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

Much interest 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 Iegis-
lation that has so far been passed by
Congress. It provides for at least the
nucleus Of an effective aeronautie or
ganization in the army, still keeping
the aviation business under the con-
troll of the signal corps.
The bill provides for an additional
enlisted force Of go 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 will be
divided into comparatively small
sduadrons," and each of these will be.
provided with fast passenger automo-
biles for transporting aviators and
their mechanicians from place to place
while there will be heavy trucks, ca
pable of making probably IS miles an.
hour. that win carry gasoline and spare
parts as well as very much heavier
and slower trucks that practically will
be machine shops On wheels capable
of making any repairs needed by. aero
planes In the field. ss..
The bill viii now 90 to the senate.
where II there is no unforeseen delay
or opposition it Is expected to pass
within a few days.
The Immediate interest In this act
I've development is the prospect of its
making active work possible In con-
nection 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, d
where he made special study of mil !
itary aviation, both in the machines
used and the administrative organiza-
ticns 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 avia.
tors with military flying boats have
been lowering over the city and have
gone almost 50 miles inland. There
have been five Of the army officers
available for shore duty in case an
expeditionafy force was sent inland,
and these have been waiting for some
weeks at Galveston, but have not vet
been sent forward. It has been feared
N case active military operations were
undertaken in Mexico this country
would not have the necessary men
either trained or available for train
ing. - t.. i
The Hay bill provides the necessaryI
addition to the army to make an ef- |
feetiye aeroplane organization. 1t still
viii require months Of training to get
aViators accustomed to the air and
trained sufficiently to be of use for
military observation, but army Off |
GERS interested in the Development of!
Tying surface say there is now reason
able prospect OF shaVing the men and
me money available for the new work. |
zE=s1 s3z3- ~
Scarcity of cavalry remounts might
prove serious in case of a campaign of
any length by the United States forces /
n Mexico. Capt w. S. Valentine. COM
handing the Fort Reno, Okla, rel
mount depot, recently received an or.
Ter from the war department for 1.2O0l
horses for the Mexican service. He
aeked 500 of the required number and
vas compelled to enter the open mar
ret to get them.
II there should be further demand
or cavalry horses, the situation
night become embarra ssing. In peace
ne morse equipment of the regular |
lE l1y is 10000, supplied at the rate of
loout 5000 a year A war footing
YOU'D raise the number to 50.0O0. to I
'e Followed by new issueeeyery four
II SIX months. making a total cons.E
sumption of 100000 to 150,600 horses
/ year. s.ssss..5s.9 Ii ~ - 4
TIE government is perBlexed WITH i
Is cavalry horse problem. Three or
our weeks ago there was shortage
u more than 1000 horses, which the
'emount deputs at Fort Reno. Fort,t
Se6gh. Ment.. and Fort Royal. va. had
iet been able to overcome.
The cavalry type OF horse has for
ears been (iisappaari RIM D. In The sTYnffod 4