New-York tribune., 1917-07-09
Aero Club Urges
Wilson to Provide
10000 Aeroplanes
Alan r. Hawley. in Letter, De-
clares Programme for
22,500 Is Too Small

A letter urging that the appropria-
tions for aeronautics be increased 20
,O00,OOO.OOO and that the proposed
aerial programme be extended TO pro-
vide for the building Of 10000 aero
planes, instead Of 22,5O0, was sent 10
President Wilson yesterday by the
Aero Club of America The letter was
signed by Alan r. Hawley, president Of
the club.
"The seriousness Of the situation,
emphasized by the extensive German
air raids on Great Britain, and the
continuous sinking of ships by T.
boats,' the letter reads. make it our
duty to bring 10 your attention the
following facts:
THE proposed aerial programme
only aims 20 provide 22,5OO aeroplanes.
and that is not sufficient to train and
equip the 10000 aviators needed for
major aerial operations on the West
ern front, since il will take an average
Of one aeroplane TO train each aviator
and three aeroplanes to equip each
aviator. making a total of 10000 aero
planes that should be provided for the
major aerial operations on land.
Would Mean Decisive Victory
"Whereas, decisive victory against
Germany can only be achieved through
major aerial operations against the
German feet and U-boat bases, to Be
conducted az the same time as major
aerial operations are conducted against
the German military centres. military
bases and railroads on land. steps
should be taken Immediately also 20
provide for training and equipping the
10000 naval aviators needed for tie
aerial operations against the German
fleet and U-boat bases.
"RealiZing the Importance OF pro-
ducing aircraft in large numbers in the
shortest time possible, manufacturers
all over the country offered their facll-
tiles. and for the last month there have
been waiting for orders factories that
within ninety days after the placing Of
orders will be able 70 produce 5000
aeroplanes a month and two months
later 5000 seroplanes a month. II or
ders are only 10 be placed now for
% 500 aeroplanes then these aeronautic
manufacturing facilities will be lost,
since il is costly proposition 20 hold
factories idle waiting for orders.
For major aerial operations against
the German fleet and Uboat bases
there will be required thousands of
seaplanes of the largest type. and to
manufacture these will be required
large amount Of lumber. which requires
months TO dry properly. ard other ma
terials which reouir" months 20 treat.
While there is an abundance Of green
lumber end raw materials, there is
hardly any seasoned lumber TO be had.
Therefore there should be placed i'm
mediately the orders for the thousands
Of aeropanes needed, so that the manu-
facturers can get the lumber and dry il
Immediately.
Plan Would Save Billions
at is an accepted fact that the air
craft is to be the most important
weapon with which 20 obtain decisive
victories against Germany. /; is also
a fact that aircraft can be obtained in
less time than any other type Of
weapon. We also know that if the war
should only be shortened by one week
through our spending $4,000. 100000 in
aircraft although we believe that with
sufficient aircraft the war can be short
ened by a ycar-thcre would be saw
ing of tens of thousands Of lives and
l L