Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1914-06-05
CONGRESS FINALLY CREATES AN
AVIATION SERVICE AS PART
or SIGNAL CORPS.
ANNUAL COST TO BE $4,000
United States Slow to Recognize Its
Importance in Warfare, but Value
of AeropIane Has Been DEM
onstrated at Vera Cruz.
BY GEORGE CLINTON.

given recognition to the science of
aviation as a feature of warfare. The
house of Representatives has passed
unanimously bill creating military
aviation service as 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, a privi-
legged position which would have al
lowed it to be brought to 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 by
the fact that there was not dissent
ing vote cast when the question was
put.
Ever since the army secured its
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 $260,000 a year
to put the new service into operation
and to keep 1t effective. Unquestion-
ably the Mexican situation was large
ly responsible for the unanimous vote
in the house on the measure. On the
day it was passed there seemed to be
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 when
war rumors are afoat kindly spirit
toward the army was aroused in the
members and they voted the money
which the war department asked to
enable them to increase the efficiency
of its air service.
The army has sacrificed several
lives in the work of aviation expert
menting. Six years ago when con-
gress appropriated money to buy one
machine provided it should prove ca
pable of sustained flight, an army OIL
Ger, Lieutenant Selfridge, volunteered
to make the ascent with one of the
Wright brothers. The machine col
lapsed and young Selfridge was killed
and Aviator Wright was badly in
jured. This was the arIny's first sac
rifice in the work Of developing the
new science.
To show how far behind the United
States has been in military aeronau-
tics it 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 $30,000,000; France, $22,-
100000; Russia, $12,OoO,oO0; Italy, So
100000; Austria, s5,0O0,OOO; England,
So 900, 900; Belgium, $2,000,000; Japan,
$1,500,OOO, 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 were
az the greatest assistance to the
United States army and navy in spy
ing out the land" after the occupa-
tior OF the seaport. The navy has
aeroplanes and with the fleet were
two or three Of these machines. Off
GERS made daily flights far inland and
Iocated gradually the positions of Gen
'eral MASS troops and brought back
reports of the condition of the rail
road, large parts of which we're re-
ported to have been destroyed by the
Mexican federals.
While on three of these trips in the
air the aviators were fired at by Mex
lean sharpshooters, but. with their
machines, they escaped injury. The
service is most perilous one to mill
tary and naval life for there is not
only the danger of battle, but the ever
present danger of accident to the ma
chinery or to wing of the machine
and then the usual fall to death.
Wilson to Have His Way.
Judging by what he has accom-
plished with his part in the past
there seems to be no solid reason t
believe President Wilson will fail Il
get his antitrust legislation through
the senate in the form IL which he
desires it to pass. Some onlookers
in Washington view the situation
with respect to this legislation a:
not being favorable st this moment
to the administration, but despite the
form which opposition has taken il
seems likely the administration vii
be victorious.
The antitrust policy, Els outlined In
legislation which the senate Is about
TO receive from the hands OF the
house. is opposed more or less ear
nestly by good many OF the Pro
| gressives of all the parties in con
| gress and also by certain great busl
ness interests, a curious combinatlor
of antagonisms, for the opposing eie
ments stand upon entirely diffeTen
| grounds. The more progressive, or
| perhaps, as some would put it, thE
more radical OF the Democrats, thinl
that the legislation as it has beer
| framed is not in high sense pro
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