The Kennewick courier. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1905-1914, 1913-01-03
Naval AerOChief
Urges Government
LaboratoryFor Work
l ApTAIN WASHINGTON l.
CHAMBERS, chief Of the navy
aviation corps, in his annual

| ~ GH a NJ S4iiCl oL NhO hh'
aviation corps, in his annual
- report to the chief of the bu-
.r of navigation states that although
-. oaroplane has not yet arrived at
tbs M state of perfection required by all
-ort contemplated for it in naval war
fare 1t is sufficiently advanced to be OF
rroat service in many ways should it
- reo1ired for emergency use.
Regarding the establishment of an
.orodvnamic laboratory in New York,
hitch he discusses at some length in
his report. Captain Chambers says:
.The status of aviation in the world
today may be summarized as follows:
trt. work of establishing aerodynamic
,ohoratorjes has transported aeronau.
tics generally into the domain OF en-
o;neering. in consequence of which
aviation has reached stage of devel-
onment wherein the methods Of scien-
+;ec engineers have replaced the crude
efforts of the pioneer inventors.
.Inasmuch as more definite informa-
sion regarding the actual cost of a dig
niAed and creditable but modest and
sueiciept installation should be OBJ
tained. and as the details of the plan,
the scope, the organization and the To-
cation of such an important undertak-
ing should not be left to the recommen-
dations of one man, l respectfully rec
Z ommend that a commission or board
he appointed to consider and report to
the president. for recommendation to
congress. on the necessity or desirable
ify for the establishment Of national
aerodynamic laboratory and on its
scope, its organization, the most suit.
able location for it and the cost Of its
Installation
Working on the assumption that
aeroplanes can be carried. slowed and
easily launched from all large ships,
the latter by means of the catapult re-
Gently tested successfully at the Wash
eington navy yard. Captain Chambers
mas prepared list of contemplated
uses of the bydroaeroplane in actual
naval warfare. They are.
ITO reconnoiter an enemy's port or to
search out his advanced bases and to
assist In the operation of a blockaded
or blockading force, to locate and de
stroy submarine mines, submarine anG
torpedo boats; to damage an enemy's
docks, magazines, ships in repair, sheds
and other resources; to provide means
of rapid confidential communication
between a feet commander and the
commanding officer Of a force on shore
or the commander Of another fleet OF
division.
They can be carried on all scouts
and large cruisers to extend the eyes
OF the feet They can be carried with
ample supplies on board any naval
supply auxiliary for scouting advanced
bases and use with expeditionary
forces"
In response to Captain Chambers
suggestion President Taft appointed a
commission on an aerodynamical labo-
ratory, of which DR.. r. S. Woodward,
president of the Carnegie institute of
Washington and representative Of
the National Academy of Sciences, is
chairman.
The object Of the commission will be
to report to the president, for recon-
mendat1on to congress, on the necessity
or desirability of esta blishing a nation
al aerodynamical laboratory, its scope,
organization, the most suitable location
Tor it and the cost Of its installation.
In a letter to the president commend
ing the appointment of the committee
Secretary Meyer said:
The construction of air craft among
all the leading powers of Europe is
now based largely on scientific infor-
(madon obtained at their notable aero
dynamic laboratories, and the installa-
ton OF such plant In this country is
regarded as necessity to our CONNER
clas interests and to the production of
sa1ety and efficiency In our air craft"
IN his annual report Rear Admiral
fhlhp Andrews, chief Of the bureau
OF navigation Of the navy department,
pointed out through the delay in estab-
hsnlng an aerodynamic laboratory in
tne United States there had resulted
waste of time ard money.