The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-06-28
U-BOAT OR AEROPLANE?
THE TOPEKA STATE JOuRSAL
INFORMATION BUREAU
BY Frederic j. Haskin. Director
Washington, ID. c.

Washington. D. c., June 2S.-Will
the IJ-boat or the aeroplane win the
war?
This is the question which is fore-
most in the minds of all military au-
thorities at present. question WhlcA
during the next year is likely to be
answered After three years of con-
slant fighting, the war has practically
| evolved into duel between these two
So far. the U-boat has had the ad-
vantage owing to its ability TO oper-
ate in all kinds of weather. The aero
plane is handicapped by thick atmos-
| phere. Now, however, summer ~
| here. with long stretches of clear
skies. affording excellent opportunity
! for flying. Already the duel mas pe-
! gun Vive aeroplane!
Unfortunately, Germany also has
| aeroplanes, and very etflclent ones.
While the U-boat has oeen terrorlL l
the seas, the German aeroplane mas
| been bombarding enemy towns untli
/ the civil population of France ana
Great Britain is not only DISCOURAGED
| but exasperated. During the past re"
| weeks there have been Indignation
mas meetings at which the people in
sisted that attacks be made upon Ger
| man towns so that the German CIVIL
ian population might comprehend the
nature of such warfare II IT We're
/
| German population would compel
their government to stop it.
On the battlefield, too, German
| aeroplanes have been efficient and
successful. 1t is only recently that
Che British and Italian armies nave
! been able partially to Gust them from
| the sky, thus binding the German
| artillery and winning substantial VIC
| tories
| IT is obvious that the side which
| develops the greatest number of efh-
cient aeropIanes is going to have
| considerable advantage. Indeed, the
| invention of a super-aeroplane by
either side would undoubtedly throw
| the victory to it. The aeroplane has
| already accumulated various improve
ments during the war. 1t has added
| to it's speed and to it's Nweight-carry-
| ing capacity while it has benefited by
| several changes of engines and appar-
atus. At the beginning of the war, an
| aviator could photograph the enemy
at no more than eleven hundred feet;
| now very good photographs may be
| obtained at five and six thousand feet
The United States. in entering the
war at this stage, has the beneht OF
| the allies three years experience. we
| know, for instance, without lighting
| three years to find out, that the aero
plane may prove the decisive factor
| in the war. By this time it has be-
| come apparent that a decisive naval
victory is unlikely, while on land it is
| likely to keep on being a drawn bat
tie. The addition of more forces on
| the land or the sea could hardly make
any great difference one way or the
| other, according to the latest verdict
| of the military authorities, but the adj
| dition of more submarines and aero
| planes-especially aeroplanes-it is
believed, would make a great deal of
| difference.
Thus, the sooner the United States
can manufacture aeroplaneS and get
them over to Europe, the nearer the
| defeat of the Germans. At least, so
argues the national council of Defense
which is taking care of our military
problems. Thousands of aeroplanes
| and trained aviators are to be our
| contribution to the war. 1t is esti-
mated that the French and British
governments are each turning out over
| four thousand aeroplanes a month.
The United States is going to turn
out a like number, as soon as the
| machinery gets going.
Even the national council of de-
| Tense, however, must await the ac-
ton of American Democratic legisla-
ton before the plan may be put into
effect There is no use getting innpa-
tient. Congress must discuss the wis
dom of the measure and prepare ex-
tensive reports before the legislative
machinery even starts. The president
has asked for $600,O0O.000 for air.
craft, and some one is almost certain
to oppose the appropriation of such a
large amount. There must be some
thing left in the treasury for United
States poStoffices.
Aside from the question of helping
the allies the United States needs air.
craft. For a, long time we have had
practically none. 1t must be remem-
bered with pride that the aeroplane is
an American invention-or perfection.
In 1908, the Wright brothers took out
a patent on the first practical heavier
than-air machine. Subsequently thew
offered 1t to the government for a
hundred thousand dollars. The gov
eminent was not interested. The
wright brothers therefore began to
develop it on their own account. incl
dentally acting as inspiration for
the whole of Europe. BY 1911, the
larger countries of Europe all had
their aerial fleets attached to the
armies, while the United States gov
eminent was just beginning to realize
a sad mistake
Even then, however, no effort was
maze TO increase our aerial facilities.
t Al the beginning of the war. we had
tnree aeroplanes for the army and
; three for the navy, but the atmos-
phere had to be in unusually good
5 eoLultIon before they would work. AT
Tue same time Germany and England
mad over hundred each.
Now. at last, in the third vaar of
me war. we are waking up. ruhbine
me sleep from our eyes and suddenly
= discovering the enormous importance
I OF the modern aeroplane. A few
E ihontns ago the war department or
, dered few American army Officers
TO Canada The officers went directly
to Borden, Ontario, where the Cana.
n dlan government maintains one of its
E -FOUR aviation camps. The Officers
9 made notes on everything they saw
5 and then they visited one of the Csne.
c dian technical schools. As a result OF
: what they learned, aviation has now
q been Introduced into numerous en-.
gineering schools and uniyersitie: