The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-07-17

tionaI News Service, declares Il ri
the duty Of every community and of
every patriotic American e. onc0uEs
age air navigation. The nation Tint
first nerfects 3 system 81 harbOrs a..
stations for air ships, according 10
Admiral Euilnm, win win III the new
err Of commercial and naval war.
fare.
BY REAR ADMIRAL w. i. Full.
Lam, U.S.N., Retired.
Written TO- InternatlonaI News Service.
(CopyrigAt, 1924, ~ Internationai
News gervicel
What goes up must come down."
This horeely little proverb uncovers
the one weakness. Or the one prime
necessity. Ia the use OF airplanes
and dirtgibies to promote . useful
and auxiliary means Of commercial
transportation through the afr.
When his motor fails. when weather
visibility ana other obstacles can
4 halt the air pilot must have q
friendly farm, d hospitable field
upon which to light.
It follows, therefore, that fun de.
yelopmeIit OF speed in peace and
war Ii dependent upon existence Of
landing fields In every city and
community that wishes to keep pace
with commercial progress. AMI II
Ii also clear that every fleet In war
operations must have floating plat.
forms, or airplane carriers. upon
which its fighting planes may f:1d
f.snf eatv.eafsnw esd nfHsnvs vSaaaes@gkfon
when the end of their afr endur.
ance y reached.
First Nation 10 Win
The nation. that first perfects this
ysstem Of harbor or stations for
air ships-th more numerous the
better will win IN the new era Of
commercial and naval warfare. It
Is not an exaggeration to say that
the city or the village without q
landing field in the not distant
future win be in the same predica-
ment as q community would be
today IL It had no rail road station.
And the fleet that cannot carry and
support in fighting efficiency as
many planes as its enemy, Is fore
doomed to defeat upon the sea.
In admitting the need Of many
landing fields we do not throw
doubt upon the safety and practic-
ability Of air navigation. It is a
sensible precauton. It anticipates
emergencies, that Is all. The record
ct Santa Monica, Calf, shows
10000 flights with only three acct
dents in the course Of q year.
All Europe IL aroused. America
must wake up.
The total number Of landing fields
in the United States seems large
but It Is only drop in the bucket
when we consider the great extent
OF our territory. Hundreds Of
cities, big and little, lack facilities.
Western cities appear to be more
enterprising than eastern towns.
They are more impressed with the
vital Importance. Of air mail and
IiDter.citY flying.
Henry Ford has established q field
near Detroit "as civic development
land q national patriotic move. /"
| Chicago ID outlining q big project
for an air port on the lake front
near the center OF the city whore
both land and seaplanes may alight.
st. Louis Kansas City, st. Joseph,
Omaha, Denver. Minneapolis, WITCH.
tia, Kans.: El Dorado, Kans.. ana
many .other small cities IN the Mid.
die West are theoretically promoting
air transportation
Big Cities Slow.
In the meantime the big cities Of
the East are in many instances,
strangely slow. But there Is hope
for them. II Il reported that the
New York Board OF Trade Is boom.
ing an air port for the metropolis.
| It is time. Governors Island has
been suggested as the best site. II
is ideal.
| Air ports, and especially the small
emergency landing fields, need not
Involve big expenditures for the
present. The necessary installation
lie comparatively inexpensive. And
ittmay be predicted that new devices
soon viii serve to 80 reduce the nee
essary space for taking off and land.
ing that emergency fields may be
reduced In size This win diminish
cost and bring them nearer the post.
Office In every community.