The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1917-03-01
AIR CRAFT
GREATEST
NEED OF US.
ADMIRAL PEARY
Great Explorer, Here
For Address, Gives
His Views
SPEAKS IN BOARD
OF COMMERCE
Says Hostile Air Fleet
Could Easily Attack
Capital


considers ne semihysIerical
slarmist. iudgins from the critics.
Of some OF my recent statements
but nevertheless the day Is near al
hand when the counuy.at.large will
arrive at an appreciation OF what !
am now saving In ;be promotion oi
the national defense. said Admira;
Robert Z. Peary. U s. n. retired.
in the II. 4. c., Thursday morning.
prior 10 an address in the Board
81 Commerce auditorium Thursday
noon.
The admiral declined 20 mako any
comment on the present crisis with
Germany, In view 81 his present
position As a government adviser.
he also as retired officer N III,
navy. which atone would prevent
him giving expression 20 his views
People Of the present DAY are
prone 10 look upon the art OF hyiES
as a vague. underlying possibility
whereas n b. a matter OF fact and
night here with Us az the present
Time" he said.
Il am say ing il officially and pub
iicly when state that the air
service Ia worth more 10 nation
than the army and navy combined.
A decision in the present European
struggle will come In the air. AID
the nauon that Is able 10 put forth
he greatest aerCnautic strength
vii win. The officers 81 either the
English or French air service e
day are in number greater than
those Ia tho United States army
Il ar, still maintaining that II is
possible az the present time for any
nation TO strike az cur rational cap
ital and escape unmolested When
first made the statement. h was
construed BY men 10 mean that We
had reason TO fear a raid OF Zep-
peLNs. refer 70 the fact that a
tramp steamer OF any nation. carry
ing a squadron or two Of aeropIanes.
could conie within striking distance
Ct our shores. reach our capital AID
vreak untold damage and escape
without our raising hand that
would prevent them in any way
The United States h nov Jews.
Oping a wireless apparatus thar may
be used from its aerCplanes that
viii have a radius OF ESQ miler /
believe that this distance viii
eventually be increased 10 goo
miles"
n the United States were 20 GO
urawn into the vortex 81 interim
uonal strife. Admiral Peary believcs
that Detroit would have a position
similar 70 that which Paris now o..
cupies IN France.
'Detruit unquesticnably would be
munitions center In the event Of
war" said the admiral 1T would
need aniair craft guns. aeroplaacs
powerful searchlights and micro
phones for detecting the appro4ch
Of flying machines from a distanc
The city should have 100 acceptance
ready for use in an instant
Last year the United State.
spent sls.000.000 for aircraft. and
this year will spend 500. 900 600. Con
trast IL with Canada, which ihii
year will spend 500 .000, 900 foi
acceptance
Command OF the sea and com
mand OF the land are worthies.
without command Of the air" sal,
the admiral in his address 70 IN,
Board OF Commerce, az noon, an,
continued
The millions expended on our nav
and army viii be wasted the mil
lions devoted 20 the Panama cana
thrown away, the billions - value IL
our great citleE ieopaFdized and nj
existence ~ the nation endanRere,
unless We have such an air nest a
viii give 10 the United states IN
questioned command OF the air %
North America
Tns United states today 10 hsIples,
AZ the present time four foreign
powers. probably sis. have the meU
the machines. the experience and IN
expert knowledge that would enabl
any one % them. - issuing an orde
| today. 10 destroy Washington or an
| other - our great coastal cities from
| the air IN a single night two week
| from now We have neither aero
| planes nor dirigibiss. nor avtatori
| nor anti-air craft guns. nor any 9th
er means 81 preventing such de-
/ struction- We would be ABSOLUTELY
r. vfve ,ron.r ar nowsr "a IN
| United States we need
A separate and Independent A.
paTtment 81 aeronautlcs, with a plac
| In the presidents cabinet
| An aviation class ~ fhousandf .
younE men turnout the country. Lor
/ Montagu's proposal for Great Bfi
| tain's air service on a peace hasl
| contsmpiates personnel OF lee 90
/ men.
A Lord MontaEu % America
aeronautica on the f0or 81 congress-
A comprehensive aero coast de
fense system along broad genera
4 lines
some powerful interest backed p
| large means and eperience who
| conflicting interests and struRglln
! concerns into q great industry.
great central acronautic manu-
1 featuring plant similar 10 our lars
I est automobile Embellishments. tocai
/ ga IN the interior ~ the countrl
where it can De protected 90 the ias
/ ditch
A motion picture camera has becI
| invented which can make four mr.