Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1917-10-05
j. s. IS BUILDING
10000 AIRCRAFT
THAT NUMBER ACTUALLY UNDER
CONSTRUCTION FOR USE IN
FRANCE-TWENY -FOUR FLYING
SCHOOLS ARE OPENED.


WASHINGTON, D. c., Oct s.
Twenty thousand airplanes for Amer
ica's fighting forces in France, au-
thorized in the 64O,0O0,0O0 aviation
bill passed by CONGRESS last July,
are actually under construction.
Their motors also are being manu-
featured, Secretary Baker announced
today. and the whole aircraft program
has been so co-ordinated that when
the planes and motors are completed,
trained aviators as we'll as machine
guns and all other equipment will be
waiting for them.
when this nations army is ready
to participate in the fighting said
the secretary, "the eyes of the army
will be ready Also
The types of planes cover the entire
range of training machines, light, high
speed, fighting machines, powerful bat
tie and bombing planes of the heav-
lest design, and embrace as well giant
battle craft, capable of the work OF
the italian Caproni, the British Hand
ley-Page and similar types.
within a reasonable time, consid-
ering the period for preparation" Mr.
Bakers statement said, this country
will send it's first iarplane to Europe
This airplane, from the tip of its pro
heller to the engine, machine gun
and camera, will have been made II
tie United States.
There has been a remarkable re
spouse to the call fer aviators. This
country has an unlimited supply O
young men possessing courage, self
reliance, good judgment and decls
ion-the things required In the all
service. This service today is tittin9
thousands Of Americans for flying.
Twenty-four flying schools have beef
authorized, the statement reveals. ant
besides the thousands training here
students from the United States ar
training in all the allied countries
while many of them are undergoing in
tensive schooling behind several 0
the battle fronts. The men now i
Europe will be turned over as fnishe'
aviators to the American troops il
France.
American machines are also beini
: built abroad and Mr. Baker said tina
approximately one-fourth of the mum
Der soon to be needed will be made il
the allied countries. In that con
nection stress was laid upon the nee
essity for greatly developing and ex
panding the aircraft industry In tn
United States.
All the summer and part of tn
early fall have been devoted to thi
: essential groundwork.
: Provision had to be made for n
manufacture of the many accessorie
. necessary to aircraft service at tn
front such as machine guns, observa
ton apparatus, cameras and the like
e The designing of a satisfactory mo
tor was necessary and the "Libert
motor" was the result Of the combin
t ed efforts of the best engine builder
: of the country. The signal corps an
its staff of foreign advisers, the sec
t rotary said, were well satisfied wit
the progress made since this motor wa
designed Mr. Baker announced tina
the departments earlier expectation
and hopes for contamination of it
extensive aircraft program are beini
more than realized
There is practically no limit to tn
number of aerial fighters which tn
United States can and will furnish il
the war for democracy" continued tn
secretary, mo time has been lost il
experimenting. The machines which
already have proved successful will b,
reproduced in larg enumbers in thi,
country"