Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 160, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 July 1917 — PLAN NEW TYPE FIGHTING PUNE [ARTICLE]

PLAN NEW TYPE FIGHTING PUNE

Will Sacrifice Speed to Weight of Broadside and Invulnerability.

EXPERTS INDORSE PROGRAM

Orville Wright, Inventor of Airplane, Says Conflict's Quick Termination Lies in Air Inferiority for Some Combatant. Washington. — The principal contribution of the United States to the allies’ military operations will be the evolution of an entirely new type of fighting airplane. This prediction .was made by a high ranking officer of the navy. In common with many of his associates, this oflfcer believes that not only the allies but Germany have worked on a faulty theory in trying to perfect ayiation. They have sacrificed everything possible for greater speed. The result is the ultra-fast machines used by the belligerents on the western front are vulnerable to a high degree, despite their armor. While many fast machines will be constructed in this country in addition to the training airplanes now being turned out, it is believed probable that In carrying out the' program announced by Howard E. Coffin, chairman of the aircraft production board, and backed by President Wilson and Secretary Baker, much time and money will be expended in the development of a new type of fighting plane in which high speed will be sacrificed to weight of broadside and invulnerability. It Is predicted the armament of the new type of American airplane will be as heavy ,as the navy one-pound rifle. The plan is to make aircraft capable of a wider radius of action than those in use by the allies, which must be aimed at the enemy machines in order to make their machine guns effective. Wright Indorses Move. Orville Wright, who with his brother, Wilbur Wright, built and flew the first man-carrying airplane, strongly indorsed the program for the development of aviation in this country on a broad scale. ' “When my brother and I built and flew the first man-carrying machine,” he said,'“we thought we were introducing Into the world an invention which would make further wars practically Impossible. We thought governments would realize the impossibility of winning by surprise attacks and that too country would enter Into war with another of equal size when it knew it would have to win by wearing out its enemy. “Nevertheless, the world finds itself in the greatest war in history. Neither side has been able to win on account of the part the airplane has played. Both sides know exactly what the other is doing. The two sides are apparently nearly equal In aerial equipment, and unless present conditions can be changed the war will continue for years. __ j_ Must Blind the Enemy. “However, if the allies’ armies are equipped with such a number of airplanes as to keep- the enemy planes entirely back of the line, so that they are unable to direct gunfire or to observe the movement of the allied troops —in other words, if the enemy’s eyes can be put out —it will be possible to end the war. This is not taking into account what might be done by bombing German sources of munition supplies, such as Essen, which ls Only about 150 miles behind the" fighting lines. But to end the war quickly and cheaply, the supremacy in the air must be so complete as to entirely blind the enemy. “The program laid down by the aircraft production board, if carried out, will obtain this result.” Mr. Wright is now engaged In superintending the building of the big four squadron aviation field for the war department at Dayton,,; O.