The Washington herald., 1917-07-27
AIR FLEETS TO WIN
war, SAYS BECkHAM
Declares Big Appropriation Makes
Sure End of Dynasty.
written for the International News
Service by J. c. Beekham.
(SematOP from Kentucky

Service by }. G. Beekham.
(SenatOF from KentuekyO
The prompt action of Congress and
of the President in the adoption OF
the aviation measure, appropriatinS
500, 000, 900 for aircraft equipment. was
a significant and extraordinary step
in our preparation for the prosecution
| of the war. The overwhelming vote
for the bill, in both houses of Con-
gTess, reflected the tremendous senti-
| ment of the people of the country,
| to spare no expense and to hesitate
at no undertaking in the purpose Of
| throwing the whole weight Of our
great resources, II necessary, into the
European war upon the side of CIV
| iliZation in its struggle against bar
| barism.
German leaders may scoff at Amer
lea and seek to belittle the import
ance of our entrance into the war,
for the purpose Of bolstering up the
courage of their people; but when
they use such evidence as this of
what we propose to do, their arrogant
| boasts will soon become cries Of
alarm, and the German people will
at last awaken to the fact that they
have been wickedly deceived by their
rulers: and that, fed upon falsehoods,
they have been made to sacrifice mil
lions OF lives and billions of prop
erty, in waging the most unprovoked.
unnecessary and cruel war, in all his
tory.
Blow at AutOcracy.
This great appropriation Is the one
biggest blow yet struck at German
autocracy. 1t may be taken as a
firm expression of a resolve upon the
part of our people. that when the
time comes to make peace with Ger
many, it will be made with the Ger
man democracy and never made with
Hohenzollern or other autocrats.
| 1t will be made, too, Oily when alb
| never again shall the peace and
progress of civilized nations be
broken or disturbed by an organized
band of ambitious assassins in con-
troll of the resources and liberties
Of a great. though a subject. people.
1t was the opinion of all the mill
tary experts. who testified before our
subcommittee on aeronautics, that the
contest, and that the quickest and
most effective assistance We could
give to the cause of civilization now
would be to train an army of avia-
tors and to provide an ample fleet
of aircraft. We have promptly and
substantially taken their advice and
have entered into this branch of
work, as in all other branches. with
zeal and determination.
While Germany. owing to long
training and preparation for war.
may have been so far superior in
her construction and output of air
craft. yet her aviators have not been
equal TO those of the allies in skill
daring. and success. The German is
trained to be a part of a great ma
chine and as such a part he Is most
capable and efficient. He is a good
performer when acting under orders
from his superior officer, and in close
contact with his fellows. But he
lacks the individuality and initiative
of the Epglishman, the Frenchman
or the American.
AerOnaut Own Commander.
This difference in individuality is
greatly to his disadvantage when he
is in the air. There he must be
his own general as we'll as soldier.
ne must Inlnk ana act quickly WITH
out regard to any we'll planned
scheme of the General Staff. That
accounts for the fact that the
French and English have proven
themselves far superior in that do
main OF warfare.
The American. with his acute wit.
ingenuity. and daring undoubtedly will
prove himself the equal, IL not the
superior, of his brother allies in
the same field of encounter.
II We had the trained men and
machines. provided for in this ap-
| preparation. in Europe, the war
| would be over before winter, and
the Kaiser's dynasty would be at an
end. There is no doubt that the
officers and men charged with the
work of carrying out the provisions
OF this bill will begin this " Jrk i'm
mediately. and provide us with the
air fleet and men as rapidly as
American genius and pluck can do
so. The length of the war. IL not
the result of it. may depend upon
the speed and success of our con-
tribution to the war in the conquest
of the air.