The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-03-24
1nefficicncy of Machines
Hunting Bandit Blamed
on Congress.
CORPS OFFER REJECTED

Congress Is responsible not only for
the ineficlency of the American aviation
corps accompanying Gen. Tcrshing in his
| hunt for Villas bandits but for the lives
Of many American troopers and fiers
! which will he needlessly sacrificed be-
can trouble. according to aviation experts
Of this city who yesterday commented
on the reports OF trouble in the small
! dying detachment.
The experts unanimously laid the
trouble not to the aviatovs themselves
or TO any poor workmanship in the
machines but to the policy Of the Ad-
ministratior. which. they declared. has
, impaired the efficiency Of the flying SER
vice since is inauguration. II vas
openly charged that this policy has re-
suited IN the death of army and navy
a,iators IN training, and has made the
! corps unfit for the II service Of
way scouting and bombardlng.
The machines now across the border
We're never capable of war service. ac-
! cording 10 Henry Woodhousc, governor
., the Acro club and proprietor OF
tiyia9 and Aerid, Age.
only scouting Machines.
They are only small scouting ma
chimes. he said. The work that they
are being sen. on now may be compared
to sending a small runaDout on work
! vsfNisi, rgu,tira. q, l,aaNx attn truck The
! Government has been unwilling to spend
money on proper equipment, but has
pursued its policy OF playing cheap at
, the expense OF efficiency. The machines.
low powered. worn by the daily grind OF
training army aviators, cjnno be eN-
! rec'ed to do the work required o! high
powered air cruisers"
Alan X. Hawley. president OF the
Aero Club. was of the same opinion.
Congress alone is too hla he
said. "Thcre has never been enoug
money allowed even to give an aero
| plano for Zach aviator IN the service.
whereas n f.ur'nc each aviator IL al
lowed three machines. Congress. led by
Representative Hay 81 Virginia. has per-
sisted in allowing less than was abso-
lutsly necessary to replace ~acroplanes
worn ont, in service. Hence Congress is
responsible not only for the present pitt
full pligh, OF what there liz OF the avia-
ton service. hut u = responsible for the
death oi some OF the officers who have
Loaf, their lives while training.
W. vho are close 10 aviation have
Eel; - cxasrcra,ed that We have been
! on the pnin. Of calling on President Will
son 20 stop all efforts to organize an
aeroplane corps until sufficient funds can
br assured 10 provide necessary equip
ment
TIE. forces in Mexico should have at
least 100 avia'ors with three machines
each Each aviator : worth | 600 men.
the present war has shown. and the
equipment of an aviator is the best n
vcs;men, that can Zee made. | under
stand Congress has taken no action 10
provide equipment for army fiers for
IN. Mexican campaign Wi,hou, aero
planes our army j. utterly unprotected
and there will he lead men and many
Of them. We know Il. the country knows
i,-only Congress is blind"
Asks u Navy VIII Learn.
q. Douglas wirdrop. editor OF Acrio|
.tnc. spoke on aerial warfare to the stu
dents Of the college of the city of New
York Yesterday morning.
The army has already learned a les
son In Mexico" he said. WI the navy
Wal; unit. 4: gets a slap In the face be
fore IL wakes up also II We had ter
efficient machines on the Mexican border
instead Of eight useless ones there would
have been 10 necessity for a punitive
expedition Tho pilots would have
quickly ended IN" nigh' OF Villa.
Il feel confident that before this affair
- over 4, PIll BE- necessary FOR CIVILIAN
pilots cquipned with hich powered ma
chimes % =" 20 Mexico and do what our