Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-08

Though the Los Angeles now Is about
years old, she never before was USED
fer military purposes beyond the train
ing of airship officers and men. Built
by Germany as part OF her repara-
lions payment to the United States,
the Los Angeles, under treaty terms,
was not to be used as military ship,
but was to be turned over, after
certain tine, to commercial interests.
There bcinp no commercial interests
willing to take over the Los Angeles
when the time arrived, the Navy has
kept the big ship and, the treaty time
having expired, is using her as a naval
unit.
Admiral w. v. Pratt, during the
course of the maneuvers, sent the fol-
lowing dispatch to the Navy Depart
ment: THUS far, the fleet problem
being staged has revealed two out
for cruisers, and especially those of the
f1ying-deck type, and, second, the jus
LITIGATION under favorable conditions OF
the lighter than-aircraft as shown by
the use of the Les Angeles"
David S. ingalls,. Assistant Secretary
of the Navy for Aeronautics, reported
himself as exceedingly gratified" at the
mark d success" of the Los Angeles.
Though employed only in scouting ca
pacity, no attempt at defense being made.
Mr.. ingalls, said, the Los Angeles con-
clusively established the fact that air
ships are of material value in naval
operations at sea. The maneuvers, he
said, proved the necessity of the con-
tinued development and maintenance OF
lighter-than-air craft by the United
States Navy"
The airship. during the course of the
maneuvers, cruised 2,3l5 nautical miles
on daylight scouting duty, according to
the report of her commander. Lieut..
Comdr. v. A. Clarke, and covered an
average of 5000 square miles per hour.
This area, he pointed out, far exceeds
the area which may be observed by any
type of surface craft but is only half
the area which will be covered by the
Nays new dirigibles, which will be able
| to remain in the air at least five days.
1.-The fact that the Los Angeles was
sunk in the problem has no s1gnln-
cance," Comdr. Clarke reported. With
out armament of any kind and without
the fighting planes that military ships
will carry, 1t was foregone cocrluslon
that the Los Angeles would be sunk on
contrs ctirg the enemy's main body. Mill
tary ships will have high speed machine
gun and pane defense and in addition
will use the clouds and high altitude to
cover approach and escape, for trailing
and for night attack"
"Airmark" Law Proposed.
There is pending before the Maryland
Legislature a bill requiring every town
in the State of 1000 population or
greater to provide airmarkings for the
guidance of aviators. If enacted. the
measure will require the establishment
of such markers on or b;fore August /.
The markers are to be set up OILY after
approval by the State Aviation Commits
sion and are to be illuminated at night.
The pending measure provides fines to
be imposed upon towns which fail to
establish the MARKERS or to maintain
them in effective condition for the
guidance of aviators by day and night.
The airmarking of all towns in the
United States is one Of the goa's of the
Aeronautics Branch, Department Of
Commerce, which is supported in its
efforts to bring about such marking by
the Army and Navy, the Post Office De-
partment, such national organizations
as the Aeronautical Chamber of Com
merce and the National Aeronautic
Association, and which was actively
supported by the late Daniel Guggen-
helm Fund for the Promotion Of Aero
nautics.
Airmarking of Federal and State
highways also is fostered by these or
CARNATIONS and the Maryland State
Highway Commission Is among the
leaders in the country in backing up
| this plan to all the flying public.
Tour Misses Capital Again.
Again the Capital is off the route Of
the National Air Tcur. This city's hui
initiation, however, need not be quite as
great as last year. This year the route
passes no closer to Washington than
Huntington, w. Va, while last year the
course passed directly over the National
Capital, the planes stopping at Balti-
more and Richmond, most pointedly
| ignoring this city because Of its inability
to handle major aeronautical events.
The tentative route for the 1881 tour
comprises a 6,425-mile swing through
the United States and Mexico Starting
from Dearborn, Mich, the competing
planes will proceed to Mexico by way OF
Buffalo and Binghamton, N. Y; Brad
ford, Pa: Columbus, Ohio; Evansville,
Ind; Memphis, Tenn; Birmingham and
Montgomery, Ala Mobile, Ala; New
Orleans and Shreveport, La, and Hous-
ton, Corpus Christi and Brownsville,
Tex.
In Mexico the planes are scheduled to
visit Tampico, Mexico City. Leon, Aqua
Caliente, Zacatecas and Torreon, re-
entering the United States at Eagle
Pass, NJ Mex. The return to Dearborn il
to be by way of Austin and Wichita
Falls, Tex; Ponca City, Okla; Little
Rock, Ark; Vicksburg or Jackson, Miss;
Nashville or Murphysboro. Tenn; Lex
ington, KY; Huntington and Wheeling
w. Va, and Akron, Ohio.
Border-to Border Line.
Direct, fast air passenger service be-
tween Canada and Mexico, connecting
at Detroit with the Canadian Always
Line TO Montreal and at Brownsville
Tex, with the Pan American system
through Mexico and Central America tc
South America, is planned.
Among those taking the lead in or
ganizing the service are William B
Mayo of the Ford Motor Co.; Larry @
Fritz, noted Midwestern pilot ane
former operations manager for Safe
ways; Maj. Lawrence G. King Of De-
troit and a group of Southwestern
bankers and financiers.
High-speed Ford tri-motors are II
be used on the major portions OF the
line, though possibly siX-passenger Nor
tlnrops, even faster may be used be-
tween Muskogee and Brownsville. TWEEN
| ty-five hour service from border II
| border is planned to begin about MAJ
( l. provided the necessary Department
| Of Commerce certificate to operate Il
| issued in time The operating organiza'
ton will be known as international AL
Express"
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