New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-02-13

10 the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir. Tho momentous question before the
nconle Of the United States to-day is national
defence. and IN the present scheme OF ma
fional defence the aeromarne should be con
sidcrcd as Of equal Importance 10 the navy
and tho army. speak OF mir craft service
as aeromarine because this new branch oil
defence and war should have ramo ranking
With army and navy.
Army and navy experts now regard air
craft az a necessary adjunct. II tho Euro
near war lasts long enough the aeromarine
or Whatever Il may be called, will rise 20 the
position OF first power, supported by the
army and navy. At present the air craft ser
vice co8perates with the army and navy, but
I'm time this position will be reversed. Speed
and mobility are two foremost requisites In
war Tho aeromarine, having speed and mo-
bilitv. once equipped with improved fight
ing machinery, becomes superior 70 the
army and navy. The initiative and sggres-
sive fighting will be done by the aeromarln-
supported by the army and navy when pos
sible.
In order TO comprehend the great posi-
bilities of aerial warfare, one must realize
chat air-planes Of a thousand horsepower are
being perfected and that In a short time al
craft will be firing aerial torpedoes a. ships
bv improved methods, with more certainty
than the present submarine; further that air
planes will carry shell-throwing guns and
perfected bomb guns which will destroy any
railroads bridges, ammunition depots or fac
tories not defended by the seromarinc
The army and navy viii not be able TO pro
tect their own railroads or ships, but must
rely on their seromarine. The army ana
navy viii not be able to pursue and attac1
tho cnemy's air feet, as neither has the speed
nor mobility. the aeromarine must do this
A thousand horsepower air-plane will carry
thirty TO fly men or Two to four tons Of gun
and explosives. depending on the speed 81
which tiov desire to travel. Two thousand air
craft will transport an army of 100000 men
or 5000 tons Of explosives at a speed OIL
seventy 20 ninety miles per hour anywhere,
REGARDLESS Of army and navy Two thousand
600 horsepower aeropanes would cost one
hundred million dollars, the price Of eight or
tcu battieships, but an aeromarine of this
type could cover any part Of the United
States and hundreds Of miles Of ocean either
side. Can the army and navy do this
An Essential in Future Wars.
The peace prattler may argue that the worio
mowers have no fleets Of two thousand 1000
horsepower aeroplanes. No, but they have
fleets OF many thousands Of planes from
100 horsepower 20 250 horsepower, md WI.
soon have thousands Of fighting machines OF
500 horsepower to 1000 horsepower The
best equipped army and navy, In another two
years or so will be little more valuable than
so many bugs on the ground or eels In the
sea. without tho cooperation Of an adequate
fleet o. acromarines.
The argument wish 70 drive home i' this
II the seromarine is 70 be our most mobile
and powerful arm of defence and equally inn
oortant with the army and navy, why no.,
devote one-third of our money 20 developing
this most important branch? Our nationa.
defence rests largely on the advice of army
and navy experts, who are prejudiced more
or less in behalf Of their own organizations
Experts as rule are men with technical
education, capable. the best Of them, In their
professions so far as the art is known, but
rarely are they men Of practical. creative
ability with tho power 20 analyze and fore
see future developments
- must go against the grain Of an army OF