Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-11-19

mobiles for carrying aeroplane trucks
from point to point. and also number of
other larger trucks for carrying parts OF
machinery and mechanics for repair
work. The aerOplane is placed on top OF
the truck, the truck in turn Is attached
to an automobile and then can be trans
ported TO any part of the field desired.
The shortage In officers in the Ameri-
can army is the most difficult problem
we have to meet at present. We have
spent only $4,000 of our appropriation of
100000, but will be in the market for
more aeroplaneS az soon as We can get
officers to handle them.
Aside from San Diego and San An
tonic, We expect to establish another sta
ton for the winter on or near the At
lantic coast. We have been considering
Augusta, where there is a United States
arsenal, and good flying ground. We do
not intend to send all our aviators and
machines to San Diego. and will retain
the station at San Antonio, Tex, where
we have one machine. For some I'M
known reason San Antonio is a very poor
flying locality. Because Of the wind cur
rents there, ii is the hardest place from
which to get into the air ever tackled by
army aviators. 1t is a big post, however
and We shall continue our practice fly
ing at that point"
Signal Corps officials are anxious to
make rapid strides in aviation, and intend
pushing the project as much as possible.
At one time 1t was thought it would be
necessary to employ professional aviators
to help carry on the work. but this idea
was given up because it would be entirely
too expensive for the government to Sc
cure professional aviators on account o.
the high salaries. For awhile the idea OF
teaching enlisted men was discussed, but
after some hard thought the conclusion
was reached that a private would nc
sooner learn to fly than he would buy his
release from the army and go with some
private company. thus depriVing the gov
eminent of his services after teaching hin
how to fly.
'Signai Corps troops. continued Gen
Allen, form part Of the organized
militia in California. Colorado. Connect
cut, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas. Kentucky,
Louisiana, Michigan Missouri. Montana.
Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey.
New York. Ohio, Oklahoma. Rhode
Island. Vermont, Texas, Utah, Washing
ton, the District OF Columbia and the
Hawaiian Islands. These militia organi-
cations are generally composed of pro-
fessional men of technical ability. They
are. however, not uniformly organized
and equipped. The rapid development in
the duties and usefulness of these troops
in the past few years, however, has mad
the subject of company organization inn
portant and renders it imperative for
signal organizations to specialize in their
work and equipment. 1t is no longer
possible for a detchment of signal troops
to take the field prepared to perform
all of the classes OF work devolving on
the Signal Corps without special instruc-
ton beforehand.
I'm the event of war thousands of
skilled telegraphers and electricians would
be available for service, and they could
be quickly and efficiently formed into
base line companies of signal troops,
which are to provide the strategical lines
of information behind the armies in the
field But men cannot be hastily formed
into field companies which are to provide