New Britain herald., 1917-06-09
TITANIC AIR FLEET
 TO BLIND GERMANY
U. s. May Send Thousand oi
 Planes to European Front

Washington, June 9.-Secretary Baker, officers of the War College and Brig. Gen. George o. Squier. chief signal officer of the army, are study ing plan to strike telling blow at the German war machine in France by means of tremendous American airplane force capable of overwhelm- ing opposing aircraft and "blinding the eyes of the German armies The plan, elaborate but practical in every respect, has progressed to the American, British and French army leaders The secrecy which has shrowded 1t no longer is regarded as necessary. In fact. details of the plan must be made public because 1t is up to Congress to provide the neces- sary funds.
 General Squier by reason of his position as organizer and so-called manager of the nations future avia- tion forces, is not free to discuss the matter. There Is however, unques- tionable authority for the statement that he indorses the advocacy of an immediate and enormous increase of this nations aviation forces for the specific purpose of concentrating so many thousand battle machines on Lu0 4AIluS AAAA0 k11e4I 1OIAAekA <4I GA14OIy will be rendered sightless. The Ger man military leaders then would be forced to continue the fight blind folded against the Allies.
 The importance of this would be ap- preciated at once, 1t is asserted. if the public could see some of the latest messages which have come from French and British strategists now conducting the war. General Squier has been making advance prepara- tions for this contingency for weeks. The groundwork Is laid for putting the actual plan into full operation and all that is necessary is for Gen. eral SQuier to receive word from Sec- retary Baker to Ego ahead" Before Secretary Baker can give this au- thority Congress must pledge the necessary funds which are estimated at about $1,ooo,oo0.ooo.
 The bureau of ordinance of the war department has received funds of al-
 most 91,5O0,000,00O for work on
 heavy ordnance. This is all important
 but in the opinion of those interested
 in the aviating program it cannot
 have a direct bearing on the war
 operations for almost two years It
 will be some time before American troops can be concentrated to make . their presence felt in the struggle. But an American aeronautical force,
 1t Is held, could exert tremendous and perhaps decisive pressure on the actual fighting within few months. As one leading American army au- thority phrased 1t, ''the effect of American 3aeronautical forces in Flu rope would be felt acutely by Ger
 many within week after they reached French soil.''
 The first move which General Squier has completed after weeks of labor has been to remove in advance all impediments to turning the nations genius and resources to aviation. Every American manufacturer now engaged in aeronauical work has, been sounded out. Every manufacturer of engines, automobiles, electrical ap- pliances or what not who could be of assistance has been listed and in thouednds of cases communicated with. {.
 General SQuier has concentrated his energies not on providing an Ameri- can aeronaut force which could hold its own with the British or French but in providing an over- whslnaing force completely eclipdne tho efforts of the most progressive of the Europeans PowerA Tens ok thousands of av1ators are part of this plan. The plans also call for dotting