Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-07-31
Win the War in the Air.

The aeronautical office Of the North
eastern Department announced at Bos-
ton, Sunday night, that applications
We're being received at its headquar-
tiers there for young men between the
ages of 10 and 80 years desiring to
qualify for commission as first lieu
tenant in the aviation section of the
Signal Officers, Reserve Corps. APP
plcants, it is stated, must execute the
blank required by the War Department
before being called under the draft.
They are expected to have a college
education or it's equivalent, although
consideration is sometimes given to
high school graduates possessing other
exceptional qualifications.
The training of an aviator or obser-
walton balloon pilot requires about six
months. Transportation is provided
to the schools and training camps and
soldiers pay, rations and sleeping &C
commoda tons furnished during train
ing. The base pay of an aviator or
balloon pilot is $4,000 annually when
on duty with additional compensation
when in active service abroad or at
home.
From the L. S. Army Recruiting
Station at Portland comes the follow
ing:
This recruiting Office is in receipt of
instructions from the War Department
/ that the aviation section Of the signal
corps has again been thrown open to
enlistments. Enlistments in this
branch Of the service were discon-
tinued early in April. 1t is urged that
all men who desire to enter this branch
of the service take early action.
Clerks, chauffeurs, and mechanics are
desired in great numbers. Men who
have some knowledge along these lines
should lose no time in availing them
selves of this most excellent opportun-
ity of serving in their own profession,
and rendering valuable service to their
country in one Of its most important
| departments"
In this connection the following from
the August issue Of THE Navy and
Merchant Marine" is interesting:
American aeroplanes enter the
world conflict at the crucial moment;
the deadlock that has for so long held
the world must be broken by attack
from the skies. That is the opinion of
Augustus w. Post former Secretly of
the Aero Club of America. The
heart of the Central Powers is
Essen enveloped in an obscuring
canopy of smoke clouds where
the vast Krupp Works send through
the veins of Germany the life blood Of
munitions. One aeroplane could not
destroy Essen, nor few aeroplanes,
but fleet of them, fleet in numbers
commensurate with the vastness of
this war. could beyond the shadow of
doubt blow the Essen works into ruin,
and accomplish more than any other
military operation.
Such is the opinion of the most
cool-headed and practical experts, not
mere dreamers. 1t is the opinion of
the business-like Orvile Wright. an
opinion shared by all who know the
situation of Germany in aeronautics.
The Central Powers no longer hold
supremacy of the air, as for a time
they did. At present the best they can
do in output and equipment is barely
70 hold their own and in the even more
! important matter of providing aviators,
the long drain upon the young man
hood of Germany-where the mortality
las been geatest in the very classes
from which aviators must be recruited
has left her at a disadvantage.
THE balance of power lies with
America-with the machines we can
furnish and the brilliant fiiers we are
| turning out every hour. At the crucial
moment of the worlds history victory
f1overs in the air. awainting the direc-
ton Of American energy and the COM
, mand Of American genius. And when
the victory has been won, and America
| having vindicated herr claim to stand
among the champions of democracy,
goes back to her we'll won peace, a
new element will have come into
American life through the part the ma
ton will take in the campaigns of the
cir"