The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1917-03-02
Great Explorer, Here
For Address, Gives
His Views
SPEAKS IN BOARD
OF COMMERCE
Says Hostile Air Fleet
Could Easily Attack
Capital
ADMIRAL rEARt

Noncto~ts s1o tcWfuJ hlorHNoA
alsrmist. judging from the criticism
Of some OF my recent statements.
Int nevertheless the day Is near nj
hand when the country-at-iarge viii
arrive II an appreciation of what
am now saying In the promotion Of
the national defense" said Admira;
Robert n. Peary. u. 8. N. retired.
In the d. A. c.. Thursday morning,
prior 70 an address In the Board
of Commerce auditorium THURSDAY
noon.
The admiral declined TO make any
comment On the present crisis with
Germany. In view OF his present
position a. o government adviser.
He also Is q retired of,cer ~ tho
navy. which alone would prevent
him giving expression 20 his views.
People OF the present day are
prone To look upon the art of dying
as q vague, underiyrng possibility.
whereas II 10 q matter Of fact and
right here with US at the present
time" he said.
Il am saying II oficialiy and pub
neiy when state that the air
service In worth more 10 a nation
than the army and navy combined.
A decision In the present European
struggle viii come In the air. and
the nation that Is able 10 put forth
the greatest aeronsutic strength
viii win. The officers Of either the
English or French air service &c
day are In number greater than
those Ia the United States army.
Il ana stIll maintaining that II Is
possible At Vie present Time for any
nation 10 strike at our national cap
ital and escape unmolcsted. when
I nrst made the statement, II was
construed by men 80 mean that VIZ
had reason TO fear raid OF Yep
pel1ns. ] refer TO the fact that a
tramp steamer OF any nation. carry
ing a squadron or two Of aeropianes.
could come within striking distance
% our shores. reach our capital asd
wreak untold damage and escape
without our raising hand that
would prevent them in any way.
The United States Is now devei-
0ping a wireless apparatus that may
be used from les aeroplanes that
will have n xadius OF $50 miller I
believe thst this distance viii
eventually be Increased 10 500
miles"
II the United States were TO be
drawn into the vortex of inferno
uonal strife. Admiral Peary believes
that Detroit would have a position
similar TO that which Paris now oc.
cupies in France
"Detpit unquesticnably would be
a munitions center In the event OF
war" said the admiral "lt would
need antIair orafs guns. aeroplancs.
powerful searchlights and micro
phones for detecting the approach
OF dying machines from a distanc ,,
The city should have 100 aeroplanes
ready for use In an instant
Last year the United States
spent $4,000 900 for aircraft. and
this year will spend 1000. 900. Con.
trast n with Canada. which this
year will spend slOO.OOO. 900 for
aeroplsnes"
Command OF the sea and com
mand Of the land are worthless
without command OF the air" said
the admiral in his address TO thu
Board OF Commerce. at noon, and
continued:
The millions expended on our navy
and army will be wasted. the mil
lions devoted 20 the Panama cana
thrown away. the billions OF value In
our great cities ieopa rdlEcd and the
existence % the nation eudangere
unless we have such an air feet as
will give TO the United states un
questioned command OF the air OF
North America.
The United states today il helpless
Al the present time four foreign
powers. probably elk. have the men
the machines, the experience ana the
expert knowledge that would enabis
any one OF them. by issuing an order
today. 10 destroy Washington or any
other OF our great coastal cities from
the air In q single night two weeks
from now We have neither aero.
planes, nor dirigibi~s. nor aviators
nor anti-air ersft guns. nor any 9th
or means % preventing such Dc.
,struction. We would be absolutely
helpless
To give proper air power TO ths
United states We need
4 sepa rate and independent de.
psrtmcnt OF aeronautica, with a place
IN thu presidents cabinet
An aviation class - thousands Of
Young men thru0ut the country. Lord
Montagus proposal for Great Ret
taina air service on peace basil
contemplates personnel CT 40 o0s
men.
A Lord Montagu OF American
Aeronautics on the moor Of congress
A comprehensive aero coast de.
fensc system along broad general
lines
some powerful interest backed hJ
large means and experience which
can combine and develop eNistinS
conflicting Interests and Struggling
concerns into great Industry.
A great central aeronautic manu-
featuring plant similar to our larg
est automobile establishments. iocat.
"a In the interior % the country
where u can be protected 70 the las
ditch.
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