The Detroit times., 1917-07-09
WORK BEING
RUSHED ON
AIR SCHOOL
Buildings Spring Up
Like Mushrooms At
Selfridge Field
CAMP is UNDER
MARTIAL LAW
Lawlessness A m on e
WOrkmen Made Step
Necessary

Where a few weeks ago only tim
othy waved In tho lazy breeze. with
here and there a long-stemmed daisy
noddlng drowsily and no more sign
OF human life than sleepy boy
halthcartedly watching a cork that
Ieposed on the bosom OF ditch.
now all is hustle and excitement.
IL Is what used 20 be the old JOY
farm, but is now Solfridge field. des-
tined 10 be one OF tho largest avia-
ton fields In the country. four mics
out from Mt Clemens on the shore
OF Lake st. Clair
When the government took this
piece OF land over tor the establish
ment OF school for the training OF
war aviators. with ia accustomed
rapidity OF action. IL threw 5000
men onto those wide meadows and
buildings began 10 spring UP like
mushrooms In an incredibly short
time there appeared II large han
gars. each capable OF housing four
OF the largest type OF army plane.
Tho buildings are about 200 feet
long and half as wide. with saucer.
chapel roofs. making them resem.
BILE gigantic mushrooms in appear
ance as we'll as in rapidity or
growth.
In addition 10 those vast fran :
buildings, which form a, row nearly
a mile long. there Is small board
village growing UP alongside IT,
There is large school building,
where the aviators viii be taught
when they are not actually soaring
in the air; mess buildings. barracks,
hospital and other buildings neces-
sary for such an enterprise II II
expected that the actual work OF
training aviators who are expected
20 loft themselves over the German
forces and defea. them may start
before the end OF ;he present month.
40 rapidly has the work advanced
The camp is now under martial
law. with n company OF soldiers pa
trolling every road leading 20 -. Nc
person Is admitted without a pass
and even then they must satisfy the
sentries that they actually have i'm.
portant and harmless business be
fore they are allowed 20 proceed
Also they must submit 10 a search
The United States government at
this time Is looking for efficiency
and is going on the theory that
when booze goes in efficiency goes
out. For that reason Selfridge field
Is bone dry The soldiers will not
permit any person 20 carry into the
camp drop OF liquor
Before the soldiers got on the job
there were many fights and assaults,
several OF which resulted fatally
With 5000 men OF mixed nationals
ties and colors camped on The same
field. and with all the liquor they
wanted 70 help them while away the
hours they were or duty, the com
muniiy became "a lawless "a ever
a mining town IN southwestern
gulch After the authorities had
found IN tho tall grass or the river
the bodies Of a half-dozen men. vic
Tins OF fights or OF robberies, hey
decided q was time 20 put the place
under martial law. with the result
that a company OF soldiers was sent.
Since then order has prevailed.
All over the big tract OF meadow
land men and teams are az work
"skinnIng" n spot 81 many acres.
where n concrete floor will be laid
10 furnish starting and landing
stage for the fiers II will be nee
essnry for novices 10 have a good
starting point and landing spot, but
after they have become familiar
with the work they will be taught
20 start from the rough ground and
even from the water.
The entire camp Is under control
OF regular army captain. who Is
king OF tho village This captain is
an expert engineer. which Is one
reason why tho work is progressing
30 rapidly that the air above the
field will he Inhabited by airships in
a very short time