The Washington herald., 1921-11-18
GASES And PLANES
STAND in WAY OF
LAND ARMS RULES
Experts Doubt Whether
Farley Will Give Seri-
GUS Consideration.

That the development of aircraft
and chemicals is so entwined with
the problems of land ornaments as
to preclude the possibility of seri-
Gus consideration of land disarma-
ment at this time is the opinion or
many of the experts here for the
arms conference. They declare that
there could be no way of enforcing
any Limitation problem that included
both factors, and that not to include
them would be to make any land
disarmament proposition futile.
Every nation in the world today
is interested in the development oil
her air service. Most of them are
spending very much more along this
line than is the United States. TIL
insist, however, that. while the eN-
periments are under the jur
ton of the military and naval eS-
perts the result will be much more
for peace than for war, inasmuch as
the successful development of air
craft makes for Industrial develop
ment.
Nations Are Experimenting.
But while this is true in the abb
stract is admitted in air circles
that up to the present the chief in
terest of all of the nations in con-
structing and experimenting with
their aircraft Is to secure a ma
chine that will have extreme long
distance flying powers and be capa-
Bile of carrying sufficient high ex.
plosives to wipe out OF existence
any modern city. such machines
of course, would be of great advan-
tage in commercial ways. But 1t is
as military vehicles that they are
most potent, according to the air
experts.
In this connection. IL was said al
French headquarters. that wher
Premier BRAND makes his planned
speech early next week on land ar.
maments, he will have nothing &c
say whatever concerning aircraft
The experts who prepared the data
for the treaty of Versailles coulo
not agree on any Limitation program
because they could not differentiatt
between military and commercial
aviation.
Could Outlaw Rules.
1t might be possible to lay down
rules for commercial aviation, but
again. French experts point out
regulations would be of no avail
in the case of an unscrupulous
power. For example:
Suppose there was an agreement
to limit the speed Of commercial
planes. say to 100 miles an hour
This stipulation to all intents anc
purposes could be lived up to, and
yet in the event of hostilities 4,
would be an easy matter to remove
sufficient weight and distractions
to greatly increase the speed OF
the machine with the same engine
Commercial planes capable OF
mounting guns could be outlawed.
but there would be nothing to pre-
vent the easy adaptation of wings
and superstructure capable of sup
porting guns within a very short
time.
Limit Commercial Aircraft.
We might limit commercial air
craft to ability to attain certain
attitudes" one French expert said
but 1t now looks as If the de-
velopment OF aviation is going to-
wards the heavens. We may SONS
day ind 1t more economical and
safer to ny at $4,000 feet than
5000. Should we undertake to pre-
vent this scientific advancement
Rnles of warfare restricting the
use of aircraft and chemicals and
attacks from the air on noncom-
Blatant communities, II is believed
must be provided as a vital part
of any agreement for Limitation OF
land ornaments, but observance OF
such rules must depend upon re-
spect for the power which will de-
ternine upon and administer the
measure of punishment for the ma.
ton which treats the regulations
as a scrap of paper.