The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-04-09
BAKER WANTS AERO
CORPS INDEPENDENT
Says Army Should Try Every
Machine Offered Until tho
Best Is Found.
ASKS 8 1885, 900 OF HOUSE

wAsHiNoroN. April s.-Plans for re-
organisation Of the aviation service and
It's possible establishment on an inde-
pendent basis apart from the signal ser.
vice werc outlined before the House Mill
tary Committee to-day BY the Secretary
Of War.
Mr.. Baker said that he had decided
to place the section under better super
vision. TO obvlate friction between the
trained fies and their superior officers.
Col. George o. squiers. who Ia on his
way home from Europe. where he has
been observing military operations. will
have direction Of this work.
Secretary Baker also told the ON
mlttee that the work OF testing aero
planes would be submitted to a board
OF three officers. They are Col. Clark.
who IA been makinE a study OF aero
nautics In the Massachusetts institute OF
Technology Lieut.. Milling. the most ex-
pert fier IN the army. and Lieut.. Jones,
described az being second only to Milling.
woulA Test All Types.
Another proposal he made was the
establishment Of a testing ground for all
machines that may be offered to tho
army.
my idea" said the Secretary. us to
have grounds convenient to the manufac-
turers OF aeroplanes and to have the
board experiment with every type Of
machine that may be offered for army
use. We wish TO md tho best possible
type OF machine before making extern
sive purchases"
Secretary Baker did not approve. of
the suggestion that It might be advis-
able for the Government to take up the
manufacture OF a~eroplanes. The Gem
eral Stan. he said. had reported against
such a plan because Of the adverse effect
that It would have pom the mobilization
OF industrial resources In time OF war.
He explained that competition Is very
keen among aeroplans manufacturers
and that the best results were likely 10
be obtained by encouraging this COM
petition.
The committee was told In detail OF the
work OF the army fiiers on the Mexican,
DVTutT ANU VIII u tAIWuitAoidTN IOtNts
Much work had devolved upon them. said
the Secretary. because OF difficulties In
the operation OF wireless outfits. due to
the presence OF iron ore. which disturbed
the electric field.
SIX Aeros o. Use Now.
We are relying on aeroplanes entirely
for communication with the front" said
the Secretary. who explained that the
country where the expeditionary force
now Is operating is mountainous and
covered with scrub brush.
THE chief trouble" he added. has
been that our aeroplanes are NOT able
to clear the high mountains and rhe
brush makes landing difficult. All our
machines have engines OF 90 horse
power and We should ~ least have 40
or $50 horsepower engines"
Six of the eight ~aerop.anes Oh the
borier now are In use, the Secretary said
although he admitted that at n tlme
only two machines had been in service
able condition. These six machines are
being used constantly by the arm.
fiers.
"Our a%viators.' ne continued, "ar'
wonderfully brave They hold ar
amazing number OF records not onl,
for the United States but FOR the world
records In sustained flight and altitude
in which they have been pioneers"
The Secretary submitted to the com
mittee "A revised estimate or sl.t>i.ou'
for the signal CORPS. to he ~sxpendet
mainly for acronautics. IL addition
$500. 900 will be available from previous