Evening star., 1923-03-04

both the lighter and heavier than air
machines: have in every way encour-
aged the use Of aircraft as applied to
commc"cc have given to the indivi-
dual all the assistance that Il was
possible to give: have helped by
means of mune! have thrown open
Iabora tories: have placed at the dis
posal OF the eXperinenterS all the re-
sources of their gore, H:nents. and
have done everything III their power
TO aid III the successful conquest of
the ar.
1t is true that some of our govern
ment departments have aided in an
effort 10 build up d forceful organi-
xation that would assist in the work,
but there has not been whole hearted
effort ON the part of Congress. Small
| sums. small in comparison to the
needs. have been appropriated. but
only of late have the lawmakers and.
in truth some officers of both the
| Army and Navy appeared 10 realize
that If we are to keep abr sast of the
simes we must actively engage in the
work Of evolving something in the
benefit to this country and keep us
ut least on u par with the other n2-
tionS Of the world.
For many months past the men in
charge of the air forces of the Army
and Navy have been carrying on
their work best they could. They
have skimped twisted and turned
end despite the many handicaps they
have brought forth ideas that when
put into practice, will give TO this
county new styles of aircraft mat
will 1nly afford greater degree
Of Pr ,ction to our shores. but will
open up the air lanes to conam@r",.
K :: :; X
HUEINti the world war many crlti-
~ czed our airmen. and those or
our allies, too. for not going up and
shooting down the giant Zeppelins
shat hoevered over London, Paris
and other cities. Little did the public
realize that it was not possible Tor
the fighting airplanes to reach them,
for the planes of that day could rise
TO certain heights and no more, so
the "Zeps' quietly picked out the tar
gets and dropped the death dealing
bombs. then flew for home. 1t was
mot as if there had been another huge
Girig IDLE. provided with a fleet of
lighting planes to protect it while 1T
opened fire on the Yep.
Plans have now been worked out
(which will permit the carrying Of six
or more fighting planes in the hold
of the new dirie ible. To one who has
not given the matter much thought
1t will sound like a fantastic tale,
but the fact is that "a plan has been
worked out which will permit a
"mother ship to carry a number of
fighting heavier-than-air machines
in receiving room at the bottom OF
the great bag. This is the plan Of
the Army. as soon as the necessary
amount of money is ayailable-to
construct huge dirigible that will
he able TO carry it's own defenders
so that while it is aloft. dropping
bombs it will not be at the mercy
of any planes that may have flown
Np from the earth. The modern plane
can rise to about 10000 feet, as has
been demonstrated by several trial
flights in this country
The method worked out is an in
genious one. The dirigible is so con-
etructed as to provide room in the
lower third of the giant bag for a
hangar capable of holding a half
dozen or more small fighting planes
all of which will be manned by skilled
flyers. for, despite the fact that planes
are now controlled by wireless and
other methods, the individual touch
ss still the most effective form of
guidance.
AT the MON mt the giant dirigible
Is about to settle into position pre-
1,aratory to dropping bombs on the
objective below it. there appears q