New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-01-13
Entire Coast Should Be
Guarded by Flying Boats,
Admiral Says.
NEEDED IN TIME
OF PEACE OR WAR
Could Aid Lifesaving Service or
Poll Hostile Fleet, Aero
Club Is Told.

"A continuous picket line OF sea
planes or flying boats, ffty miles or
more off shore and 1000 feet or more
In the air, around our entire coasts
from Eastport, Me, to Brownsville,
Tex. and from San Diego, Cal. TO Cape
Flattery. Wash, each machine travel
ling back and forth-back and forth
over It's section or 'beat!'"
Thus Rear Admiral Robert T.. Peary,
retired. discoverer Of the North Pole
described the plan for an aerop lane
coast patrol at the tenth annual ban
quet OF the Aero Club OF America, at
tended by 500 diners in the grand ball
room OF the Biltmore last night.
After describing the advantages OF
the areoplane as natural and valu.
able adjunct Of the coast guard and
saving service in reporting dere-
lets. vessels in distress and all other
marine incidents and accidents, Ad-
mirsl Peary proceeded TO the subject
Of war.
'Tn war times the patrol could weave
such a continuous off-shore curtain or
observance around our entire coasts
a. would make surprise attack IN
force an impossibility. Even sub
marine. though submerged, might not
escape the eye of the sea eagle soaring
above It,"
Admiral Peary recounted how 81
night. or in a fog, the sentinels would
send in By wireless the signal that
would bring out flock Of battlep lanes
with a cargo OF bombs II would be
possible 20 send out fleet, according
TO e1perts, of such power that II could
completely destroy or cripple hostile
battleships without the assistance OF
warships. Then the admiral. in plead
ing for more aeroplanes. said:
"If one side had no aeroplanes, the
other side would need but a few and
would have an immense advantage
With both sides possessing planes, the
object Of each is 20 muster such
number Of It's own as will smother or
destroy those Of its opponents"
Admiral Peary's speech was discus,
s;on and elaboration OF the plan OF
John Hays Hammond. jr for an aero
coast patrol. The system calls FOR -
stations. at an estimated cost OF
100000.
Alan r. Hawley, president Of the
Aero Club. also appealed Tor more
aeroplanes. He pointed out that IN the
army. navy and militia there are only
twenty machines. with as many more
MANNED. whereas there is need, ne says
for 1000
Details Of steps being taken 10 or
panize the Aeronautic Federation OF
the Western Hemisphere and popular,
ize aeronautics in South and Central
America were given by Mr.. hawleS'
Alberto Santos-DumOnt. who VIII rep
resent the Aero Club at the con
terence TO be held at Santiago, ChlH,
and bv several others JOsepnus Dan
iels. Secretary Of the Navy, expressed
bv telegram his hearty approval oil
the plan. .Lo
John Barrett. director general OF the
pan-American Union and secretary gen
oral of the second Pan-Amerlcan Scien-
tifc Congress. heartily indorsed the
Man i'm his speech. "The aeroplane may
vet become the most powerful physlcal
influence to bind the American nations
together and TO make the Monroe DOC
tripe a Pan-Amerlcan princlple' ne
said. .i,,,
An award Of various aviation prizes
was made at the dinner. Chlel among
these was the Collier trophy Tor 1910.
conferred on W. Startling Burgess OF
Narblehead, for his development Oh the
"foolproof" aeroplane.
Among those AT the guest table were
Henry A. Wise Wood, president OF the
American Society of Aeronautlcal En-
c';noers postmaster: Vincent Astor
~, Uavs Hammond. jr.. Alan X.