Evening star., 1923-01-20
MITCHELL SCOFFS
= r.
AT FLYING PER|LS
Chief of Army Air Service
Tells Geographic Society
Dangers Are Magnified.
POINTS TO COMPARISONS
Says Commercial Aviation Abroad
Shows Fewer Accidents Than
Railroads.

The idea that aviation in general is
exceeding dangerous is due to a mis-
conception. Brig. Gen. William Mitch
ELL assistant chief Of the Army air
service, told members OF the National
Geographic Society last night In an
illustrated address on the Army's air
service.
Gilbert Grosvenor. president of the
National Geographic Society. intro
duccd Gen. Mitchell as "one who has
probably spent moro time in the air
than any man IN the world" DIR.
Grosvenor told OF his leaving George
Washington University here to be-
come the youngest officer in the
Spanish-American war; and OF his
subsequent remarkable record in put
ting through the first telegraph line
speed record over a one-kilometer
course. and directed the famous
bombing tests of the Virginia capes
in 1921. which resulted in worldwide
changes in battleship designs.
Has Two Phases.
The two phases Of aviation-mili-
tary and commercial-must be kept
sharply in mind, Gen. Mitchell ex-
planned. In the military branch there
Is a constant straining for the extra
speed, extra lifting power and extra
gun power which may make all tho
difference between success and rail-
ure in contest with an enemy. The
straining for these advantages nec-
essarily makes military aviation rela.
lively dangerous. Another factor OF
danger Is added by the necessity for
military aviators to fly in close for
nation and In all sorts Of weather.
Commercial flying, on the other
10 comma affyelV safe Gen.
Mitchell declared. Here It is possible
TO use planes with heavier motors,
larger factors OF safety and slower
landing speeds. Properly equipped
radio can be utilized actually to bring
about greater security than on rail-
ways with their block systems. In
Europe last year. he pointed out.
commercial flying services were
freight, with fewer casualties than
on the railways during the same
period.
Gen. Mitchell brought out the fact
that there has been a rapid advance
to planes and the art OF flying them.
Recent developments are the 200 mile
an-hour plane. the plane capable OF
rising vertically, and planes and men
for whom storms, fog and darkness
have no ,terrors. Other planes may
be flown without an operator. guided
by radio impulses from central sta
tions, and in Gen. Mitcheirs opinion
groups of driyeriess planes Will soon
be directed from n nearby plane.
A phase of aerial work of special
interest to members of the National
Geographic Society. Gen. Mitchell
pointed out, Is the exploration OF
unknown countries by aeroplane and
Photographic mapping from aIott.
These methods are coming into more
general use. he said. and are proving
more valuable than any others for the
ACCOMPLISHMENT" OF tho Arn1y'S pur-
poses.
Lacks support Here. !
Gen. Mitchell reminded his hearers
that while the airplane originated In
America and we hold the worlds al
titude, endurance and speed recoros.
aviation is not officially supported
by the governments OF other leading
nations,
A remarkable series OF motion pic
lures included the first showing OF
the helicopters, or vertical rising
planes, in their successful flights at
Dayton, Ohio. Gen. Mitchell also
showed views of the much discussed
mans to develop airplanes while ad-
herring to peace treaty provisions.
Some Of the most thrilling Of the pic
lures shown were those of Gen.
Mltchelrs own remarkable exploits in
connection with the bombing of the
German Ostfriedland and the L. S. S.
Alabama in the now-famous expert
brought about a worldwide revolu-
ton in the design of battleships,
which henceforth must be protected
from aerial attack.