Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-03-24

would proNlCe the tnlleu states WIN
fleet of many airshps and efficient
seronauts. will be created if a bill now
in preparation gains the expected sane
tion of Congress.
| The aerial corps would operate IS a
component part of the coast guard. IN
time of peace it would be utilized IN
the work of the coast guard in con-
serving life and property at sea. In
time of war. with the coast guard. 1t
would become an auxiliary of the
United States Navy and provide a
most efficient arm of coast defense.
Measure of Preparedness.
As measure of preparedness the
coast guard aerial corps would meet
the general demand that the United
States he equipped with an efhcient
fleet of arships for guarding the
coast and spying out an enemy ap-
preaching by sea or through the ar.
The work of the aerial corps III con-
serving life and property at sea "ouia
be the proper expansion and develop
ment of the efficiency of the coast
guard.
The operation of the aerial corps in
stormy weather. to bring aid to strahd :
ed and wrecked ships and men ihspei
led by angry seas. ana IN hfN ~ 'ii'
in air out of sight of land. IN scare.
of distant derelicts in the path of navl-
CATION would be battle with the ele-
nents that would provide tfainlns
and result in an efficiency for war du't
that could not he obtained by amy ma
neuyers EXPERIMENTATION or practlce
with the purely military purpose IN
view. 49, e
Also. the project has the virtue OF
not being dead charge to militaT.
fciency like the navy: but coulh pe
marked off the books as an expense
fo,. prepareduess in view OF the great
work and tremendous saving o, pt?p
ertv effected by the coast Suard' ",''Sh
would be augmented ana lur' ne, s
AN aerial corps. an economy the'
now u1auv times the cost OF h'alh'a'h-
ing and operating the coast suaro.
These features of the plan. II seems
certain. VIII appeal 10 %. so,.,,sd
nublic opinion clamoring for prepared
.nass md legislation impeded by the .It-
mendous expenditures involved VII w,
out return other than secur''N. '
the humane and UNITARIAN Sc III 10
a coast guard aerial corps couiu oS
converted to war purposes is resafue"
as a strong card in favor or inc e"
actmeut of the desired legislation.
The bill as in preparation proposes
tho establishment of aeronautc sta,ohs
aIo,r the coasts of the United states
There is TO be at least one eia oora'e
repair shop, where seriously 'hJu'e" "''
craft may be made over
A number OF officers are added 10 ,ie
cos,st guard personnel. to proVlde lhe
corps of aeronautical nav'sators: ne
grade of aeronauticib inach,his'
crea ted with authorization 70 nesi,.iiit ~ y !,
men to such posts The pay OF ofncera
and men attached to the aerial corps
is TO be 81 per cent additional to the
pay of their grade.
Task for Secretary of Trasury.
The Secretary of the Treasury is
intrusted with the task OF bringing
the aerial corps into being, and IS
given wide discretion in the matter
of selecting the points where the aero
nautic stations should be established
Contemplation of the plan has been
mentioned heretofore in the press. and
has resulted in an unsolicited indorse-
ment of the plan by the Aero Club of
America the great factor in advancing
aeronautics in the United States. The
communication is addressed TO Acting
Secretary Byron r Newton "f 'he
Treasury Department. under who's"
jurisd dictlon as ASSISTANT s'ie'h'H
comes the coast guard.
Henry Woodhouse. governor Aero
Club of America. signs the endorsement
Of the plan. which reads:
MY Dear Mr.. Newton: ! have noted
with great interest that you and Com
mandant E. =. Bertholf of the coast
guard are perfecting a plan Tor the Or
ganiZation of an aeroplane corps as
AN adjunct to the United states coast
guard in saving life and property along
the American coast line,
The use of the aeroplane in this
work. while new and novel. is thor
oughly practical. and 1T would prove
especially efficient in patrol work ana
the keeping up of communication be-
tween isolated lighthouses ana the
main base of supplies
Please advise US regarding the
further details of this plan.
Assuring YOU of our heartiest CO.
The development of an efilcieht aerial
coast patrol, | remain etc.
GOV Woodhouse OF the Aero Club of
America in this communication sug-
gests the use of aircraft to carry sup
plies TO isolated lighthouses: this
would be a new application of the use
fulness OF the airship III d direction
where il is much needed, Tor many
lighthouses are cut off for months from
! communication. But the great useful
ness Of the aerial corps would be di-
rected to an expansion of the ordinary
work Of conserving life and property
at
Flying i'll storm to carry lines TO
vessels in peril off shore-and aircraft
are now nown in high wiud-would
augment the work Of shore guns which
so often fail to reach mark through
wind resistance to the line they shoot.
In hunting for derelicts the greater
speed Of aircraft, and the greater hor
izou appearing at the height at which
il flies expands the search capacity of
the coast guard cutter, slower of speed
and limited to vision from the bridge
of the five-mile circle of the horizon.
Should the aircraft be required. like
the coast guard cutters, to do cruising
duty during period of the year, pow
erful searchli2hts would be part of
their equipment. At night these search
lights would seek out the danger spots
along the coast for any stranded ves-
sells or other peril of the sea
Field for Intrepid Airmen.
Both aeroplanes and diriSibles in
their use in the European war. have
developed the science of oversee aero
nautics to a point where ii seems that
nothing is Impossible to the intrepid
and skilled aeronaut, Machines are
being made that carry fuel supply
sufficient for several hundred miles of
travel in air.
The aircraft that viii be the prin-
4 -l.t IL.