themselves into prison, and they retain the natural freedom
with which they come into the world. Man is so wise and
proud and so fond OF liberty that he wants to exercise the right
to tie his own and his ~neighbors' hands.