Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-08-27
TO TRIPLE FLEET.
Of DESTROYERS IS.
LATEST j. S. PLAN
CONGRESS WILL ADD i60 YES
Sells TO SEA FIGHTING FORCES
READY TO VOTE 100000, 900
FOR FLYING sQUADRoNS.

Washington, Aug. 27-The United
States will practically triple its force
of aestroyers within the next eisA-
teen months. The full extent OF Sec
rotary Daniels program became
known today. Not less than $50 of
these supreme submarine chasers VIII
he constructed in addition to those
already building.
AT the same time it became known
Congress will be asked for sl000, ooo,'
0O0 more 10 extend the aircraft pro
gram And Congress will vote the
extra fund, leaders assured.
The increased appropriation VIII
Mace on the French front iar
greater number of planes much ear
Her than was contemplated
Americas special need IN the ac-
ina, fighting against Germany is thus
revealed to be.
AeropIanes- bring the war to
Germany through the aid and to Dllnd
her.
Destrovers- hunt down the sub
marine.
In addition to the destroyer con
struction the Navy Department is at
work perfecting several anti-subma-
rine devices, inventions of Americans
since this country has entered the
war These are expected to have
widespread effect in curtailing the
usefulness of the U-bOat. 1t Is Of
course impossible to disclose the ma
ture of any of these contrivances
but President Wilson himself has seen
at least one of them and had it ex
planned to him in greatest detail.
Everything will have to yield to
the destroyer program. 1t is under
stood that almost every other use
for steel, for skyscrapers for bridges,
the end OF the war to permit this
plan of offense to be carried out.
II is further understood the great
part of the naval construction pro-
gram as applied to larger ships, bat
tleships. dreadnaughts, battle cruisers
and other first line and scouting
craft, will be abandoned temporarily
For military already the air plans
are secret, but II can be said that
tests of the new standardized United
States airpane motors have con
WINGED military experts quantity pro
duction should be stimulated to the
limit of Americas manufacturing
power,
The new program will broaden on
a vast scale the original aircraft con
struction plans and place on the
French front a far greater number
of fighting machines much earlier
than was contemplated
War Department officials are con
fdent thousands of American fight
ing machines will be ready early next
Spring
Senator Sheppard, of Texas, one of
the most influential members OF the
military affairs committee, today re
flected the view Of his colleagues IN
the assertion any additional sum the
President may ask for the aircraft
program will be forthcoming at once
"As soon as the War Department
says $1,000 100000 is needed it will
be provided Senator Sheppard said.
"Of course, the necessity must be
shown, but when that is done Con
gress win act without delay"
Aeroplane factories are making
three types of machines small, swift
machines for air dues and to screen
observers and bombing craft; day
light bombing machines swift enough
to minimize the danger of anti.air.
craft guns and large enough to carry
observers, radio bombs and night
bombing machines, built for carry
ing capacity rather than speed
Double Rautoul Corps.
Aug, 27-With the arrival of a spe-
cial train from San Antonio, Tex.
the Thirty-eighth and Thirty-ninth
aerial squadrons and eighty men who
will be air pupils here in the Six
teenth squadron the flying force has
been more than doubled. Six squad
rons now are here
Because Of the promotion of Cap
tain J. H. Mcconnell OF the Tenth
squadron and Captain Roy s. Brown
OF the Fourth to majors, captains for
four squadrons are to be appointed
The two squadrons just arrived are
without officers of that rank. The
promotion of Mcconnell and Brown
brings the number of majors now sta.
toned here to five, the others being
Major J. S. Dunsworth, ranking Of.
ficer on the field, and Majors Bene.
dict and Iianley.
Flying instruction is progressing
rapidly, Starting this week instruc.
tiUn will be given Sundays as well az
lnxy1 -. he.