The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-09-15
GREATEST AIR ENGINE.
"LIBERTY MOTOR COMPLETE
SUCCESS, SAYS STATEMENT
ISSUED BY SECRETARY
OF WAR.
Two of Americas Best Engineers
Planned Wonderful Machine To
Run Airplanes.

Washington. Sept. 1.-THE liberty
motor, the airplane engine, upon
which the United States is relying to
establish definite air supremacy over
the Germans over the battlefields OF
France. has passed it's final test and
is a complete and gratifying success
Secretary Baker announced today.
Secretary Bakers statement in part
follows:
'The United States aviation engine
has passed It's final tests. They were
successful and gratifying. The new
motor, designated by the signal serv.
Ice as the Liberty motor is the main
reliance of the United States in the
rapid production in large numbers OF
high powered battle planes for servicc
In the war. In power. speed, serv.
iceability, and minimum weight the
new engine invites comparison with
the best that the European war ha.
produced.
~ regard the invention and rapid
development Of this engine as one of
the really big accomplishments of the
United States since it's entry into the
war. The engine was brought about
through the cooperation of more than
O ocoro ~ opuipoorC ,,,bo coo,oa A.
skill and trade secrets in the war
emergency. working with the encour-
agement OF the Aircraft Production
Board. the War Department and thu
Bureau of Standards.
"The story Of the production of this
engine Is a remarkable one. Probably
the war has produced no greater sin.
gle achievement.
One OF the first problems which
confronted the War Department and
Aircraft Production Board after the
declaration Of hostilities was to pro.
duce quickly dependable aviation
motor.
Two courses were open. One was to
encourage manufacturers to develor
their own types; the other to brint
the best Of all types together and de.
velop q standard.
"The necessity for speed and quan.
tity production resulted in a choice
OF the latter course and a standard
motor became our engineering objec.
tive.
two OF the best engineers in the
country. who had never before seer
each other, were brought together a
Washington and the problem of pro.
ducing an all-American engine at tho
earliest possible moment was present.
cd to them.
THE two engineers were figurative-
ly locked in q room in q Washington
hotel and charged with the develop
ment Of an airplane motor for use by
the American aviators over the bat
tlefields OF Europe.
For five days neither man left the
suite Of rooms engaged for them
Consulting engineers and craftsmen
from various sections Of the country
were brought to Washington to as.
sist them. The work in the drafting
room proceeded continuously day and
night.
IAN inspiring feature Of the work
was the aid rendered by consulting
engineers and motor manufacturers
who gave up their trade secrets under
the emergency Of war needs. Z
The industries have also contributed
the services Of approximately 200 of
their best craftsmen.
"The two engineers promised the
government IL given an opportunit,
they would design a satisfactory en-
gine before a working model could be
brought from Europe.
N HSiudrhtsDle engine was aCtually
produced three weeks before any
model could have been brought from
Europe. 1t was promised that this
engine would be developed before the
Fourth OF July. Twenty-eight days af-
ter the drawings were started the new
engine was set up. This was only July
3.
I'm order to have the new engine
In Washington and in actual running
order at the national capital on In
dependence Day the perfected engine
was sent from Western city in q
special express car. The journey was
made In 21 hours and four young mer
guarded the engine en- route to Wash.
ington and personally attended to its
transfer from one railroad to another