The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1914-06-13
PLANES FOR ARMY.
CONGRESS FINALLY CREATES AN
AVIATION SERVICE AS PART
OF SIGNAL CORPS.
ANNUAL COST TO BE S26O,OOO
United States Slow to Recognize Its
Importance in Warfare, but Value
of Aeroplane Has Been DEM
onstrated at Vera Cruz.
BY GEORGE CLINTON.

given recognition to the science OF
aviation as a feature of warfare. Inc
house of representatives has passed
unanimously bill creating military
aviation service as a part of the sig
nal corps of the army.
One of the curious incidents in con-
nection with this aviation measure
was that 1t had been on the calendar
of the house for five months, prlVl-
legged position which would have al
lowed it to be brought to a vote at
any time, and yet its advocates did
not dare call it up for consideration
for fear it would be defeated. How
groundless the fear was is shown py
the fact that there was not a dissent
ing vote cast when the question was
put.
Ever since the army secured lts
first aeroplane attempts have been
made to get congress to appropriate
sufficient money to keep the military
service of America abreast In aero
nautics of the military services OF the
other nations of the world. Congress
appropriated a little money from time
to time, but not nearly enough to put
the service on a proper plane as mill
tary men viewed the necessities IN
the case.
1t is going to cost s260,000 a year
to put the new service into operation
and to keep it effective. Unquestion-
ably the Mexican situation was large
ly responsible for the unanimous vote
in the house on the measure. On the
day 1t was passed there seemed to De
no probability that the United States
would have to invade Mexico with a
huge force, but the future was uncer'
tain and as is always the case Wnen
war rumors are af1oat kindly spirit
toward the army was aroused In the
members and they voted the money
which the war department asked &c
enable them to increase the efficiency
| of its air service.
To show how far behind the United
States has been in military aeronau
tics II might be said that in five years
only $435,000 was appropriated by con
gress for the aviation service. Ger
many in the same length Of time has
spent nearly $30,0O0,000 France, s22.
OOO, 900; Russia, s12 100000; Italy, IS.
OOO. 900; Austria, s5,OOO,OOO: England
$4,000. 900; Belgium. 100000: Japan
$1,5OO0O0, and five small countries
have spent many hundred Thousands
of dollars more than the United
States
Were Useful at Vera Cruz.
At Vera Cruz the aeroplanes wer
of the greatest assistance to tn
United States army and navy in spy
ing out the land" after the occupa
ton Of the seaport. The navy ha
aeroplanes and with the fleet wer
two or three of these machines. Off
GERS made daily flights far inland an
located gradually the positions of Ger
eral MASS troops and brought bac
reports of the condition of the raj
road, large parts of which were RI
ported to have been destroyed by tn
Mexican federals.
While on three of these trips In tn
air the aviators were fired at by Me-
lean sharpshooters, but, with the
machines, they escaped injury. Tn
service is most perilous one to mil
, tary and naval life for there Is nc
only the danger of battle, but the eve
present danger of accident to the M
chinery or to a wing of the machin
and then the usual fall to death.
Wilson to Have His Way.
Judging by what he has accor
plished with his part in the pas
there seems to be no solid reason
believe President Wilson will fail
get his antitrust legislation throut
the senate in the form in which
= desires 1t to pass. Some onlooke
in Washington view the situate
. with respect to this legislation
: not being favorable at this nome
, to the administration. but despite Il
form which opposition has taken
seems likely the administration W
be victorious.
:. The antitrust policy, as outlined
. legislation which the senate is abo
= to receive from the hands of L
u house. is opposed more or less es
> nestly by a good many of the Pl
, gressives of all the parties in &C
! gress and also by certain great bu
ness interests, curious combinati
of antagonisms, for the opposing e
- ments stand upon entirely differe
> grounds. The more progressive,
. perhaps, as some would put it, t
more radical of the Democrats, thi
that the legislation as II has be
- fronnad La not In, q hinh nnnno ~,