The Washington herald., 1917-08-06
Army and Navy News

Details of the attacks by German
submarines upon the FIRST expedition
Of American troops sent to France
became known for the first time on
Wednesday, when the report Of Rear
Admiral Gleaves, commanding the
naval convoy. was made public by
Secretary Daniels.
The first attack was made on Ad-
miral Gleaves' flagship, leading the
first group Of the expeditlonary force,
and at least two submarines were in
dicated to be engaged. The admiral
stated the belief that the U-boats had
knowledge OF the coming Of the troop
ships, and were on watch for them.
The second group of transports also
was attacked by two submarines, one
\ of which apparently was sent to the
bottom by a bomb dropped from an
American destroyer. There is disa-
greement among officers OF the third
group as to whether they were at
tackled, but much evidence is present.
ed to indicate that they also were
, assailed.
Brig. Gen. sQuier, chief Of the army
Signal Corps, is certain the ultimate
invasion of Germany will come FIRST
through the instrumentality Of aero
planes. In recent interview he said:
The United States is going to pro-
vide enough machines to make itself
felt In putting this program through.
This Is not saying we will construct
1900 aeroplanes, or 100000. or ten,
or a dozen. If knew how many ma
chimes we would or could construct
| in year / wouldn't tell, because this
would be telling Won Hindenburg, and
he would thank us for the informa-
ton.
"Of course. the public wants to
know what we are going TO do with
the $50, ,o00, 900 which Congress has ap-
propriated for the aviation service.
Well, it's safe to say we will spend
that money and probably much more
on the air route into Germany. That
is about all we are going to say.
THE very spirit of warfare is shift.
change, impermanency. A general on
the field is working against a hidden
foe whose science and wit are con-
stantly employed for the wreckage OF
that generals plans. How, then, could
/ say II would what Americas avia-
| tion program will be for the next six
/ months or year? If you will show
me Won Hindenburg's provision for air
attack during the coming winter and
spring. then 1 might divulge a few
Yankee plans to counter it.
People who are so cocksure about
our determination to build 2,000 aero
planes seem to be inspired with the
notion that aeros are all made on the
same pattern, turned out Of the fac
tories as alike as two cubes of sugar.
"As a matter of fact. aeroplanes
vary in cost between 5000 and SIS, 900.
and comprehensive aerial program
must include everything from a SIM
pie school machine to a flying Dread
naught. New inventions are contin-
ually being tried out; new appliances
and models must be installed in order
to keep up with the times-or a little
ahead Of them. The Germans general
stan isn't going to let thing sUemain
at a standstill over here, and we may
be called on to revise our whole sys-
tenn in order to wreck theirs. That is
war, which, as 1 have explained, is
the most elastic thing in the world.
"a recent cabled report quotes the
German commander of aviation as
seying American aviators would fail
| pdllly lnrousn idCk OIL courage. lndl
German obviously has never encoun-
tered an American fiier in action"
|
More than 800 applications have been
received at the adjutant generals of.
| flee for appointment as army field
clerks. While a few appointments to
this position are to be made in Wash
ington, more are to be made by the
department commanders, especially In
the Southeastern Department. Appli'
cations should be sent to those Of
fees.