The Washington times., 1916-05-10
SPEAKERS IN PLEA
, FOR AERIAL PATROL
Chamber Of Commerce Urged
to Further Securing a Plane
for Washington.

Assistant Secretary OF war william
n. Ineraham. made a strong plea for the
establishment OF a branch OF the Ma
ticnh Aerial Coast Patrol In Washing
ton before the Chamber of Commerce
last NIGHT at his debut In washington
~ q public speaker. Rear Admiral Rob-
ert e. Peary. OF the coast patrol COM
mission, and Congressman Jacob r.
Meeker. OF st. Louis, spoke on the
necessity Of Washington business men
joining In this movement for protection
Of the National Capital and the fur
therfns OF commercial interests
mrouEh protection OF the coasts In
The question Of the aerial coast pa
troll was brought up In q speech by
Admiral Peary. Members were told
that washington was completely at the
NJ y,s q an rs AR raid The w:neuysrs
the city q short time ago dropping
bombs" NJ will and destroying"
property were called to their attention.
ana they were told that London and
Paris are suffering that sort OF vista
ton ut regular Intervals
Peary Draws Lesson.
Admiral Peary told the business men
that Aviator Stephen MacGordon flew
With q passenger from Newport News
to washineton and returned TO Newport
NeNs In five hours, a few weeks ago.
These facts. said Admiral Peary, point
TO the practicability or the aeroplane as
the reason that London and Paris have
suffered 20 little damage from air raids
because OF the protection that Is given
xssistant Secretary OF war ssraham
declared that he appreciated the well
come given him In Washington. to
Of the President's official FAMILY:
cssn s.y's y; c tssl som E. before ssS
trust you win take the lead in providing
your beautiful city with hydro-aero-
plane as z part Of the plan advocated
thin as BART s Of re
and as q helpful unit In time OF war
feel sure that you will do good work In
the cause.
Remember 1912.
Remember that once before WASH
ingtcn heard the tread or foreign foe.
and II Il ever hears II again It ought
to be prepared. In providing yourselves
With a hydro aeroplane as a unit in the
aerial defense OF the country you will
b doing something nationally as we'll
a Il In Portland. where. although a
little city Of 5000. we raised the full
amount. nearly $1,000. In q very short
while. In fact, the actual collection or
the subscriptions was done by team
work led by the Portland Chamber OF
Commerce in three days.
I'VE felt that in doing this We were
preparing to help the nation as well a.
ourselves. for we figured that perhaps q
foe might land at our port and IL we
were equipped to see him first and to
give the warning. We would be working
In behalf of the nation. For your part
you must hgure that he may come
through at this point. Just as well "a
at New York or Boston or Portland.
This 10 a matter OF civic pride. OF
nstional Importance. II the Chamber
OF Commerce taken hold Of L.. the
project will 80 through. You can do Il.
And after all II Is a business PROPOSE
ton and look for this body to put its
shoulder 70 the wheel and make the
Congressman Meeker Speaks.
Congressman Meeker was introduced
by President Moran to speak on civic
Improvement. but he did not 60 into his
subject until he had relieved himself OF
his views on the hydro-aeroplane ques-
ton.
The hrst thing for you people to do Is
TO get this hydro-aeroplane," he de-
clared. Washington can consider other
plans afterward. As a matter OF fact
the Government hasn't an aeropiane
sub. We have a lot Of gas bags In this
country. but they will be no good In
time OF war. II all the hot air that has