Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-08-20
=.
JACK OF AER0PLANES
FOR NAVAL MILITIA
SERIOUS PROBLEM
e,.te Organizations Will APP
20 nsal to Governors Confer
ence for Equipment That
Is Needed Badly
-, WING BOATS" ABROAD
,,ro Club of America Sounds Call
'''' for Air Craft to Assure
Preparedness
Flying BOATS" ABROAD

,..hn,,v OF the Navy Department
~ a,v the naval militia OF % States,
% '-Ss pennsylvania, with aeroplanes
.roa,ed a serious situation with re-
- national defenses. especially coast
"Iu !, was announced today by the
dtlenscSs, c,,,h NJ America. IL is estimated
Ado Lar will pass before the various
np. "oysanizations will receive Federal
~ IN. strength Of promises made by
NAVY Department seVerh 1lon.ns
Y. ne heads Of the militia iinineolatey
ta1e.v many OF these corps have been
Nov and serious work Is about 10
l'nle" ,he equipment is lacking and the
pfsss ~ The national aero body and the
iunos s,,rgonizations are insufficient TO
.',nnly this need a.. ,.,...
AZ aporterence. which will hold ses-
np,s .' n, BOSTON from August "a TO 70 10
~, w. son,e action so that the aerial de-
~ ~. noyement in every State may re-
l.nr p.srs an impetus and the militia orgam-
rive az 80 the states be supplied with
iauons iaun..ssorv equipment. A circular let
ine nss,ine forth the unpreparedness OF
w W ssrntrv In the way of aerial defenses
Wy ne needs Of the various State or
" t,ons has been sent to every GOV
amor. A.. A.. Ar,ar,c,r
.r .no or,ns oniy Ave aeroplanes, the army
~ "A nnly two could be mustered In all
.~,l,tla organizations in the country.
M few army Reroplanes are at San
n,sgo Cal, and the navy machines are
= Pensacola, Fla. 1t is pointed out thet
y .orne ,crank should set fire to the
- the
.,,ii -a,aa no entirely deprived of aeronautical
.0nnment. The letter says:
".sTha United States has excellent ia
,llt,es for making aeroplanes, but the
.rifst is almost all being shipped to
v,rorA This year GOO aeroplanes have
n.r h,nped to belligerent nations. But
sssre are few skilled air pilots In this
country and Il would take months and
months Of training to. secure the neces-
ssrv n6mber Of aviators in case OF war.
~ fsw naval aviators have never
maneuvred with the feet and do not know
mai ships and submarines look like
s,orn the air. Naval commanders have
never had an opportunity to use aero
planes
rArmy aviators have never had the op-
uortunity Of operating with troops; the
artillery has no aerial observers and has
never practised firing with aviators as
'ypotters"; the majority of officers and
me rank and Ale have never had an OPP
pottunlty to familiarize themselves with
ihe work Of aeroplanes.. The Philippine
l,lands, the Hawaiian Islands and the
Panama Canal have no aerial protection.
'sThe national guard and the naval
militlA-the backbone of our defense sys-
tenl-have had no experience with an
aeroplane and the officers and men have
never had an opportunity to become ac-
auainted with it's possibilities as a scout
and as a range finder for big guns.
something must Immediately be done
TO correct these deplorable conditions. and
We respectfully suggest that this matter
n organizing aviation corps In the ma
ttus guard and naval militia be given
ftndderation at the Governors confer
snrs. which is to be held at Boston Au-
euN n to 26."