Evening journal., 1915-08-24
AEROPLANE SQUADS
URGED FOR States
Governor Miller Receives
Letter From the Aero
Club of America
MEDAL TO MILITIA
OFFICERS FOR SKILL

6 AS a result OF the inability Of the
Navy Department TO fulfill the prom
ise, made several months ago. to
'1oan" aeroplanes TO the Naval Mi
: litia of the twenty-three States that
have such organizations, which would
delay the organization of aviation
corps until either Congress or the
State Legislatures provide for same.
the Aero Club of America has recelv-
ed many requests for assistance from
heads OF the naval militia The club, as
a preliminary 10 making special efforts
20 meet this need, has written to the
+ governors of every State, who are
holding a conference at Boston. ask
ing that the matter Of organizing
aviation corps in the National Guard
and Naval Militia be given consid-
eration at the governors conference.
In the letter Il is pointed out that
Abe militia. being the backbone of our
system Of defense. should be equip
ped with aeroplanes, that the men
might have an opportunity to man
euver under conditions closely ap-
proximating those Of modern war
fare, and 0f becoming acquainted
with the possibilities Of the aeroplane
ne a scout. range-finder for artillery
aud for coast defense.
The inability Of the Navy Depart
ment TO fulfill its promise to the
Naval Militia has created serious
condition. When the offer was made
the heads Of the militia Immediately
went to work organizing aeronauti-
al
z ready to take up the work in earnest
!. they cannot get the necessary aeron-
nutical equipment from the Navy De-
pnrtment
In its letter the Aero Club Of Amer
1ca urges that this interest, now that
a has been thoroughly aroused,
should be maintained, and that every
effort should be made to aid the mi
htia. In order to provide the neces-
sary equipment IL invites the COVER
nors OF all the States to cooperate
IN increasing the National Aeroplane
Fund, to which Emerson Mcmillan, OF
New York. besides contributing ST.
600. has offered a ten per cent. bonus
FOR all amounts collected up TO $780,
= 900. II done before February /. 1916.
As soon as conditions will permit
a transcontinental aeroplane race and
other aeroplane contests will be held
in which militia aeroplanes will rep
resent their States This will make
the militia aviators' work very pop
=. ular and attractive,
To induce officers OF the National
Guard and Naval Militia to take a
/ personal interest in aeronautics, the
Aero Club offers a medal OF distinc-
tion 10 the FIRST officer OF each State
20 earn the aviation pilots certificate.
II also urges that a resolution be
adopted at the governors conference
asking the Senators and Congress
men Of each State to support forth
coming measures 10 provide aeron-
nutical equipment for the militia.
The letter has been sent TO Cover
nor Charles r. Miller and executives
A Of all other States and in part says:
"To induce officers Of the National
Guard and Naval Militia TO take a
n personal interest in aeronautics, the
club hereby offers a medal of dis
finction to be awarded to the first
e officer of the National Guard and
Naval Militia Of each State who earns
N the aviation pilots certificate The
distinction OF being the first officer
of the National Guard or Naval Mi
= litia of a State TO earn this certifi-
cate is a matter worthy of record
in the history Of the militia. and the
Aero Club OF America will include
I. the names Of the ofii, ers who win
the distinction in the records Of the
development Of American military
taeronautics."