New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-08-12
Building of Battle Planes
a New Billion-Dollar
Industry
Big Equipment Needed
Aerial Commission Secretary
Tells How Business Leaders
Will Supply Machines

The questions as 70 where the new
billion-dolar industry of building bat
tie planes will get its equipment, labor
and materials are answered by Captain
Earl Hamilton Smith, 0. R. c., secre-
tary Of the National Aerial Coast
Patrol Commission, in the current issue
Of "The Nations Business"
"To win the war in the air. says
Captain Smith, American industries
must perform five big feats which have
never been accomplished before by any
nation. The passage Of the 100000
aviation bill by the House on the l4th
and by the Senate on the Dist Of July
was merely an announcement to the
business men of this country that yet
another immense war task-and an en-
tirely new one at that-had been thrust
upon them. They must toll to do these
things:
Successfully develop a new billion
dollar industry within a year, and be
prepared TO keep it going indefinitely;
"Lay the foundation in a year Of a
mammoth aircraft production which
will equal what France and Great Brit
ain have taken three years TO do
Attain quality as well as quantity
production by machinery of exceedingly
delicate aeroplane motors, equal 70
those being made only by the most
skilful hand labor in France, treat
Britain and Italy;
spruce by a kiln-dry process equal to
air-dried spruce, which has never oeeh
done before. &C.,
"Do all this without seriously dislo-
eating normal business or interfering
to any serious degree with any other
phase of vital war activity.
"Can such unheard of things be
done? .u
Young America Will Fly
"Leaders of American business, al
/ ready bearing the strain of enormous
war tasks, declare emphatically that
they can. Brigadier General George o..
/ Suuier, chief signal officer of the army,
/ SAYS without hesitation: Young Amer
| lea will fy and win for freedom The
serene confidence of the Hon. Howard
/ T. Coffin, chairman of the aircraft pro-
J duction board of the Council of Ma
tional Defence, is appalling. He simply
declares: The whole project IS one
worthy of Americas capacity and en-
ergy.' And then ne calmly keeps on
with the work of making this come
truel
"The governments aeronautical pro-
gramme calls for the rushed construc-
ton of $4,000 aeroplanes, school ma
chimes and battle planes, and $4,000
aeroplane motors. IL also requires the
creation of a specially trained person
mel of over 100000 officers and men, Of
whom 10000 are to be fliers. This last,
however, is a separate task TO be ham
I died by the War Department and its
Signal Corps. IL is a tremendous and
dangerous problem in itself which can
not be treated here. We may rest as
sured that it will keep pace with the
expected achievements of the industrial
side of a project which involves the
honor and the safety of our country.
There is given herewith a brief
elaboration of the manner in which our
American industries are expected to
make good in big way on five counts.
Billion To Be Spent
"The air programme will be $1,000
100000 proposition within year for
the reason that the money already APP
propriated will not be enough. The
total amounts to-day are S694,O00,000.
There will also be the Sl00,0000O0
which the Navy Department has just
asked at the eleventh hour, plus the
Sl1 100000 it already has. The navy
side, however, is another story alto
gether The army budget of nearly
500, 900 goo will all be spent or con-
tracted for by August l, 1918, and the
net result by the opening of the spring