New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-02-22
Aeronautical Appropria-
ton Increase Asked In
Aero Club Appeal.
ARMY AND NAVY
NEEDS INDICATED
Aviators Want Pacific Fair
Authorities to Act on Gross
Country Race.
BY GORDON BRUCE.

In an attempt to induce Congress
to increase the aeronautical appropri-
alton for the army and navy, Alan r.
Hawley, president of the Aero Club Of
America, has sent a strong appeal TO
each United States Senator calling his
attention to the present needs, as
stipulated by the officials in charge
OF aviation IN the two departments.
Within few days the Senate will
consider the army and navy app.opri-
alton bills, and it is hoped that a con-
else statement of conditions will cause
the Senators to give the requirements
OF the air service serious considera-
ton.
As the bills stand, after having been
revised by the House Of Representa-
tives, the army will receive 100000
and the navy 100000. Taking into
consideration oil available machines
and the expenditure of the allotted
100000, the army would be able to
boast OF but one aeroplane squadron.
The navy at present is practically
without aeronautical service, since the
necessary funds to put in commission
the machines used at Vera Cruz have
not been forthcoming and the officers
IN charge OF the work are abroad.
The General Board asked for S5,000,-
600. When presented to the House the
bill carried Sl.000,000 for the naval
air service. The House sheared of
half OF that amount, and now it is in
the hands Of the Senate.
All of the above facts are set forth
In the letter sent out by Hr. Hawley,
and which was prepared by Henry
Woodhouse, of the board of governors
of the club. Congress has an amaz-
ing record in the matter of aeronautical
appropriations. That body has con-
sistently refused to approve the rec
concentrations OF the army and navy
officers who have made a study OF avi-
alton and who are In active charge OF
the work.
This has been done in the face o.
the fact that the other great nations
have made steady progress and that
their faith has been justified by the
work OF the aeroplane in the war, not
withstanding the statements of unin-
formed or misinformed persons who
have been unable 10 realize what avi-
alton has meant to the opposing armies
There is only one thing for the Pana-
ma-Pacifc Exposition authorities to do
now. They either should put up the
prize money for the 'cross-country air
race, which was announced more than
a month ago, or declare it off. II is
impossible for the Aero Club to lend
its support to the enterprise as it
stands, and the practical aviators are
beginning to regard the proposition as
joke.
General Thomas Moore, in charge Of
the Eastern end of the affair is all at
sea over the failure OF the San Fran
cisco people to make definite announce
ments of conditions. Meantime scores
Of flyers and manufacturers who took
a lively interest in the event, following
the official letter which was read at
the Aero Club dinner, are turning
away, for the reason that unless the
matter is put before them in tangible
form within month there will be no
hope of preparing machines for entry
Even at that, they could not be ready
in June, the tentative selection for
the start of the big race.