The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1917-07-14
American AviatOrS
Germany In
II Lives Up to All Our Traditions
Of Doing Things on a Spleen
did Scale, Says Secre-
tary Baker

soldiers OF America WITHIN year
from today. They are coming
from all walks OF rfe, but by the time
they have mastered their business and
been admitted into full service they
will have become an army learned In
half a dozen sciences They will have
become competent men OF the world
Their number will be increased by
thousands OF young Canadians, Eng.
lishmen and Frenchmen who VIII be
trained hereafter upon the flying fields
OF the United States. IL will be glo-
rlous school OF battle, this Academy OF
the Air; a school IN which the United
States win lead the world, one which
will make IL leader among the ma
lions OF earth.
| have been permitted TO tell two i'm
portant details OF the United States air
program, says the Washington CORE
spondent OF the Philadelphia Press.
One is the tentative plan OF battle for
the great drive into Germany by the
new battle planes, air scouts and bomb
choppers. Straight into the heart of
Industrial Germany they will fly, and
their path will DE one OF black ruin.
III is Americas answer to the subma-
Iine terror. The second detail is the
plan for training the new air army.
Even the war department, commit
ted as II is 20 lighting on the earth's
surface, welded as IL has been 10 use
OF soldiers. cavalry, artillery and all
other manner OF earth crawling sol
diery. has caught this vision OF victory
through the air.
"The war department is behind the
aircraft plans with every ounce Of en-
ergy and enthusiasm AT its command
Secretary OF War Baker said I'm dis
cussing the plans OF the aircraft pro
duction board and the signal corps 10
strike at Germany In the air. THE air
craft program seems brutal means the
most effective way In which to exert
Americas force nj once In telling fash
ion.
Every consideration points to the
effectiveness OF highly developed
air service i'm its relation 10 the part
which the United States can play i'm
putting an end 10 the war. 10 lives
up TO all Americas traditions OF do
ing things on a splendid scale. IL VIII
put Us ON our mettle from the point Of
view both of mechanical ingenuity aud
OF individual daring ana initiative.
The development OF the aeroplane In
the war has been marvellous, and al
most anything of startling nature
could be expected OF Il. The uses 10
which the scaplanes have been put In
che present war IL most comprehensi-
bly, told IN THE Textbook OF Naval
Aeronautics," arranged by Henry
Woodhouse, naval and aerial expert
and published by the Century com.
pany.
Aerial Photography.
Aircraft have made photography OF
Tremendous value In warfare. says Mr..
WoodhOuse Whereas at the beginning
of the present war commanders thought
that II was wonderful 90 be able 10 get
clearly written or sketched reports OF
conditions from air scouts who had
flown over the enemy lines, today they
expect Photographic evidence.
IL is not sufficient for an aviator 10
return from raid and report that he
dropped bombs on given place and did
certain damage. He must bring back !
Photographic proofs, and he usually
does. Likewise, the observer sent out
on an aerial reconnaissance brings back {,
a series OF photographs, which are
promptly put together and enlarged by
experts. and Photographic maps are con-
structed therefrom, showing the exact
topography OF the country, existing con-
ditions, location, composition aud dis
position OF fleets or steamers and trans
ports and OF land defenses protecting
the approaches 60 harbors OF places OF
strategic Importance The accuracy 90.
tained by aerial photography is so rev
olutionary from n military standpoint |
that IL would have been Uncomfortable /
before the present war 10 be able 10
realize H. As a matter OF fact. the I
commander can have a moving picture 4
taken IN a few hours which will show |
the exact conditions between any two |
given points and enable him to plan his /
operations accordingly.
Proof Of Damage Done.
or course the commander OF the op- /
posing forces has the same privilege
unless one side has the mastery of the |
mir and Is Ia a position 20 prevent the |
aviators OF the other side from flying |
over their own lines and taking photo |
graphs.
In report OF bombing raid on the !
Turkish lines by n seaplnne squadron. |
which started from n seaplane carrier
mt saloniki. Lieutenant Francois Ser.
non who VIVA on the sCaulanp carrier Z
Ben Ma Chree relates how. after the |
aviators had returned from the raid
they were ordered back TO get photo.
graphic evidence OF the damage done
Returning 10 the spot TO get photo. !
graphic evidence. instead OF waiting 10
anL. M q fAnr ~. ......L-.. - IL. -.