Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1917-06-12
x = x y 4 = y = X x < x
By aeorge Martin

Omitted Press staff correspondent
New York, June l2.-The great al
lied victory at Messines ridge, largely
made possible by the binding Of the
Germans by allied flyers proves con-
clusively that America 5 immediate and
biggest task is to get 100000 planes
and ten thousand fighters to Europe
to help put Germany's 3 fighting eyes
lout, in the opinion of Henry Woodhouse
Of the Aero club Of America, here to-
lday.
HBy speeding up4' said Woodhouse
to the United Press today, we can
do this in twelve months; end the war
on a military basis long before it could
otherwise be ended, and save thous-
ands OF lives and billions of dollars =
| Woodhouse is the man whose predic-
tion of six months ago that the war
would be won or lost in the air, seems
to be coming true.
"The element of time is the most
| important, he continued. 1--WE wait
ON nothing but half billion dollar ap-
lpropriation from congress.
''The Council Of National Defense
is organized to proceed quickly through
the aircraft production board. To make
fewer than 100000 planes and train
fewer than 10000 men may lead to
fearful consequences on the front.
Will Take Half Billion
1--WE must have five hundred thou
SANDY million dollars to start, at once.
The actual sum needed is one billion
dollars. M
Training camp sites have been
chosen, the aeronautical manufacturing
facilities are mobilized and we have
Eplaced in their hands complete plans
for the latest uniform types of allies
battle planes and other needed war ma
chimes.
off we maryland congress must
give MS quick help in this-we can do
in twelve months what it took the Brit
ish two years TO accomplish.
"There will be no trouble getting
the men. They are at hand, waiting only
on congress.
awe must strike Germany through
the air, quickly.
''That the Tcuton is Vulnerable there
now is proved by dispatches stating
that the German planes have been col
lapsing in mid-air whenever any part
was hit by the allied guns.
ain the past that happened only
when the most vital parts of the aero
plane, such as the bracing wires, were
hit.
Need $4,000 Battle Planes
What we need most to supply the
allies is $4,000 fast battle planes. They
will fight the enemy off the skies
That done, the slow bomb dropping
machines and artillery planes, which
are the eyes of the big guns and the
infantry machines, which carry ma
chine guns and fly in advance of the
infantry, swOoping low and turning
their guns on the men in enemy trench
es. can do their work unmOlested.
"After the $4,000 battle planes, ours
is question of number rather than
'fThere will be no trouble in getting
l25,000 men from which to select ten
thousand first class fighting fliers,
Thousands of young men are beginning
to get into it.
ofMen between IS and 25 make the
best air fighters. Many, however, have
made good beginning at the age of %.
And others at the age Of So.
"There are few fliers over 80, but
that doesn Z mean that older men don I
make good flers. The twenty percent
of applicants needed to do air fighting
usually is selected from the youngest,
though there is nothing the matter
with the older ones.
"F7ying men must be intelligent,
quick witted, honorable above reproaeh
not too heavy, not over lT0 at most,
resourceful and cautious enough to take
the greatest advantage possible Of ev-
cry situation with safety to their lives
and equipment. :"