Payette enterprise. (Payette, Canyon Co., Idaho) 1909-1935, 1916-07-20
ADMIRAL PEARY EXPLAINS
AERIAL COAST PATROL
GORDON or PICKET SEAPLANES COULD PATROL ENTIRE
COAST Of UNITED STATES. L|FESAVERS IN PEACE,
WINGED SCOUTS IN time OF WAR;

the submarine squadrons for the
preparation of the coast defenses
and for the concentration of troops
if necessary, while reserve planes
hurrying out, will keep the approach
ing craft under continuous inspec.
ion, while themselves invisible.
IDEA is NEW ONE.
Such a system is new depart
ure. The like of it exists nowhere
at present and yet it involves nc
new principle, but is simply the uti.i
cation and multiplication of the
known capabilities of a single sea-
plane.
Had there been such a system
round the British Isles a year ago
the Lusitania horror would not have
occurred.
Follow me moment. One of these
seaplanes is traversing its Leaf so
to 100 miles west of San Francisco
and 1000 feet or more up in the air.
A ship or ships appear on the hori-
zon so miles farther out. The pow
erful glasses are brought into play
| by the observer. His trained eye
recognizes the number, character and
course of the ships. The wireless
crackles the information to the shore
station. The shore station trans
NIT "a h. Uarrl or
wireless station at San Diego. That
station snaps it eastward across the
Rockies. In a few minutes Wash
ington knows al about it, and, If
necessary, orders are snapped back
to San Francisco for whatever act
ion is advisable.
Let us imagine it is war. This
advance notice of the approach OF
the enemy is the first step. In mod
ern warfare, hours and even minutes
may spell victory The enemy is
still unaware that his approach Is
known, for the sentinel seaplane
Was invisible to him. With the next
step, a cloud of scout aeroplanes
sweep out in such numbers as to
overwhelm and destroy the enemy's
| aeroplanes, leaving him blinded.
Then follow the squadrons of great
| battle triplanes, each machine carry
ing several tons of high explosives
to drop anon the hostile fleet. You
can imagine the result.
TRAINING VALUE GREAT.
In the time of peace the undoubt-
ed Improvement and perfecting of
our seaplanes as result ofsthe 50
or more machines in this system in
constant practice and training along
our coasts may be worth the cost OF
the entire system. If the system
results in training the entire per
sonnet of the militia sections of our
Coast States, it will have returned
full value on the cost of the system.
And a single plane might discover,
report and send assistance to ship
in distress that, with cargo, would
be equal in value to the total cost
of the system.
1t is proposed to supply the equip
ment of these stations, $4,000 for
station, by the private initiative
and generosity of the Coast communi
ties. Once equipped, the stations
will be turned over to the control
of the Naval Militia, and the main
tenance and upkeep of the stations
will be met by that department..
Two years ago England was as
We now asleep. and with more
reason than we, for the possibilities
of the aeropiane were not then
known, while we now have before JUS
an object lesson which no intelli-
gent mind that knows the facts can
fail to understand They felt secure, !
as we do now. The idea that any
thing could reach or harm them in |
their tight little island" was pre-
posterous.
NOW is RIGHT TIME.
With the money assured, we must |
learn and utilize now the lesson
Providence has put before us. We
have the chance to learn it in peace |
and sunshine, Our neighbors across
the water are learning it in tears
and bloodshed The aero coast pat
rol system can be begun at once and
completed in year at cost that
will be trivial compared with its
value.
Suppose such horror from the
air should fall upon this city as has
fallen more than once upon
the east coast of England, leaving a
trail of dead and dismembered wo-
men and children. mutilated men
and ruined property. Would the
whole country flame with rage?
Would there be g snarl of why has
his happened?'' who is responsi-