The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1914-12-12
Chief of Aeronautic-
al Bureau Says 200
Machines Are Ur-
gently Required
AS ESSENTIAL AS
OCEAN VESSELS
Plan Will Require Appropriation of ST.
2OO,OOO-Suggests 100 Machines
for Active Service and 100 to Be
Held in Reserve

Washington, Dec. 1.-Two hundred
naval aircraft-100 for active service
gently needed by the United States
and 100 to be held in reserve-are ur-
gently needed by the United States
navy in its plans for national defense
as outlined in recommendations of Cap
tain Mark l.. Bristo, chief of the aero
nautical bureau of the Navy Depart
ment to the House Naval committee
made public to-day.
Captain Bristols recommendation
are contained in supplemental state
ment laid before the committee. Other
testimony of Captain Bristol already
has been made public.
1t would require an appropriation of
$2,2OO,OO0 to bring the aeronautical
branch of the navy up to a proper
standard of efficiency, Captain Bristol
told the committee. It's purposes, he de-
scribed as follows:
What Should Compose Air Navy
1.-The air navy of the United States
must consist of aeroplanes, semi-rigid
or non-rigid airships-the destroyer,
cruiser and battleship of the air, re-
spectively. The aeroplane will be used
for scouting to discover the enemvis
fleet, especially submarines and mines,
and to attack the dirigibles and aero.
planes of the enemy. 1t is the torpedo
boat OF the air against the airship
cruisers and battleships. Having discov-
cred the submarines and mines, it d-
rects the air cruisers to attack these
craft and to countermine and at the
same time protect the cruisers from the
enemy aircraft. The air cruisers also
will lay mines. The air battleships will
meet the aircraft of the enemy in bat
tie; probably will be used to drop aerial
torpedoes on the surface ships of the
enemy and be utilized overland for re-
connalsance and dropping bombs.
Uses of Aircraft in War
1.-The uses to which aircraft can be
put IN war will be better known after
the European war. Ii seems that the
alr navy will be just as essential a part
of the country's fighting force as the
battleshlps and submarines. The front
of our fleet in action has now become
a vertical plan, with submarines and
mines beneath the surface, battleships,
cruisers and destroyers on the surface
and aircraft in the air. To be success
full against any enemy, the country must
have command of the air the same as
command of the sea-
"Any nation that has suitable air
craft could detect submarines he
added. "The aeroplane can see sub
marines and mines very plainly. guide
the dirigible to them, which can descend
close to the water and drop high e1plo-
sives TO countermine the mines or de-
stroy the submarines. We can pick up
the mine down to a considerable depth
below the mine. The submarine, if it
comes to the surface, would be attacked
by the surface craft. The submarine
could dive deep only for limited time,
but must come up and show the peri
scope to get its bearings. A bomb
dropped upon it should not be arranged
to explode until beneath the water. If,
say 200 pounds of high explosive, it
would disturb the submarine not sub
merged more than 80 or 40 feet even
to the extent of disabling it or it might
destroy the periscope. The periscope is
often discovered by the wash it makes.
One could see submarine fifty to
100 feet in clear water.'