Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-02-21
Committees of Congress Dis
,cussing Preparedness Pro-
qram of the President.
AERONAUTIC EQUIPMENT
is URGED BY DR.. WALCOTT
Smithsonian Secretary Appeals for
Appropriation of $85, 900 for Ma
tional Advisory Commission.

Congressional machinery was
in full swing today considering
the various elements of the ma
tional preparedness program
mapped out by President Will
son, as vital to the country's well
fare. The military committees OF
the House and Senate were busy
framing army legislation designed
to create a total force OF half a
million men, Immediately avail
able for war service. The House
Notifications committee contlnu-
ed its labors on proposals to
spend many millions on seacoast
guns and reserve supplies OF arms
and ammunition of all sorts, and
the House naval committee took
the question of aeronautics as ap-
piled to navy needs.
Even if the army was equipped with
100 aeroplanes. ] would not consider
that we would be anywhre near to
being adequately Quilted This was
the reply of DIR. Charles D. Walcott,
secretary of the Smithsonian Institu-
ton. to Representative Galloway of
Texas. one of the lingering anti-pre-
paredness democrats on the naval az
fairs committee today.
Makes Plea for Appropriation.
DR.. Walcott was before the commit
tee all the morning, explaining the
necessity for So, 900 to give the Presi-
dents national advisory commission
on aerona utics something with which
to make scientific and systematized
start toward bringing American aero
science a least on the level attained
by foreigners.
He had but poor word to say for
the pitiable little outfit of aeronautical
machines now in service by the army
and navy. He declared that the gath
Division of Turkish troops, which
walked into a Russian trap. as re-
ported in today's papers. would never
have had this misfortune il they had
one single aeroplane." To this sugges-
ton Representative Galloway made the
marvellous coincidence that the papers
should report a thing like that on the
morning the naval affairs committee
was going to meet on the aeroplane
subject
do you mean to say" asked Chair
man Padgett with unfeigned surprise.
that the Turks had themselves cap
tured, for lack Of aeroplanes, simply
for the benefit of this committee?"
Representative Galloway said he
didn't mean it just that way, and then
went on to make a few sighting re-
marks about the accuracy of news
papers.
Number of Aeroplanes Small.
DIR. walcott, who appeared before the
naval affairs committee a year ago and
urged the creation Of the commission
for which he now asks $4,000. said
there are now only about twenty aero
machines in service in both the army
and navy.
I'm case of an attack" he said, I'VE
would have our eyes shut. just as the
Turks had"
The purpose of the commission, he
advance all the science and scientific
research necessary to find out exactly
what is what in aviation and especially
in the construction of aviation ma
chimes and engines.
ut Is desirable to combine under one
toward advancing this science, and we
ought to utilize all the ability in
America to develop the highest type of
machine. One good thing that the COM
mission has done SO far is to bring to-
gether, at one table, the men who are
working out aero problems In the army
and the men who are doing similar
work in the navy.
Questioned by Mr.. Butler.
How quickly can we obtain the nee
essary information asked Represen-
tative Butler of Pennsylvania, ito help
men like myself who want to advance
this cause? How can we get the knowl-
edge that will bring this service to the
height of it's efficiency? To whom shall
we go? Whom shall we employ"
One of the objects Of this commits
sion is to find the right men, answer
ed DIR. Walcott. He gave the names of
several scientists. engineers and others.
who are working on aviation problems
separately To bring them all together
with progressive scheme co-ordinated
and aimed at one common end, is the
idea Of the commission. DR.. Walcott
also spoke Of the bureau of standards,
and said that it is equipped with every
thing necessary to conduct study OF
the proper materials for use in the
structure OF aerOnauttcal machines He
laid stress on the fact. too. that the or
ganization at the bureau is complete in
scientific men and thoroughly compe-
tent dictatorship.
Representative Butler made a refer
ence to speeches in the English parlia-
ment wherein members of the cabinet
| were quoted as Saying England had
/ entered the war deficient in warplanes.
| Undoubtedly" said DIR. Walcott, land
we are away behind where England was. -
He also gave his opinion that French
machines were ahead OF American
| models.
Views Of Capt. Bristol.
| Capt Mark Bristol. head of the navy
aviation section. followed DR.. Walcott.
Capt. Bristol said a feet of eighty
aeroplanes. five dirigibles and forty
one kite balloons is now needed to
equip the existing ships of the navy
properly. Two airships. worth $4,000
900 each, should be constructed, he add
ed and estimated the total cost of the
equipment at $l3.60O,000.
Representative Britten called attention
to the fact that the pending appropria-
ton bill carries estimates for only ST.
600 900 for fleet aircraft. Capt Bristol
said he had been instructed by the de-
/ RI strike ouf his propooa1 For