Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-05-29
IN COMMAND OF AIR
LIES SAFETY OF u. S.
Rear-Admra Peary Pleads for Aerial Coast Defense
SYSTEM Not Dependent Upon nor Subordinate
Either to Army or Navy

of our coasts is to have on hand inn
mediately such a number of machines
as will with certainty destroy the
maximum number that can be brough,
here at one time By n hostile fleet and
it's transports
1t is. of course. Impossible to fix on
this number with precision but with the
present equipment in ships and air
craft possessed by several foreign
countries. l can imagine an alert and
resourcefui commander bringing 500.
may be safe to figure on 1000. If these
numbers seem large. it must be remem-
bercd that the present war has thrown
all previous ideas rs to quantities. and
numbers TO the winds.
With the aircraft of an attacking
force eliminated. his means Of recon-
noissance, observation and information
will he gone. and our own aircraft with
only the enemy's anti aircraft guns to
look out for. can do much more effec-
tive bomb work on his fleet.
II the fleet escapes this attack and
attempts the landing Of men and sup
plies. and ammunition by boats then
this gives another period in their
operations.
we should have at the very minimum
not less than 1000 seaplanes ready for
duty on the Atlantic coast. and an
equal number on the Pacific while
5000 on each coast would he much bet
ter.
Al each important place sauandrons
of aeroplanes should he parked like
tents of the summer encampment of the
National Guard.
SEVERAL HUNDRED YOUNG
MEN IMMEDIATE NEED
What we want Immediately is sew
eral hundred young men who know how
TO drive an aeroplane. Then we shall
in measure be prepared for an emer-
gcncy. Those of special aptitude and
intelligence can later be selected and
trained, still further for our permanent
military aeronautical personnel
We can get aeroplanes in an cmer-
Eency more rapidly than we can set
men to drive them.
One thousand daredevil young fellows
who know just enough to handle their
machines perfectly, are worth more to
us now than 500 highly trained young
officers. though. Of course. we shall need
these well.
Inc former class can be obtained in
large numbers and trained in "a few
weeks. The other kind would reuuirr
Il year or more of training and would
he more difficult 10 find.
And 1t is not desirable to delay too
murh by insisting on too long training
or being too particular about material
III order 10 get the highest grade of
Intelligence and training
Some Of tho best foreign material
has been uneducated. and for bomb at
ta"ks upon an enemy's feet or de-
stroyinE a landing party, courage and
ability to handle machine are the
prime requisites.
The size OF our population and the
quality of our youth from the minglinE
Of many strains. give us more and
better material in the essentials of
physique and temperament to draw on
for quick. intelligent. daring aviators
then any nation in the world unless il
be France.
An aero coast defense system should
consist of coast patrol and a series of
squadron stations
The coast patrol would comprise a
line of stations about 100 miles apart
somewhat closer together at important
places. as the entrance to New York
harbor, Hampton Roads and San Fran
cisco Bay along our entire coast from
PASSPORT to Brownsville, and from San
Diego TO Cape Flattery. Each station
would be equipped with two or three
strong, enduring, heavy weather sea
planes with force of several aviators,
observers and mechancians. and ia
cilities for repairs.
CHAIN OF STATIONS
IN COMMUNICATIONS
The chain Of stations on each coast
would have wireless or telephone COM
munications with each other. and each
station would have wireless communt-
cation with Washington.
The squadron stations would each
consist of Of a hundred or two aero
planes Of three different types, scouts,