The Washington times., 1917-01-15
GERMANY ISGAINING
SUPREMACY IN AIR
W. Joynson Hicks, N. p, Says
British Army's Security
Is Jeopardized.
AMERICAN GRAFT CHARGE
Germans More Powerful En-
gines Enable Them to Out
fly the Allies.
AMERICAN GRAFT CHARGE

LONDON, Jan. 16-Germany soon
viii have complete supremacy In the
air, according to w. Joynson Hicks,
one Of the most active members Of the
House Of Commons, who has made
q speciality of aviation. He points out
the futiiity of complaining TO the gov.
ernment and appeals to the press to
intervene and compel immediate ac-
ton. He complains at delays and at
tacks the authorities for permitting
the payment Of huge commissions to
Intermediary American contractor.
ing" he says, Hthe lives OF our men
are sacrificed and the security Of our
army is jeo-ardixed. The casualties
among the Royal Flying Corps have
front complain that the curve has be-
gun to move In the German direction.
"Our machines are out OF date, as
against the brilliant new ones that the
Germans use. The model that nils up
the built Of our ;GSadhr0ni hSt Is nttsri1
outclassed with its 90 to 100 horse
power engine by the new German ma
chimes. the Rumpler, Halberstadt and
several others with engines OF 24O 10
260 horsepower now In use.
Germans Reach Greater Heights.
'They cruise around over our lines
at q height of $4,000 to 10000 feet,
while the bulk Of our machines are
content with flying. at. q height OF
can reach 1900 feet. Everybody
knows that in flying height is what
the weather gauge was TO Nelson.
'sThe new German machines crash
down with all the added impetus OF
their, descent upon our machines, with
raaI1Tfa Hfaa atrOua To our intrepid
young aviators who man them They
are effete machines and nothing more:
what both services, military ana
naval, have refused to realize Is tnat
power. This means not only pace, but
climbing power. In the Germany army
everything has been made TO give way
to higher power in engines.
There is one mode only IN when
we cannot merely regain our position
but get what we never have had, the
command OF the air. That Is TO scrap
relentlessly all the lower power en-
gines and build, as an officer OF the
flying corps with much experience
chimes II necessary, but higher power
ed ones.
sIoyOoo,OO American Contract.
"Beyond this there needs to be a
very definite inquiry as TO the work OF
the royal naval air service. When the
admiralty was forced to admit last
week in the House Of Commons that
in a contract for supplying airplanes
from America, running into more than
$40. .OOO. .OOO there was included q com
mission OF 10 per cent, nearer $2,OOO,OOO
than $1,000 900, the taxpayer Is en-
sary, when both the vender ana the
purchaser were willing ana anxious 70
contract
in regard TO these contracts In the al
in the purchase price OF commission
Of a sixth Of the total to an English
barrister would be enough TO put an
attorney general on inquiry. II we
started / think a good deal more will
come to light than the particular con-
tract to which have referred"
DiasatisfactiOl In Commons.
The Parliamentary correspondent
of the Times, writing on the evidences
of dissatisfaction with the conduct Of
the war, says the resentment Of the
country has permeated the House of
Commons, and the ministers are be-
coming daily weaker. in their own
stronghold. He continues:
There is no difference of opinion
whatsoever about the reason for the
growing unpopularity of the govern
ment. 1t Is due entirely to their fail
ure to wage the war with vigor and
to organize the nation and them
selves. At this moment a half dozen
great problems all directly connect
ed with the war and of most urgent
have been overripe for
solution for weeks.
"The man power question has ad-
vanced to a stage that is acute,
though the who'll future of next
years campaign depends upon its set
tlement early this winter. The air
board crisis Is still protracted from
day to day. While views are ex-
changed between Lord Balfour and
Lord Curzon, the air services wait
for machines. Meanwhile the German
submarine campaign goes steadily
forward, while such insistent ques-
tions as arming volunteers and the