The Washington herald., 1917-04-25
Army and Navy News
Best Service Column in City.

4 six days study OF canada's methods
OF recruiting her airmen has Just beer
completed by Lieut.. Col. John B. Ben.
nett, chief Of the aviation section, and
Major Benjamin D. Fulois.
They studied the Dominion's methods
Of training with a view to improving all
branches Of recruiting In the United
States service and Flying Reserve Corps,
They report that every facility was laid
at their disposal by the Canadian author.
tiles including the records Of the aviation
department and complete freedom to IN
vestigate every niche and Granny OF the
aviation schools.
The Canadian methods of flight instruc-
ton and raising the necessary men will
probably be followed by this govern
ment. The two officers are now at work
on an exhaustive report Of their investi-
cations.
The Canadian cadet, altar his accep-
tance and medical examination, is given
one months theoretical instruction. At
the same time he receives from two TO
three hours day of setting-up exercises.
Then comes an examlna tion, and II he is
passed he goes to. The Wings" as the
actual flying corps is termed. Instruo-
ton in this branch comes in three classes
designated elementary" high" and
"super~high." Here he learns air
stresses, photography, machine-gun oper-
alton and so on Then comes another
can never qualify as an alrman, although
there is a chance he may be retained a.
an instructor.
The full course consists Of six months
After this, provided they have passed all
tests, graduates are started for the front
There are also enrolled ground officers
who attend to the less spectacular work
OF the corps.
A basic scheme suitable for the aerial
defense Of the fifteen naval districts,
which would provide for a constant pa
troll Of the coast, has been submitted to
Alan r. Hawley, president Of the Aero
Club OF America and chairman of the
Advisory Committee on Aeronautics, CO.
operating with the commandant of the
Third Naval District in the Organization
OF the Naval Reserve forces, by Rear
Admiral Nathaniel r. Usher, the COM
nandant
Rear Admiral Usher deplores the fact
that the navy has no air service in the
districts and that the one aeronAuttc sta
ton. that at Pensacola, Fla, Is not even
adequate to train naval aviators needed
for the airplane mother ships for the
feet.
For eficenoy the Rear Admiral says
there should be ten aeronautic stations in
the Third Naval District, and these
should be located as follows: Two bases,
one at Sandy Hook and the other at Mon
tauk Point; a station at Bay Shore
where the Naval Militia Is already eStao-
fishing q station; one at Port Washington.
where the America-Transatlanti Com
pany's station Il now situated; one at
Amityvflle, Long Island, where the
hangers Of the speery Gyroscope Com
pany are: at Ocean Beach. N. J., Rock
away or Manhattan Beach or MaSsa-
peuus; at New Hsvan and at South
hampton.
Until dirigibles and observation balloons
are obtained Re ar Admiral Usher says
that the territory to be covered by each
station will be covered by units consist
ing OF one aviator and one observer, hav-
ing at their disposal three airplanes, one
Of which must be always in flying order.
Each unit is expected to fly about 200
miles each day when the weather permits