Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-06-30
HOW EUROPE GOT ITS AIR FLEETS
Private Citizens Raised 100000 Francs France and 100000
Marks in Germany Buy Aeropanes for Their Govern
ments-The Parliaments Did the Rest.
BY HENRY WooDHoUSE
Governor of the Aero Club of Amerlcs

Governor of the Ae
TNHB French and German aeroplane fleets
i of today were built largely by public
subscriptions collected through public in
terest.
In February, 1912. soon after the first en-
ployment of aeroplanes in the French mill
tary maneuvers, when the potentially of
the air service became evident, and even
after the French Government had failed to
allow the appropriations necessary to secure
an adequate aeronautical organization for
the French army, public subscription was
started.
In every part of France the peop1e-men
and women, rich and poor young and old,
and of all beliefs and factions-united their
efforts with the press and political social.
professional and sporting organizations, and
all contributed their share to give France
large aerial fleet and make it supreme in
aerial armament. When the movement be-
gan France had 2OS aeroplanes and 10 dirigi-
bles in commission.
Government Obeys Popular Demand
The national public subscription brought
6,114,s46 francs with which the committee in
charge bought 70 aeroplanes in 1912, 81 in
1913 So in the first three months of 1914.
Twenty more aeroplanes were presented d.
rectly to the State. making 2OS aeroplanes
that were secured through the public sub
scription alone. Public subscription money
also paid for establishing 81 landing stations
for aeroplanes and for the instruction of rs
aviRtors.
The public interest created by the sub,
scrlption was tremendous, and led to the
immediate consideration OF the aeronautical
needs of France by the Government.
In March, 1912, the Chambers approved
measure to organize the aeronautical sec
ton, which was signed by President Fall
Heres, and thereafter military aeronautics
in France progressed in leaps and bounds
BY April. 1914. the French army possessed
1900 aeroplanes and 2s dirigibes, and most
complete and efficient equipment.
Germany's supremacy in the air through
the zeppelins has been matter of years
of standing. Her development in aviation
is however a matter of recent date, and
was due principally to the public subscrip-
ton started by the Aerial League in Ger
many in 1919.
Aeroplanes Were Toys in Germany
Previous to the French maneuvers OF 1911
aeroplanes were considered toys in Germany
But the French maneuvers and the great
aeroplane circuits of 1912 proved their mill
tary efficiency. and Prince Henry fathered a
movement to develop an efficient aviation
organization. At the time the few aero
planes flying in Germany were either copies
of French machines or OF Wright machines
with an occasional Etrich monoplane, The
motors were all foreign. Under the care OF
Prince Henry progress was very rapid. The
Aerial League OF Germany started public
| subscription and collected 7,2S4,boe marks,
and the Kaiser was persuaded to offer 5000
marks for a competition for German aero
plane motors. The purpose OF the league
was to train within the shortest time as
| large a number as possible OF aviation pilots
to form a reserve and to encourage the
general development OF aviation in Germany.
| This 1t did by subsidizing the constructors.
giving 800 marks for each able pilot in
| structed. Following are some OF the results
obtained;
The number Of pilots was $50 at the end
OF 1875 It increased 70 600 by the end OF 1875
the constructors OF asroplanes were less
than 20 in 1919; they increased to so by the
end OF 1918.
In the contests for duration in sthe last
six months OF 1919. 122 German civilian avia-
tors new three hours without stoppingi "a
four hours; 40 fve hours; "a six hours 1s
seven hours; 10 eight hours; nvs nine hoursi
two IL hoursi two 12 hours two Is hours
two Il hours; one IS hours, ana two 1e
hours The developments due 70 the Efforts
OF the Aerial League led the Reichstag 70
pass a plan providing Tor an expenditure OF
lss Ooo.000 for military asronauties ia ths fol-
lowing hve years
For 1914 the Ieagus planned to spend
s,s75.5To marks, as follows:
For duration hights.........-.-. 100000 maFki