The Delta independent., 1917-10-05
PLANES WILL Be
READY IN TIME
RUMoRS OF DELAY IN TURNING
OUT AMERICAS AIRCRAFT
ARE UNFoUNDEp.
ENOUGH SPRUCE IN SIGHT
Machines Can Be Built in Many Fac
tories and Will Be Done in Time for
the Wonderful Liberty Motors to Be
Installed.
BY EDWARD q. CLARK.

BY EDWAHO b. CLAIM.
Washington.-Was for day
or two has been troubled with rumors
to the effect that while the United
States will have the best flying ma
chine engines ever built, and these in
quick order. the whir of their machin-
cry will not be heard over the heads
of the Germans until twice twelve
month has gone by.
There is delay enough in a score OF
branches of the government depart
ments in all that pertains to war work,
but the people probably can reassure
themselves on the flying machine mat
ter. We will have battle planes and
plenty of them flying in Europe with
their fast dropping cargoes of high ex-
plosives before the next crop of blood
red coquelicots springs in the fields
OF France.
Secretary of War Baker came pretty
close to putting himself in the class
of the exuberant when he issued his
1900 word statement about the new
aircraft motor. but inquiry makes 1t
appear that while the exuberance OF
the secretary may not have been in
keeping with the ordinary conventions
of secretarial life, 1t perhaps was JUS
titled from the human nature point OF
view.
Battle Planes Will Be Ready.
After Mr. Baker had told the coun-
try that the greatest thing that ever
happened in the way Of a motor had
been purchased. there came the story
that the motors were all very well,
but that there would be precious little
use for them because there would be
no airplanes in which to install them
until many a weary month had gone
into times discard.
Congress and those members of the
administration who are not intimately
in on things" looked bluer for a day
than the unprotected face of any avia-
tor after nipplng ride in the upper
air Now 1t can be said that as soon
as the motors are turned out, which
will not be long. there will he battle
planes to carry them and TO be pro-
PEELED by them. All of which is eN-
ceedingly cheerful news TO capitni
which has been hearing that only
half dozen submarine chasers have
been turned out, that none of the new
destroyers will be ready for eighteen
months that bad ammunition is being
made at the arsenals, and that nei-
ther steel nor wooden ships for com
merce bearing will be ready until the
waters of earth have several season
able chances to freeze.
Some time ago in these dispatches ii
was said that the government was eN-
periencing difficulty in securing a sup
ply of proper spruce from which to
make the framework OF the airplanes.
Friends of the enemy have been busy
In spiking some Of the spruce trees and
in doing damage TO timber already cut,
but of course not even enemy aliens
inspired with the hate of all things
American can ruin the entire spruce
crop of the United States overnight.
Plenty Of Spruce.
Now II is said that the spruce is in
sight and to this cheerful bit of in
formation Is added n word that II does
not take long to build an airplane and
that they can be built not only In au-
tomobile factories, of which we have
perhaps some scores of hundreds. but
in furniture factories and even in the
carpenter shops of every day city and
country acquaintance.
So today II seems to come down to n
situation which promises n plentiful
tpply of airplanes within fairly short
prder with motors to run them and
with fair prospect that they can
hnke themselves felt from their van
hge points above the head of the en-
emy before the next cold season has
been melted by the breath of n genial
spring.
Many Wish To Be Aviators.
At army headquarters in Washing
ton there have been from time to time
expressions of surprise, pleased sur
prise, Mt the great numbers of young
Americans who have expressed a will
ingness to enter the aviation service.
II requires the possession of GER
tain temperament to make success
full aviator and the army examiners
are determined that only the men who
are fit shall enter the service. and in
this can be found one reason why
there Is qualification because of the
large numbers of young men who are
showing desire to become battle
plane iliers and fighters.
Within n day or two there has been
received from France an account Of
the first experience in battle of an
American aviator, Charles j. Trinkard.
Permission to publish the account of
this young Americans first encounter
In the air with the German enemy was
given by the censor and even the name
of the town near which the encounter
took place was allowed to ne printed.