The Washington times., 1916-04-06
WANTS DEPARTMENT.
|: OF j. S. AERONAUT|CS
Executive Committee Of Aero
Club Points Out Importance
: Of Defense Branch.

Reasons for Endorsement of the sug-
gestion for a Department OF Aero
nautics under a Secretary OF Aeronau-
tics is given in letter to Congressman
Lieb OF Indiana from Alan r. HawIey
and Henry Woodhouse, Of the executive
committee OF the Aero Club. of America.
The United States has more reasons
for having n substantial air service, and
more resources for developing the same
than any other country in the world
the letter states.
THE Atlantic undoubtedly Will be
crossed by aircraft within two years, -
these experts predict, ''and within ten
years our shores will be exposed 70
aerIa, attack from aircraft as the Brit
ish shores are today.
II villa Had Machines.
We shudder at the thought of wha,
would happen n Villa had aeroplanes
As we have no air service, and no afr
craft guns, the lives and property OF
people living in New Mexico, Arizona,
and Texas. and the lives OF our soldiers
VINO are participating In the Villa hum
woulc be In grave danger"
~ is stated that the army and navy
bills; now before Congress, show thu
aeronautics. and II is pointed out that
other countries have such a department
Inc pasic purpose of such a depart.
mont; IL Is explained. would be to foster
the development of aeronautics.
giv. ihs eia 1in,,oa that nothing else could
iense SO quickly and cheaply as the
building OF air craft. The following
summary OF the present status Of aero
hautlcs IN this country is given:
Army Aeronautics-Consist ~ m
very small organization, having at pres.
ent only two aeroplanes in commission
and less than twenty trained men avail.
able Tor service. There IL only one army
aviation school. ut San Diego, located on
field belonging to private owners, who
may need II any day.
Situation in Navy.
Navy AeronautIcs-Consis also OF
a small organization, with less than
twenty aeroplanes in commission; n sin.
gle hangarship; and a small traIninr
dirigible. The navy has only one aero.
nautic station. at Pensacola II has ar
efficient but too small aerodynamic lab.
oratory.
Militia Aeronautics-This was started
by the national aeroplane fund insti.
tnted by the Aero Club Of America last
year when Congress went out OF session
without providing for the development OF
aeronautics In the army and navy.
Thirty states are now anxious to or.
ganize aviation attachments in the ma.
tional guard and naval militia, and ar,
applying to the Aero Club Of Americs
Tor assistance In getting aeroplanes and
equipment In most cases the militia
authorities had been trying for a Ions
time to get aeroplanes. but had beer
unable TO provide same on account OF
the lack of funds and inability 10 re,
aeroplanes from either the Army OF
Navy Department
The Coast Guard Aerial Corps: A
project to establish a system OF aeria,
coast defense was evolved last year
from plans proposed by Capt. " r
Clark. Of the United States Army Aero
Corps; John Hays Hammond. jr.. Real
ADMIRAL Robert f. Peary. and others
The Aero Club OF America and its TWEEN
ty-seven affiliated aero clubs adoptet
the project and offered their co-opera
ton. and support 70 develop the plan
Inc chamber or commerce OF Portland
the first station.