The Washington herald., 1917-06-10
i, 5. MAY Spend
billion ON AIR
Government Plans to Turn
Out Thousands of Planes
for Drive on West.
A billion for the air.

"A LOT the dlT.
That, it became known last night
Is the official program of the govern
ment. The money will be used to
turn out thousands of aeroplanes for
use on the western front OF Europe.
Information has come to the United
states that now is the psychological
moment to strike Germany at her
weakest point. To American indus
trial strength, It is declared, may go
the credit for the winning OF the war.
The allied air corps now have Ger
many on the run, but by exeTting all
her resources in the production OF air
craft, she is able to keep sufficient
machines in the air to enable her to
know what movements are going on
behind the allied front.
The allies themselves are near the
limit of production and have not the
power to drive Germany completely
from the air.
Turns Upon America
So everything turns upon America.
This country is looked to to blind
Germany. II we turn out sufficient
machines to overwhelm the German
aviation corps and drive its fifers from
the air, the German army chiefs will
be without knowledge of troop con-
centrations behind the front and, by
preparing a tremendous blow, the in
fantry could break through. roll up
tue GeTIlldn armies IN france, ana
drive them to the Rhine.
All this depends upon America, in
the view of allied military chiefs, it
was learned here yesterday, and the
part America Is to play is the COM
pelling movement behind the bill to
create a Department of Aeronautics,
the head of which will sit in the Cabi-
net. The measure will come up for a
hearing before a House committee on
Tuesday. 1t is the first step toward
America seizing control of the air.
Quiet preparations have been going
on for days to launch a tremendous
drive for aeroplanes, it was learned
Every plant in the country capable
Of manufacturing aeroplane parts has
been listed, and the government has
contracts ready which will keep each
factory at the limit of output for more
than two years.
The well-worn phrase "The war
may yet be won in the air" has come
TO have a deeper meaning. 1t was
definitely stated last night that the
government is planning a sudden ex-
pansion of the whole air program on
an enormous scale
1t was asserted that there need be
no surprise If the aviation program is
suddenly expanded from the present
proposed expenditure of $40, 600, 600 to
500, ZOO, 900, or even s., ,00O, ,000, ,000 just as
the shipbuildtng plan developed over
night from $J0,0OO,OO0 to $750, 900. coo.
Sudden Expansion.
1t was learned that the government
has so perfected arrangements that
scouting aeroplanes and heavy battle
planes can be constructed here in
great quantities. Only a month ago
1t was stated that American expert
ments had not yet reached a stage
where machines available for use on
the battle front could be turned out,
Only training machines could be made
here. 1t was stated. But, by dividing
the various factories and foundries Of
the country into groups the govern
ment has devised a plan whereby each
plant may be put to turning out that
part of a battleplane or scout plane
which it Is best fitted to manufacture,
and then all these parts will be as
sembled at central stations,