Payette enterprise. (Payette, Canyon Co., Idaho) 1909-1935, 1916-07-20

subject of Aerial Coast Patrol,
was printed in the Portland Oregon
ian of July 9th 1t is worthy of .
careful reading by everyone who Is
interested in the matter of adequate
preparedness for a coast defense
system:
Washington, July 9.-(SpecialD :
In the first article outlined an aerl
al coast defense system comprising
a coast patrol or picket line of sen
tinel seaplanes, so to 100 miles of
shore and a series of squadron sta
tions of a few hundred fighting sea
planes each, located in the vicinity
of each of our larger coast cities
and sea gateways. This article will
tell in some detail of the coast patrol
part of the system, which, If follow
ed, will give this country the com
mand of the air in three years.
The National Aerial Coast Patrol
Commission, of which l now have
the honor of being chairman, is work
ing on definite constructive PROP
osition that will give us a continu-
Gus picket of seaplanes around the
entire country to warn off the ap-
proach of an enemy. The Central
committee of the Commission in
cludes Senator Morris Sheppard, OF
Texas; Senator Charles F. Johnson,
of Maine; Representative julius
Kahn, of California; Represen alive
Charles Lieb, of Indiana, author of
the bill to create an Independent
department of aeronautics, like Ger
many, France and England; Byron
r. Newton, assistant secretary Of the
treasury; William M. Ingraham, AS
sistant Secretary of War; DR.. E..
Lester Jones, superintendent of the
United States coast and geodetlc
survey, John Hays Hammond, Jr-,
the radio control expert; Emerson
McMillin, of New York, and Profes-
sor H. c. Frankenfield, chief fore
caster of the United States Weather
Bureau.
MILITIA HEADS AFFILIATED.
The presidents of all the affiliated
aero clubs in the country, the Ad-
jutants-G General of the state militias,
and the commandants of the state
naval miiitias also are members Of
the central committee. The Ma
tional headquarters of the Commits
sion is in Washington in the coast
survey building, which has been loan
ed to us by the Government.
The total cost of the system will
be about 100000. This is one third
as much as was raised both by
France and by Germany by public
subscription previous to the war for
their air services. The cost of
each section will be $4,000. This
Is an amount easily within the reach
OF most communities and within the
reach of hundreds of individuals in
those communities.
Maine was the first to take up and
formally endorse this system and
Maine viii have the honor of estab
fishing the first station of the sys-
tenn this Summer. Fourteen other
states have the funds assured for a
section of the system in each of
hose states.
The conception is this. A continu-
BUS picket line of seaplanes or fly
ng boats so miles or more off shore,
and 1000 feet or more in the air.
around our entire coasts from East
port, Me-, to Brownsville, Tex, and
rom San Diego, Cal, to Cape Flat
Jack and forth-back and forth-ov-
sr it's section or beat winged
sentinel forming Gordon, contin-
lous line of whirring shuttles,
Weaving a blanket of protection ;
lround the country.
WIRELESS TO BE CARRIED.
The idea is to divide our entire
'oast lines into sections of conven-
ent length, say about 100 miles |
Zach of these sections and stations |
will be equipped with a seaplane. |
Zach of these machines will carry |
driver and an observer and be |
with light wireless appara-
us. powerful glasses and a sensi-
i've microphone. When in active op-
ration these seaplanes in each sec
ion will take their position some |
o miles off shore and patrol their |
espective beats continuously back
nd forth, in clear weather 1900 feet
II more above the sea, from which
ltitude ships so miles distant may
70 seen. At night, or in the fogy
he seaplane would. of course, sweep
ouch lower, at all times themselves
INVISIBLE to an enemy.
By means Of the wireless, infor-