The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-12-19
man Of the CoQam3t&e on Naval ~
fAirS o6sthe Ur3ted etafos Senate:

The honorable BENJAMIN r, Tulman.
Chairman on Naval Affairs, the
UntSd STAGE Senate. Washington,
Ny Dear Mr.. Tulman.
I We have carefully read the naval
program tor tho ensuing i've years as
outlined by Mr.. JosAphus Daniels, the
Secretary Of the Navy. and after due
deliberation we respectfully submit
Tor your consideration The following
points, regarding the apparent made
ouacy OF the ptosram:
!. 1t Is stated that it Is planned to
provide, a well propcrtioned navy"
navy will have In comparison with
the navies OF the world. and. whereas.
the provisions for aeronautics IL bare
~ Aumcient to make our navy tenth.
placing this country behind all the
first and second-class powers. we are
alarmed and concerned, because il
this inadequAcy covers other branches
Of the navy Decides aeyonautics. the
plan. a. whole, Is utterly iusuti-
cieut and should be materially extend
ed and increased.
Appropriation Insufficient.
:. The program allows only $4,000
900 Tor 3e.onAuGce for next year
which will barely be sufficient To ac-
Quire, maintain and operate seventy
Ave areoplanes for the year. For the
following four years there is allowed
only Sl.ooo.ooo a. year. which vii, not
even be SUFFICIENT - replace worn out
aeropianes ard operate the seveaty-
ave machines to be acquired during
the frat year Of the program.
3. To allow Only seventy-nve areo-
planes for the navy, our hrst line of
defense in these days when aircraft
are deciding factors and the nations
Of tho world are requiring ae-opianes
by the thousand appears to US TO be
this very important branch.
I. The countrys demand upon the
administration tor a navy eQua! to
the best ana, whereas, the trst line
Of defense Of the first ana second
class powers includes thousands Of
as-cplAnss. It follows that 10 provide
for se~enty-nve areop!anes Is only
one-tenth OF what We should provide
Immediately
S. The poteatial!ty Of aircraft lie in
crcasing il rapid strides and, as Sir
John French has stated. the extent
Of their use IN mar is practically un-
limited Already seaplanes besides.
being the eyes OF the fleet, are be-
coming potential. instruments for
submarine warfare, for attacking
merchant ships and for pat-ol!.ng the
seas as far as 500 miles from the
coasts Fights between areop.anes
the war is rapidly being carried into
s We subnit therefore. that Il the
naval program is adequate iu every
other way, greater consideration must
be given to areorautics IN the reshap-
ing Q. the program by the Naval Com
raittee otfths House Of Representa-
ttvas II every. branch OF the navy
flas received the treatment IN the
program that aeronautics has received
we urge that II be rejected and
program which will m AXE our navy
equal to the oes. substituted.
.,.s Essential Pastures Lacking.
- Ia the program Congress- l. urged
to Increase the Appropriation for the
naval militia so Is 10 eEppiy areo-
planes for training oMceYs Of that or
daeien o$ whatr:s resded Is MAZDA II
the navy. for any ye4Sor- cannot be
gfSea more than ssverty,6ve asro-
plaoAS, then the naval militia OF the
tvNntyttAteA etAtAs having tucll or
etAitaiioue must ~ SdJpl!AA Nth the
aA{AnAut3Aal e4uipgt tet ne<sSes-y 70
toym 3. suostAsatt1l r1eef~& - acs OF
tas etasss h4vtAg naval Laslins or
n4va, rase-vs orsantxxdonS ass be-
14V60 CWC &E1f 1G0t .OAt I@A&C@aS W.
asroplanes ana the necessary spare
pArtt ana equipment should BE- pro-
y4Aed 70 each battalion.
II coneluf.on. beG to assure you
IL the hearty co-operaaion OF the
Aero Club Of American and !ts TWEEN
tv-set.an a6iliaced areo clubs IN any
way In which these Organizations may
Be, able to aAetst In securing for, this
cp2utyy . navy equal 70 the best
.N@s - Very sincerely yours.
tEakneA) ALAN r. HAWLET,
President Of the Acre Club OF Amer
ihA ~. ass ~