Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-07-03
EXPECT THAT AMERICA
WILL STRIKE FROM AIR
Great Confidence Placed in q. s. Air
: Squadron to Be Used
Abroad.

Correspondence Of the Associated Press.
PARIS, June I'm Pierre Etienne
Flandin. head of the interallied aero
nautic service in France. expects great
things from the cooperation of the
United States in military aviation.
TT is from the air." he said. that
the great republic can strike the blow
that will be the most quickly felt by
the enemy. Five thousand American
aviators, bringing with them their own
equipment in machines, would weigh
Just now than 5000 infantrymen or
5000 artillerymen with their equipment
in arms and munitions"
NJ. Flandin is the man with whom
Americans will treat regarding the CO.
operation of the flying corps of the two
armies. He was an aviator himself be-
fore the war, holding a license from the
Aero Club dated 1912. and served with
the flying corps at the front in Bel
GUM during the first months of the
war. Since then he has worked inces-
sanity for the development of the air
service, and when NJ. Daniel Vincent.
an aviator himself. was made under
secretary of war for aviation. he sought
the aid of NJ. Flandin's energy and ex-
perience to help organize and admin
lister this branch of the service. Both of
them knew aviation in it's minutest de-
tails from experience in actual service.
Looked On as Miracle Country.
America is considered in France as
q country of miracles in the domain of
industry" he said. as to the co-opera-
tfon of the United States in military
aviation. Public opinion imagfnes that
this new country is able to make fac
tories spring from the ground in a few
days. 1t imagines that you will be
able to furnish in a very short time a
considerable aerial fleet. that will carry
terror into the enemy's country and
will give us absolutely the mastery Of
Gus. 1 think myself that we may expect
great events from the United States in
aviation.
1T is by bringing to bear its effort
IN air warfare, in the first place, that
the great republic can give an almost
France material aid that would make
itself felt quickly upon the enemy" NJ
Flandin added.
IF you send US 500 aviators with an
adequate proportionate equipment, you
would bring us, outside Of the moral
support. an aid that would weigh far
more heavily in the balance. It must
not be forgotten that France has made
. formidable effort. From the indus
TRIAL point Of view, 1t would be difficult
OF lack of raw materials and the
scarcity of labor. The United States
should then bear in mind that it Is not
sufficient to send aviators to France,
but 1t must give France every means
to increase its production. At the same
time 1t should adapt certain of its fac
tories by necessary notifications or ex-
tensions to the construction of aero
nautic apparatus and material.
Praise for Americans.
"On our side we will furnish designs
and plans Of the latest types Of aero
planes and motors, which would permit
you to adopt the best models and avoid
q loss Of precious time in research and
experiments"
As to what has already been accom-
phshed In the direction Of cooperation
In aviation between the United States
Apd France. N. F1andin said:
Our negotiations with the govern
ment OF the United States will soon
show in results, but I cannot at the
moment say anything further on this
subject. wish to express, however,
the excellent impression made by the
200 American pilots who have already
enlisted in the French army. They are
all courageous men, filed with desire
to do great things. They will certain
ly make an excellent nucleus around
which may be grouped the new Ameri-
can flying recruits. The exploits of
the Lafayette corps are almost without
number; the decorations that nearly
all of them have won give the measure
OF the courage that they have always
shown"