Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-06-08
ARMY And NAVY

Much interes; was expressed by
army officers IN the passage Monday
afternoon of a Hay aviation bill by
the house OF representatives This
measure is regarded by army officers
as the most important aviation legis-
Ilation that has so far been passed by
Congress. 1t provides for at least the
nucleus of an effective aeronautic or
ganization in the army, still keeping
] the aviation business under the con-
i troll Of the signal corps.
The bill provides for an additional
enlisted force Of ESQ men and so Off
GERS. who will be available for the
aviation detail. The enlisted men will
include such expert mechanics ma
chinists and other mechanicians as
are needed to fill out an effective aero
plane squadron.
| According to the general plans now
entertained the new division win be
divided into comparatively small
I"squadrons," and each Of these will be
provided with fast passenger automo-
biles for transporting aviators and
their mechanicians from place toplace
while there win be heavy trucks, ca
Ipable of making probably rs miles an
hour, that will carry gasoline and spare
parts as we'll as very much heavier
and slower trucks that practically will
be machine shops On wheels capable
of making any remains needed by aero
planes In the Held, s.s
The bill viii now 60 to the senate,
where IL there Is no unforeseen delay
or opposition sit Is expected to pass
within few days. III
The immediate interest In this act
i've development is the prospect Of Its
making active work possible In con-
Fnection with any operation the gov
eminent may decide on in Mexico
Lieut.. Thomas Milling. who holds the
cross country aviation record In the
United States. has just returned from
q tour Of the European flying fields,
where he made special study OF mill
itary aviation, both In the machines
used and the administra tive organiza-
tons. Incidentally, he studied what
was being done with dirigible balloons
both In France and Germany.
Since the naval force has been sent
to Vera Cruz four of the navy ayia.
tors with military flying boats have
been lowering over the city and have
gone almost so miles Inland. There
have been five of the army officers
available for shore duty in case an
dictionary force was sent inland,
and these have been waiting for some
weeks at Galveston, but have not yet
been sent forward. 1t has been feared
in case active military operations were
undertaken IN Mexico this country
would not have the necessary men
either trained or available for train
ing. 49,
The Hay bill provides the necessary
addition to the army to make an eff
fectiye aeroplane organization. 1t still
will require months of training to get
ayiators accustomed to the air and
trained sufficiently to be of use for
military observation. but army Off
GERS interested In the development of
flying surfacetsay there is now reason.
able prospect of having the men and
the money available for the new work.
- y
Scarcity of cavalry remounts might
prove serious in case of a campaign of
any length by the United States forces
in Mexico. Capt w. s. Valentine, COM
handing the Fort Reno, Okla, re-
mount depot, recently received an or.
der from the war department for 200
horses for the Mexican service. He
lacked 500 of the required number and
was compelled to enter the open mar
ket to get them.
II there should be further demand
Tor cavalry horses, the situation
might become embarrassing. In peace
the horse equipment of the regular
army is 10000, supplied at the rate of
about 5000 a year. A war footing
would raise the number to $4,000, to
De followed by new issue every four
or six months. making a total con-
sumption of 100000 to 10000 horses
"a year.
The government is perplexed with
us cavalry horse problem. Three or
tour weeks ago there was a shortage
or more than 1000 horses, which the
remount depots at Fort Reno. Fort
keogh. Mont. and Fort Royal. Va. had
net been able to overcome.
The cavalry type of horse has for
years been disappearing in the United