The Washington herald., 1916-04-17
By T.. b. JOHNS.

Despite the efforts OF some of the en-
thusiastiC aviators TO create the impress
sion that the War Department is refusing
even TO accept aeroplanes, it is stated
that the manufacturers arc unable to fur
nish military machines as rapidly the
War Department is ready to take them.
The problem which the War Department
is wrestling with is the securing Of ma
chimes that will come up TO the specifca-
tiOns that the military authorities have
prepared for aeroplanes.
The distances which aeroplanes would
be required to fly in this country in the
event OF war are twice those OF Europe.
According to the telegram which was re-
ceived from Gen. Funston, Aviators Oar
que and Gorrell broke all long distance
nonstop fight records. They sailed $50
miles, which is the distance from San
Antoine, Mexico, TO Columbus ~ Mex
In four hours. AS far as known none Of
the European aviators have eQualled this
record.
The previous nonstop records were
made by Lieut.. Thomas Dew. Milling on
March 8 from Texas City, Tex, to San
Antoine, Tex. a distance of 30 miles in
four hours and twenty-five minutes, and
Lieut.. (now Captain Dodd on February
IA, 1912, from North Island. Cal, to Bur-
bank, Cal, a distance OF 246 miles in four
nONIS anu lOTlN-llTGe l0lnuleS- But lneSe
flights will not be exceptional If the
specifications of the War Department are
met by the manufacturers of machines
According to the plans prepared by the
War Department under the direction OF
Brig. Gen. George Scriven, chief signal
officer. the reconnaissance machines
should be able to sail six hours. The
European standard is only three hour<
and in their desperation to secure a suffi-
rfa
ents are accepting machines that do not
come up to this standard.
One of the greatest difficulties which
is besetting the Signal Corps in or
ganizing an adequate aviation section
is the securing of aviators. Even with
the inducements of extra pay and
allowances that are offered to COM
missioned officers the Signal Corps is
not obtaining enough aviators to man
the increased material that will be
authorized by the legislation now
pending in Congress.
To make up this deficiency the chief
signal officer will ask Congress to
create a grade of aviator in the en-
listed personnel of the army. These
aviators when they qualify are to re-
ceive a salary OF $3.50 per month and
the allowance of a master signal cleo
that a great many civilian aviators
will enlist in the armp with a view of
qualifying as aviators.
Experience in the European war and in
Mexico has demonstrated that the tan
marching shoes now issued to the army
are not suitable for field service. March
ing in the sand in Mexico the tan shoes
have been cut to pieces and have made
the mems feet sore. One of the most
Objectionable features of the marching
shoe has been the lining. II has been
discovered that the lining wears through
on a long hard march and cuts the
soldiers feet Especially is this true after
the shoes have been wet and dried.
In preparing plans for the new shoe
which will probably be adopted for the
army, the Quartermaster Corps has eX-
amined the shoes that are now being
used by the French, Belgium, Greek and
Italian armies. 1t has been found that
none of these has lining and all of
them are made with the tanned surface
on the inside of the shoe. Most of them
have hob nails on the sOles and heel
plates. Two types have been developed
by the Quartermaster Corps and will
shortly be given a field service test.
They have the same shape as the pres