The sun., 1910-11-02
WANTS 20 ARMY AEROPLANBS
bRsG. GEN. ALIEN SAYS 4. y
SHOt IN Rtl THEW.


TwS pasht ss se in Praetire
wAsniSGros. Nov I Brig Gen James
Allsn rscomm"ads the acquisition Of at
'eass twenty military aeroplanes in his
annual repor' Tor the fiscal year ended
'Iins sI' las' ~h,Ch was made public ~
the War Department TO-DAY These ma
chimes. h- SAYS. sho,iisi hs IN service in
regular prac,"- al dineeren, points Of
the country ihrough tho wear and bs
present AZ the camps of instruction Tor
tho regular troops and organized militia
This estimate. Gen Hilen continues,
10 extremely low and would provide only
two aeroplanss Tor each camp OF instruc.
ton To operate this number of aero
planes twenty ESPECIALLY trained officers
would be required As pilots. anG in addi'
ton each machine must carry At east
one observer. who ~ill require much train
ing and actual practice befJre the full
military use Of rhe asroplane can be oh
tanned
The Signal Corps Gen Allen said
at present has but one Lieutenant and
nine eulistsd men on duty in connection
with aerouauties. and until the Signal
Corps is increased by suitable legislation
it will he impossible 90 furnish more OH.
GERS and men for the absolutely necessary
training demanded in airrnanship, There
10 nov bat one officer Of the 81 grAl Corps
who is a licensed pilot for free balloons
The neg field service regulations Of 1910
provide for aeronantical companies OF
the Signal Corps fully equipped with
suitable asronautical devices FOR service
with 'hs mobile forces AZ present not
possibly be organized. nor will II be posi-
bie 'o do % until the Signal Corps 70 in.
creased by suitable legislation
Although the United States Gen.
Alien = report added. was the first nation
tn otlciAllv recognize tho asroplane for
military purposes and tss,ie specifications
in December. iao7. and carry out ofsicial
tssts IN S-pternber. 1903. demonstrating
the practicabU''y Of mechanical flight,
such had been he rapid Development of
aerial naviRaiion since that date that
this country has been left far behind in
It's aerona uticaI equipment and ia trained
personnel. In fact the only aerohautacal
equipment that this nation Possesses a
present consists of one small practice
dirigibls balloon. me Wright aeroplans
and three sualI captive balloons.
1t NAV bs snid without hesita tion.
sk -
military subject at present engrussng
tho attention NJ Congresses and Parlis-
ments of Furopsan frat class Powers is
the possible influence Of aerial navigation
upon tho military art In the last yea
a. far a. our army In con.
cerned. has been practically at a sta nd
still. In the meantime European Powers
are dispia wing marked activity in the
and supply OF both the dirt.
ssble and the aeroplane for war purposes.
1T IL frequently said that the United
States. due To its isolated position. il not
likely 20 become involved IN war and
therefore, the most economical procedure
IN aerial avigafion IL To wait until other
nations have determined upon the type
hest suited to military purposes. thus
shifting rh~ expense OF experiment and
10 other nations In reply
10 this il must b. remembered that IN
SGT no one believed that tho United Safes
had any prospect of war. yet within one
pear from that dat. We were actually
involved in a war with Spain without
my adequate military preparations for
\ war. which resulted in great confusion.
Expense and unnecessary loss of life
Furthermore expsri"nc"d military air |
men cannot be created after war is de-
,iared. and the demands of this new ser
sic- will undoubtedlv r"a'IIr" higher /,
,Ialitie. OF training. Judgment and cour- !
xe than any other branch of rh" mil:-
ary service. Military authorizes agree
hat the only way 10 meet aerial attack ~ !
by similar weapons and that there IN no
,hancs OF adequate protection being q ven |
ocaily The advent OF aeriai nav CATION |
,a- IN fact extended the Vulnerable area !
Il a country 70 every acre ~ i's terri |