Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1917-05-08

submarine making such a crossing was
denied by most people, including some
high naval authorities. In outlining
the plans for the aerial coast patrol
we decided, therefore, On a bare skele-
aerOplane in connection with each
unit.
The revolutionary changes that have
taken place make it necessary to ex-
tend the plan, increasing the number
OF aeroplanes to each unit to four.
The aerial coast patrol 10 to provide
. continuous picket line OF seaplanes
Or flying boats fifty miles or more Oh
shore around our entire coasts, from
Eastport, Me, TO Brownsville, Tex,
and from San Diego, Cal, to Cape
E1attery, Wash, each machine travel
ing back and forth over it's section, or
beat" q winged sentinel, forming a
Gordon, q continuous line OF whirring
shuttles. wea wing a blanket Of pro.ec-
ton around the country.
BY means Of the wireless, infOrma-
ton as to the character, number and
ships will be transmitted to the shore
stations and from these to Washing
ton, whence il the ships are hostile Or
ders will issue directing the move
meDts OF our fleet and the submarine
squadrons for the preparation Of the
coast defenses and cor the concentra-
ton Of troops If necessary. while re-
serve planes hurrying ont will keep
the approaching craft under continuous
inspection while themselves Invisible.
Such n system is q departure The
like OF It exists nowhere at present,
and yet it involves no new principle,
but is simply the utilization and multi
single seaplaDe.
Had there been such a system round
the British isles the LusthDia horror
would not have occurred
Let us note the advantage OF this
system in war now that war has been
declared. This advance notice OF the
approach Of the enemy is the first step
In modern warfare hours and even
minutes may spell victory. The enemy
is still unaware that his approach is
known, for the sentinel scAplnne was
Invisible to him. With the next step n
cloud Of seaplanes sweep ont in such
numbers as TO Overwhelm and destroy
the enemy's aerOplnnes, leaving him
blinded Then follow the squadrons Of
great battle triplancs, each machine
carrying several tons Of high explo
sives to drop upon the hostile fleet
You can imagine the result.
We should have at minimum not
less than 1900 hydrOaerOplanes avail
able on each coast. and we should have
an aviator class in numbers like our
present chauffeur class
This is matter Of pressing indi-
viduaI interest to Philadelphia. to
Baltimore, to Washington, to Portland,
to Seattle and other cities. In an avia-
ton sense these cities are just as much
| coast cities as New York, Or Boston, or
Norfolk or San Francisco
In the present development OF the
science OF aviation a tramp steamship
with n squadron OF aerOplanes and IA
few tons OF high explosives, creeping
in shore In thick weather. might ruin
any one Of these cities in a single
night
The coast patrol. however, is but one
fentUre Of the country's needed aerial
development 70 obtain that develop
ment, to give Us an air service sufficient
for our protection. to secure for MS thQt
vitnl command Of the air. there is one
basic thing which we should have now {:
A department of aeronautics, separate
from and independent OF both the army
and the navy. it's head member OF the
presidential cabinet in fun and undi-
vided control Of comprehensive aero
coast defense system. which our pc
! culiur geographical position and ex-
| tended coast line render imperative; OF
system OF aviation training schools.
located in each OF the principal geo
| graphical divisions of the country. and
If the civil and commercial avenues of
aeronautic usefulness.
With our resources and mechanical
genius under the spur OF concentrated
and undivided attention. such a depart
ment may in the near future he more
vital to our national safety and in
| tegrity than either the navy or the
army.