Evening star., 1923-10-02

Freely accepting the doctrine that
soldiers and sailors must FISK their
lives in some experiments for the fu-
ture defense of the country, editors
are Ioath to agree there was any ex-
cuse for the loss of the naval balloon
in Lake Erie last July at cost or
the lives of two officers, and OF the
destruction of the American entry IN
the Bennett race very recently, When
two additional American naval ofil-
GERS perished. Back in 1906, when the
cup first came into competition there
was valuable material for meteorolo-
gists to be gathered from the reports
of the pilots. But times have changed
as editors point out, and the drifting
gas bags seem TO have no place IN
modern life. Therefore comes an al
most united demand, Why continue
these balloon races?
AS the Milwaukee Journal puts IT,
"if we must risk costly equipment
and the lives of men whose training
has made them of service to the coun-
try, let US do it in some form or con-
test that at least holds promise OF
valuable results" The effort on the
part of certain officials to JUSTIFY the
race also incenses the Boston Tran
scrfpt. which insists there is no SUD
stitute for common sense anyWneIe
at any time. Regardless OF the Hna- ei
inrs that may be turned IN by OH
cial investigators. we hope Washing
ton will not permit the entry OF any
American balloon in any race Where
the officers refuse to take into con
sfderation existing weather conoi-
tions. The loss Of these officers is
their country's loss, and the lesson of
their brave sacrifice must be taken to
heart" ,..
there is doubt whether even as
sport balloon racing is worth while
and, as for scientific results, ~ mas
been shown beyond doubt tnat Storms
In the upper air are likely 10 Dc en- :
countered at any time ana tnat IN
storm the free balloon IS aeain
trap. The officers who gave their
lives in line of duty to make the
most of the races are victims or the
stubbornly held convention that the
free balloon is still useful aero :
nautio instrument. HenceIoTth ene
it's air observations made eV men ,.
who have every advantage OF saiety
afforded by aeronautical discoveries.
The very fact that three persons
were killed even before the hrst pal
loon took the air. seems to IT. the
again the question as to why we
have balloon races anyhow, al
though the Lynchburg Advance reels
called upon to point out the amer
ican Bennett entrants would nave
been the victims OF much ADVERSE
criticism had they not taken cnance'
No similar occurrence should be per-
mitted In the future. Sanity ABOVE
all things should prevail in aviation.
This view Is amplified by the Boston
ayiatton-if 1t can be called aviation,
when there is no device for steering
is a proposition for fair weather
not foul" It is the opinion or the
Asheville Times that. the tragedy
should have a SOLDERING enect upon
man. It should make him less poast-
| full in his claims that he has estab-
iished mastery of the air and tnat ne
scales the heavens with impunity.
The question pressed nome py tne
tragedy, as the Springfield Repub-
lican sees 1t, is ''Wf1at good is oal-
loonT That paper recalls the various 5
deaths due to the gas bags. and points
out "the case for the balloon distinct
| ly Is different from the airplane.
with airplanes ascending over 3o,oeo
feet the need Of balloon even Tor
meteorological observation e seems
| largely to have ceased. As a means
| of TRANSFORMATION the balloon seems
| definitely IA back number. Unless evil
! dence can be presented to the con-
trary balloon races may wen DC apan-
doned and attention concentrated on
| risks which are more usefully taken.
Tn connection with the latter sugges-
| tfon the Cincinnati Commercial Trib-
une aptly insists that foolish risk ts
NOT eportsmansfip. No doubt In the
I development OF useful Inventions u