The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1915-12-20
AERO CLUB SAYS
AVIATION IS not
TREATED FAIRLY
THE TWO MILLION PROPOSED
FOR THIS BRANCH OF THE
SERVICE is DECLARED TO BE
INADEQUATE.


the utter inadquacy Of the naval pro-
gram submitted by Secretary Daniels
from the standpoint Of aeronautics,
since it does not provide for the plac-
Ing of our navy even as high as tenth
in the rank among nations, has been
sent to Congressman L. p. Padgett.
chairman Of the committee on naval
affairs, house of representatives and
Senator Benjamin r. Tillman, chair
man of the committee on naval af-
fairs of the United States senate:
The Honorable Benjamin r. Till
man, Chairman, Committee on Naval
Affairs, the United States Senate,
Washington, d. G.
My Dear Mr.. Tillman: We have
carefully read the naval program for
the ensuing five years as outlined by
Mr.. Josephus Daniels, the secretary
of the navy, and after due delibera-
ton we respectfully submit for your
consideration the following points re-
garding the apparent inadequacy of
the program:
/. 1t is stated that it is planned
to provide "a well-proportioned navy"
but il il not stated what rank our
navy will have in comparison with the
navies Of the world, and whereas the
provision for aeronautics is barely
sufficient to make our navy tenth,
placing this country behind all the
first and second class powers, we are
alarmed and concerned, because if
this inadequacy covers other branches
of the navy besides aeronautics, the
plan as whole is utterly insufficient
and should be materially extended and
increased.
2. The program allows only ST.
100000 for aeronautics for next year,
which win barely be sufficient to ac-
quire, maintain and operate seventy
five aeroplanes for the year. For the
following four years there is allowed
only 81 100000 year, which will not
even be sufficient to replace worn out
aeroplanes and operate the seventy
five machines to be acquired during
the first year of the program.
3. To allow only seventy-five aero
planes for the navy, our first line of
defense, in these days when aircraft
are deciding factors, and the nations
Of the world are requiring aeroplanes
by the thousands, appears to US to be
extreme lack of due consideration to
this very important branch.
4. The country's demand upon the
administration is for a navy equal to
the best, and whereas the first line Of
defense of the first and second class
powers includes thousands OF aero
planes, it follows that to provide for
seventy-fve aeroplanes is only one
tenth of what we should provide inn
mediately.
5. The potentiality Of aircraft is
increasing in rapid strides and, as Sir
John French has stated, the extent OF
their use in war is practically I'M
limited. Already seaplanes, besides
being the eyes of the fleets, are be-
coming potential instruments for sub
marine warfare, for attacking mer-
chant ships, and for patrolling the
seas as far as three hundre miles
from the coasts. Fights between
aeroplanes are becoming more numer-
Gus. and the war is rapidly being
carried into the air.
g.. We submit, therefore, that il
the naval program is adequate in
every other way, greater considera
ton must be given to aeronautics il
the re-shaping of the program by thu
naval committee of the house of rep
resentatives. If every branch of thu
navy has received the treatment II
the program that aeronautics has re
ceived, we urge that it be rejectes
and a program which will make oul
navy equal to the best substituted.
Z. In the program congress il
urged to increase the appropriation
for the naval militia, so as to suppl.
aeroplanes for training officers of tina
organization, but no specific recon
mendation of what is needed is made
If the navy, for any reason, canno
be iven more than sevgenty-five aero
planes, then the naval militia Of tn
| twenty-three states having such or
! CARNATIONS must be supplied with tn
aeronautical equipment necessary t
form q substantial reserve. Each o
the states having naval militia or ma
val reserve organizations has betweel
/ two and four hattalions. Four aero
planes and the necessary spare part
and equipment should be provided t
/ each battalion.
In conclusion, / beg to assure yo
of the hearty cooperation of tn
Aero Club of America and its twenty
seven affiliated Aero Clubs in any wa
in which these organizations may b
able to assist in securing for thi
country navy equal to the best.
Very sincerely yours,
| (Signed) ALIEN R. HAWLEY,
~ n.