The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-02-01

which are speedy enough to eiude the
cruisers of the enemy. A. b. Lambert,
of st. Louis, vice-president of the
Navy l. ague and of the Aero Cluo
of America, declared In a speech be-
fore the National Security Congress
here Saturday.
The United States Nays efficiency
is reduced 20 per cent by Its aeriai
impotence he said. We rank fourth
in naval tonnage, but twentieth IN
naval aeronauticai strength.
Mr.. Lambert said In part:
For reconnaissance. one aeroplane
can cover the territory OF three
cruisers This particularly applies to
our navy. as we are without cruisers:
IN fact the aeronautical division OF
our navy will have to be organized
ana equipped to overcome the absence
of fast cruisers.
This can only be done by the con-
struction Of unarmored mother aero
plane boats OF sufficient speed to es-
cane the fast cruisers of the enemy
These boats will keep In touch with
our battleship fleets They will carry
from twenty-five to fifty aeroplancs Of
various types. In event OF a sea fight,
they will be placed back of the line
Of battleships, and IL necessary with
drawn within protection of the coast
guns.
Congress does not realize or appre-
ciate the value of aeronautics. That
Congress is generous Is evident by the
total appropriation last year of over
sGs4.ooo.o0e for military require
menta, but when the General Navy
Board asked for the sum of $4,000, 0o0
for aeronautics, the appropriation was
cut down to sl.0o0.0o0.
Need Scapianes-
ITO properly equip our present navy
we need for our battleship fleet. $50
eeapianes. We need TOO hydroaero-
planes for our coast defense and shall
low water vessels. and zoo aeroplanes
for our army and signal corps. For
these aeroplanes to be effective. we
need large increase In the personnel
-four more training stations and an
aviation base every 100 miles along
the Atlantic and Pacific.
None Of our naval aviators have
taken part in the maneuvers of our
bnttieehip fleets. Our navy aeroplanes
are not equipped with wireless rys-
TENS, although we have code of Sig
mails which are fairly effective as long
as the aeroplane is within vision. In
only one or two instances have the
aeroplanes assisted In spotting or
range-hnding in cooperation with our
coast defense guns. Important artillery
practice has taken place without the
presence OF the army aeroplanes.
"In reference to the proposed pro-
gram for aeronautics, the total sum
asked TO cover the next five years is
not sufficient TO even supply our pres
emit need, much less 10 take care OF
any increase in the army or navy.
You can imagine how far seventy
FIVE aeroplanes will go to properly
serve the navy even In times of peace.
The navy has $4,000 miles of
coast line TO defend. including the
Panama Canal We need at the Pana-
ma Canal at least fifty aercplanes OF
sar1.cs types. In the vicinity OF Sandy
Hook, New York city. Twenty-Five
acroplanes and after figuring up and
including al. points along our inme
diase.EsAst. crvestng distance OF A.
400 n.ssss s.rs required number Of
aeroplanes necessary to properly CO.
operate with 80 navy, will exceed $50
without countint% sA.a assnlanes with
tho fleet.
You may ask the purpose OF these
seroplanes. Their first 6uty is TO keep
informed as to the approach Of a hos
tile fleet The stxteen-inch guns have
q range of 1900 to $4,000 yards
ten to fifteen miles-therefore. the
next duty In importance lie range-ffnd-
ing and spotttng. The types of aero
planes for these purposes are unar-
nored, very speedy. with wireless or
signal apparatus and well-trained
,officer, but we have forgotten one
thing--we have failed to consider the
fact that the enemy has back of Its
battleship line fleet of mother aero
plane boats and that they are pre-
pared to contest the supremacy of the
air--in other words. our scouts and
rs finders will be attacked by the
armored aeroplanes of the enemy.
Armored Aereplanes Needed.
Part of the equipment of our coast
defense must include a great number
of armorod aeroplanes, equal In armor
and guns and more numerous These
machines will take the air outside the
radius at which point the
first battle in the air will take place.
T, will be A case of Greek meet
Creek. and the result of this battle
may affect seriously the ultimate re-
suit
whilst It may be good plan to
eouap our cruisers with aeroplanesl
and launching devices 1t Is an open
question, and in the opinion OF some
experts, a useless waste OF money. |
especially when the sum Is SO limited
ana could be used to greater advan- |
"a "a with great eficiency by con-
structing special mother aeroplane
boats with q speed sufficient to escape
tina scout cruisers OF the enemv-as
n ia now. the North Carolina and
boats OF its class, can hardly get away
from a fast cruiser. and would be
placing all our eggs in one basket
without the construction OF
mother aeroplane boats to accompany
our battleships and placing our sole
reliance upon our cruisers we are
without a second line OF aerial oe-
Tense consisting of armored ana ma
chine gun aeroplanes. The breaking
down Of our aerial defense places our
defending fleets in a most dangero -
position---we lose our eyes, so TO
speak,
General Nichols Wants $780, 900 Men,
General II. W. Nichols, superinten-
dent Of the Virginia Military Institute,
named 100000 men as safe mini
mum for our regular army
He showed how private military
schools have furnished officers to the
nation In time Of need in the past and 1
advocated increased governmental aid
for such institutions
General Nichols suggested that a
law be passed under which a direct ]
bonus be given military school for l
every one of Its graduates accepted by |
the War Department for the reserve 1
officers corps. There Is no doubt
that the military schools furnish the
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