Gilpin observer., 1917-08-09

~~~r~~-~~~~>~-~~~~ ~~~~~~~~-~N>~~~~~~~
ion, writes Henry NJ. Hyde in the Chi
cngo Tribune.
With the signing by President Will
son of the bill appropriating $780,
100000 for building, equipping, and
manning an enormous navy of the Dir,
these plans took big step toward
realization.
Huge triplanes Of the power. speed.
and weight carrying capacity described
have been built and now are being
tested in Italy. Triplanes Of the same
type, considerably smaller than the
new giants but still Of great size and
power, now are in actual use In Italy.
The Italian triplane. driven by 900
horse power Capronl engines, for in
more than three tons to n height Of
$500 feet in 35 minutes.
Defeat Of u-Boats Seen.
The fact that these great machines
cost $4,000 or more each will not pre-
vent their being built in large numbers
in the United States, once the neces-
sary jigs, dies, and special tools are
completed from the models furnished
| by the Italian government.
Many experts see in the creation Of
n fleet of such big airships, together
with five or six times as many small
fighting planes for their protection, the
only certain method of defeating the
submarine peril, Of destroying NUM-
ton plants and military and naval
bases and Of swiftly driving the Ger
man army back behind the Rhine.
1.-THE program for which this vnst
appropriation has just been made"
said Howard Z. Coffin, chairman Of the
aircraft production board, ''must be
carried out with n prOmptness equal
to that of congress in passing the bill.
Whatever crimes may later be laid at
our doors. that of slowness in accom-
plishment must not be one Of them.
We are ready to go ahead Mt once"
AirpIane Samples Coming.
"Within two weeks" went on Mr..
Coffin, samples Of many airplanes
now used by our allies on the Euro
penn battle fronts will be on exhibi-
ton in the temporary building erect
ed for the purpose mt the rear Of the
Smithsonian institution. There they
may be examined and studied by the
manufacturers of the United States.
"In the matter of aircraft, as in 9TH
er military matters, we have ceased
to think nationally. Every step will
be taken after conference and In full
cooperation with our allies.
.lrl .,
representatives of the British, French,
and Italian. flying corps here in WASH
ington, md decision practically has
been reached us to the exact part to
be played by each Of the allies In win
ming the war In the air.
"Our factories, Of course, will have
the advantage Of copying the latest
and best types Of airplane engines
devOlved in France, Italy and Eng
land. Nor have our own inventors
and designers been idle during the past
three years. There now are engines of
entirely American design and 'inven-
tion which weigh only two pounds to
the horse power.
Three Training Fields Ready
"Whatever may be the difficulty of
turning out Immediately In the United
States the swift and delicate fighting
planes of the latest type, we already
are manufacturing In large numbers
planes which are fitted for the train
ing of air pilots and observers.
Three of the "a big aviation fields
which we shall build for training our
new air army already are completed,
and the work of instruction Is under
way.
THE public, generally, has small
Idea Of the immensity Of these great
training camps for birdmen. Camp
Wilbur Wright. for instance, located
near Dayton. o., home of the immortal
inventor OF the heavier-than-air flying
machine. covers tract of land meas
uring two miles by four miles. It's
hangers stretch unbroken for a dis
tance of two miles. These buildings
will house IA biplanes for the use Of
the embryo aviators. The United
States will be the great training camp
for aviators for all the allied armies" :"
One may get faint idea Of the al
most incredible expansion which, is
proposed in the air branch Of the mill
itary and naval arm Of the United
States forces by considering that while
now there are only few more than
fifty commissioned officers In the avi-
alton section Of the signal corps Of
the army, It Is proposed to increase
1t to total Of 10000 officers and
men.