The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1913-11-21
AID IN CONTROL OF SEAS
Declares Steps Must Be Taken to
Make Air Fleet Larger
FRANCE NOW LEADS WORLD

81. Louis, No. Nov 2l.--"In ny
opinion, the newly developed art of
aviation will not only tend 10 limit
the duration and scope of hostile orer-
atlons, hut also aid in the control Of
the seas, one of the elements con
tributing materially to the power and
prosperity Of a nation"
Secretary Daniels made this state
men, here last night in the course of
II public address, upon aeronautics in
which he discussed the conquest of the
air by the United states army lnt
navy and the part aerial navigation
will take in future wars.
'The potentialitics 90 the aeroplane.
when applied to the art of war, are
extremely great and its proper use
will undoubtedly be "A dominating fac
tor in the success of future cam
paigns." said he. The principal roles
of the aeroplane in naval warfare Will
he for scouting and reconnaissance
work and for offensive destructive OF
erations against hostile fleets and for
tifioatlons, Rash inGred will he the
commander of the opposing fleot who
would lead his vessels against the
fleet or coast of an enemy possessing
u number of these yicous wasps of
war. and unfortunate indeed would
be - commander who did not have
ready at his call this means of obtain
ing supremacy i'm the air.
Weuld Pay for Themselves.
~ torpedo costs $4,000 and fire.
uucntly is lost in practice. through de-
Election i'm direction that makes ii
impossible 20 follow il from the crows
nest of a ship. But an aerial scout can
follow torpedo's course unerrin2!y
bv watching II from above. The price
of one torpedo will ray for several
flying machines. Experts say mines
are easily picked up or located hy
aerial scouts. one little mine may
wreck = si0,O0o.OOO battleship. A ny
ing machine. costing nut a small sum
would mean the ships safety. The
dfigible balloon likewise viii play us
important part i'm naval warfare as
the aeroplaue. and possibly will have
greater effect on naval strategy and
tactics.
''The United States army has II
machines. with total personnel of
- officers. Seven more machines are
IN sight. There is II present no def
mite organization. and 10 plan of CO.
"pcratiop between the army and navy,
TIL" latter possesses only four hydro
planes and three dying boats. though
II is proposed to buy three more.
Proven Engines Of War.
The war aeroplane and war airship
arc today recognized and proven en-
gnes of war by the leading nations of
the earth. In practice, our recogni-
tiou is little more than theoretical.
Scouting and information in land op-
crations is being given over To the
oeruplane and the lighter drigiblc. and
scouting. information and mining in
sea operations is being given over to
the hydroplane and larger di
ri2ibles; while the large and armed
rieid dirisibc capable of carrying sew
eral tons of explosive and making
long sustained Nights IS designed both
for scouting and for making offensive
attacks on ships, arsenals, docks, etc.
An army or fleet of the present cay
operating in war without IN efficient
Ftir service against one with such
service, il has been dptly said, would
he like y blind man fighting another