New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-08-24
AIR DEFENCE PROGRESS
What Has Been Accomplished by the Aero
Club of America.
RovNkNTA

To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: You will be glad to know Of the sue.
cess Of the campaign to build our aerial de-
fences, and interested in the following brief
summary of the latest developments resulting
directly from the movement started By the
Aero Club of America and so substantially
supported by the press-especially The Trib-
une-and by thousands Of individuals and
many organizations.
% Both Houses OF Congress hsvs passed
the appropriation of S13 ,2s1, e6e FOR aeronau-
ties for the Army, National Guard and Aerial
Reserve Corps recommended By the Aero CLUB
of America, which represents an increase OF
over sl2,OOOOO0 over what the Secretary OF
War had asked for and the House COMMITTEES
on Military Affairs had allowed.
(2) The efforts of the Aero Club Of Amer
lea also brought an increase OF Sl6OOON IN
the naval appropriation for aeronautics, max
ing the total allowed s., 800 900, and may bring
81. 500, 900 more for the Aerial Coast Patrol.
90 The authorization by President Wilson
of the organization Of the Aerial Reserve
Corps under the army was done upon our
recommendation to utilize some OF the 5000
volunteers for the air service whose names
we transmitted to the War Department In the
past month. The Aerial Reserve Corps pro
vides for training 296 officers and 1000 men.
(4) The First Aero Company Of the Nsv
York National Guard, which was organized
with funds raised through our national aero
plane fund, has been mustered into Federal
service with 40 officers and men and four
aeroplanes. The Second Aero Company, New
York National Guard, Is formed and waiting
to be mustered In.
90 The aviation sections Of the Fin AID
Second Battalions, New York Naval Militia
are encamped at Bay Shore, Long Island. fy'
ing daily the aeroplanes presented as result
Of our efforts.
90 The Rhode Island Naval Militia has ~
ceived delivery OF It's first seaplsne, presented
through the national aeroplane fund, and tns
aviation detachment is being organized. A
training aeroplane has also been purchases
for the land militia Of this state.
CD Aviation sections and aero eompani"
have been and are being organized under w
auspices of the militia and aero clubs IN
dozen states.
90 Thirty officers Of the National GusN
of as many states, whose expenses wshs
training in aviation were paid BY the rs
tional aeroplane fund, have been mus"'s
into Federal service. As II required asa'
years for the army to get thirty aviators' n'
is a valuable contribution.
(e) F. T. Dawson, Robert Lovett. and ~
other young men Of representative fsmh"
are training in aviation TO form 3 unit OF "
Aerial Coast Patrol on Long ISLAND tws's
Harvard men are learning TO ny ct the 0~
falo and Ithaca AVIATION schools.
(1O) To supply trained civilians to ma'v
the army's deficiency In aviators, patrons
prominent member Of the club Is paying ~
the training of a selected group OF men
Governors Island This training school -
already four seroplanes.
OD The Senate has approved the piaA
use aeroplanes in the coast guard-fof ~
iifesaving service and revenue cutter
vice-whch has been recommended T
club since 1911. 1t will give to the nav IN
valuable reserve of trained ayiators WV
be employed daily for peaceful purposes
These are only some OF the recent e"'.
ments, but they give a good idea Of me 80.
which was made possible by general cow,
ton. There still remains lot Of irnp'' ~,
work to be done, but substantial strios' -
ward have been made. IN,
We want 20 express our appreciation
very substantial aid rendered TO this ~ r..
ment by your staff, whose able ana eo. ,,.,.
| ing articles did much TO arouse puolN -
est and to convince Congress Of the hs'ts A.
of taking steps 70 improve our ss,
fences. HENRI hNON cirA
Member Board Of Governors, Aero
| Of America
| New York, Aug. IS, 1919