New Britain herald., 1916-06-27
WHERE ARE OUR PLANES?


 the training of civilian aviators for a reserve in time of peace there has | been growing sentiment in this city as well as elsewhere about the coun- try in favor of such a step, and right l ly to. It has been proposed to the government and to the AerOplane Club of America, which has proven an immense factor in furthering the ing school for aviators be established l in this city, with the understanding that those able to pass the necessary 1 civil service examinations be sent to l the front as soon as possible. No in- 1 formation is at present available as to ! the formation of units or the possibil- 1 ity of a number going from one sec 1 ton as a unit and remaining intact. However, it will probably be but short time until definite information is 1 obtainable as to the possibilities of braving a training school here. The war office is appraised of the fact
 
 this vicinity who are willing to Serve in this branch of the service, and it remains for some decision from the government to prepare for the next move.
 It would be hard to find in any sec- 1 tion of the country a better district for the recruiting of an aerial corps than that which centers about this city. Mechanics are here in great numbers. There are at least two trained aviators capable of giving les sons in New Britain at the present time Machinery is present for re- pairs, and flight conditions are as variable as might be found anywhere.
 Pending before the Senate is a bill two million dollars for planes and for the establishment of training schools, which will probably be passed in a short time. The value of aerial de- fense and scout work has been ade- quately proven by the war abroad, and America, where the aeroplane was originally developed, should not be slow in taking the hint. In case Of war with Mexico a few machines would save an enormous number of lives in the guerilla battles which will develop Organized opposition 10 our troops is hardly expected by those familiar with the Mexican tempera- n1ent. Skirmishes and am bushes will be the order of the day, with at tempts by large forces of the enemy to cut off attachments and pick off stragglers from the main column. With an aeroplane to cover the ad- vance of the troops, 6 great deal of the danger of ambush may be averted, Enough aeroplanes to keep the entire width of the border in sight at one time would not be of enormous cost in men Or machines in fact the price of one dreadnought would equip our forces with the required number.
 There are at present, though the statistics may not be actually verified, but four aeroplanes on the border that are serviceable at the present time. What an insult to the foresight of individuals in power in our national government not only at the present time, but for as many years back as the heavier than air machine has ap- proximated practica bt1ity. They are as valuable in peace as in war.
 Germany 1t is said has nine or ten thousand aeroplanes in use on the line of battle in Europe. The probabI1- tiles are that the Allies combined have twice as many. England issued orders for ten thousand, but whether there are that many in service or not is has destroyed more planes than the United States ever owned single handed
 The United States stands about twenty-third in the list of countries of the world from the standpoint of aeronautical strength, and the appro- priation of five million dollars instead of two would place it in the eighth place. And the shame of it is that the aeroplane is the development of the United States, that the United States was the first to acquire Q plane for army use, that there are large number of American aviators in serv- ice in France thereby proving that the material is available, and that hum dreds of lives may be lost in the next