Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-06-11
DRIVE ON IN EARNEST
FOR GREAT AIR FLEET
Plans for Creation OF Department Of
Acronautics Mapped Out
in Conference.
MAY ASK FOR $1,000, 900, 900
Peary Would Have Coast So Closely
Patrolled That 1t Would Be I'M
possible for Enemy to Approach
Without Giving Ample Warming.

WASHINGTON. June 10.-America's
drive for a $1,000. 100000 air feet Is on
in earnest tonight.
Representative Murray Hubert. Of
New York. who. with Senator Morris
Sheppard. OF Texas. has introduced a
bill for the creation OF a department
of acronautics az the first step in a
comprehensive offensive and defensive
program. had Il conference to-day with
Rear-Admiral Robert Il. Pcary, chair
man OF the National Aerial Coast Pa
troll Commission, and Howard T. Coffin,
head Of the aero board Of the Council
or Defense. on the whole general aerial
subject.
They mapped out plans for the crea-
ton of the department which shall have
exclusive control of all acronautical
matters. and whose chief shall be- Il
member OF the Presidents Cabinet. Tho
aerial sponsors also want, according to
Mr.. Hulbut. vast sum, probably ST.
000. 100000, to give the United States
the greatest air fleet the world ever
saw.
Command OF the sea and command
of the land are all useless without
command Of the air"
That has been Admiral Peary's slogan
for many months. He has been active
ever since the inception of the aerial
S'ooS pdti Va III u Sitdl
OF aeronautics that will study and con-
troll the whole aerial offensive and de-
fensive of the country He has planned
for great fleet of aircraft patrolInE
the sea coast. at distances that will
make 1t almost an impossibility for an
enemy to approach these shores with
out giving the country plenty of time
to prepare for an advancing foe He
has frequently pointed TO an air fleet
as the quickest possible means for de-
tense for this nation.
Experts of both the army and navy
are to testify on Tuesday at a hear
Ing to be given by the Senate Military
subcommittee on the Sheppard Hubert
Dill. The nations present unprepared-
ness Will be explained by government
officials who have just made survey
OF the present available equipment.
That Congress will make at least
ooo.Oo0,000 available for the de-
velopment of the country's air service
before the present session ends was
the confident prediction tonight of
representative Hubert. Congress
already has agreed TO set aside $50
100000 for the work. The item includ ed
In the urgent deficiency bill has passed
ooth houses. and is now in conference.
Admiral Peary. announcing his sup
port or the proposal to create a de-
partment on aeronautics, asserted that
II the United States gives the Same
attention TO air equipment and per-
sonnel as Germany gives the subma-
rine. the subma rine terror will be over
come and peace FASTENED.
The most vital matter in our ma
tional preparedness" Admiral Peary
said lis air preparedness In this
at the present time we are not only
deficient, but absolutely lacking. The
remedy for this dangerous situation
Is the Immediate creation by Congress
of an independent department of aero
nautics. Such a department should
nave at It's head one OF the greatest
organizers the country can furnish
He must build a foundation secure
enough for the gigantic superstructure
mat is to be built. and be clothed with
undivided control Of the upbuilding Of
the nations air service
HANDLING OF AIR SERVICE
NOW Is DIVIDED
The country's air service at the pre-
sent time Is handled partly by the
army and partly by the navy. This
manner is inherently wrong, as 1t
means divided responsibility 1t means
aversion OF officers from the impera-
i've work OF their departments at this
cruciai time. 1t means that aeronau-
TICS is the least of the numerous du-
ties devolving upon them. The build
ing OF an immense air fleet can be un-
oertaKen at once and pushed 70 COM
pietion II the separate department Is
created.
All money that is put into the aero
pane VIII be a permanent military
weapon to meet the present emer-
gency and when the war is over that
weapon can be transferred to COM
mercial channels. am fully con-
Einced that the air service, if properlv
developed. can be made more powerful
man the army or navy combined"