The weekly tribune and the Cape County herald. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1914-1918, 1916-11-10
UNCLE SAM Will
STANDARDIzE HIS
ARMY FLYlNCSQUAD

Each aeroplane squadron Will have
the following equipment:
u aerOplanes.
% motor trucks, including a tank
truck for fuel.
l seven-passenger automobile.
7 motor cycles.
II portable canvass hangers.
> portable machine shops with stock
material and equipment.
| 10 square aero motors.
Full assortment Of spare parts for
aeroplanes, motor trucks, automobiles
and motorcycles.
Fuel and oil sufficient to last six
months.
Full Photographic, signal and other
equipment.
| y machine guns and ammunition.
y rifles and ammunition.
y shot-guns and ammunition.
II revolvers and ammunition.
The mechanical equipment of each
squadron, exclusiveof the ordnance and
quartermasters' supplies, will cost APP
proximately S465,0OO.
The statistics compiled after obser-
vations were made of a squadron in
actual practice on 4 war footing on
| the Mexican border. On the basis of
what necessary for that unit, equip
ment is now being assembled at San
Antonio for the two additional regu-
| lar army aeroplanes, squadrOnS, re-
Gently authorized, operating "a flying
machines The 1900 men necessary to
| form the two squadrons are now being
sent to San Antonio as rapidly as they
can be recruited.
The reasons given by officials for
giving each squadron supplies sufi-
cient to last six months follow:
Experience with an aero squadron
in garrison and in the field has dem
onstrated that an aero squadron, upon
receipt of orders for field service,
should be equipped with sufficient
quantity of supplies to maintain it for
at least six months. One-half TO these
supplies can be easily carried into the
zone Of advance on the squadron truck
transportation; the remainder should
be held at the base as an available
reserve. during the time the base is
being equipped and organized"
Explaining the condition met by the
hrst Aero Squadron in Mexico which
led the compilation of the equipment
list it is stated:
"The first Aero Squadron. while OPP
Grating within the zone of the line of
communications of the punitive e1-
petition, found it necessary to estab-
lish three 'refilling stations between
the base and division headquarters,
and this may be considered as a nor
nal condition that will be encountered
with any similar expedition. The adj
vance of the expedition from Column
bus. \. NJ, to Parral, Mexico, d dis
lance Of approxir- ateIy 500 miles, was
as severe a test Of supply and main
tenance' as would normally be encoun-
tered"
While the list furnishes an outline
of the equipment necessary for an aero
base for each squadron, it is intended
that the personnel for the operation
of this base, shall not be drawn from
the squadron. 1t is intended that the
skilled mechanics shall be provided
through the mobilization from COM
mercial factories in time of war of a
reserve of men highly trained in the
particular branches required.
On the basis of the regular army
list, National Guard aero units must
be equipped. Before a State aero
company or squadron can be accepted
as part of the Federalized National
Guard, it must be able to produce for
inspection the full equipment specified,
and the expense of assembling and
caring for the material is so great that
it is regarded as unlikely that many
states will desire to develop this par
ticular branch of the military service.
although Congress has provided for
twelve aero squadrons, one to operate
with each of the twelve National
Guard divisions.
Plans are being perfected by the
War Department by which National |
Guardsmen who wish to enter the avia-
ton service will be educated by the |
When a sufficient num-
Der of members of the Guard in any
locality have complied with the neces-
sary preliminaries and passed the pre-
scribed examination, an aero company
or squadron equipment will be sup
piled, complete in every detail, by the
Federal Government, which will also
boor tho ox1Do,,ca of H.