The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1917-07-24
To MAKE WAR N rHE AIR.

congress has done a wise act IN
passing the bill spproprlating sstc.-
oeo. zoe TO b. used for building air
planes. Il has been the opinion Of
many experts for some time that the
European war would eventually I've
decided In the air, and now that the
United states has embarked upon a
~stupendous airpiane-hulidlng pro-
gram We shall soon be in a position to
do our part, in the air as well as on
land.
The evolution OF the alrplane al
been one OF the most marvellous de-
vclopments W the European war.
when the wal started almost three
Years ago The airplane was looked
upon as a toy. but II has become a
fighting machine of almost llmitiess
possibilities.
Germany was first to see the pos
sibillties OF aerial navigation. For
~tuna,e'y the German government, pin
ned It's faith 10 the great zeppelins.
which depended on gas for lifting
pt ser. aud were comparatively slow
and unwieldy. They also afforded
large targets for auti-aircraft guns
II was the belief OF the German en-
Iperor that a vast fleet Of zeppelins
did CAUSE considerable loss OF lie
Iand pr0periy. but tended only to en-
rage the English people and make
them more determined TO fgh, to the
death. II is noticeable the recent
raids have not ben made by zeppelins.
but with airpianes.
From being used merely for scout
ing purposes. the airplane has devel-
oped into a formidable fighting ma
chine which carries from one 10 two
or three men. and sometimes more.
and IL armed with machine guns and.
in some cases. with rapid-firins j.
FOUNDER cannon. Not only are thrill
ing battles fought In the air between
the planes OF the allies n the
Germans. but the aviators have bold
lly attacked troops trains. and even
1.-THE armies in the field. Both sides
have increased the number Of their
battle and scouting planes at a tre-
mendous rate. but as one side has not
been able. so far. 20 make these planes
and man them much faster tina the
other. the airplane has not. 50 far,
proved TO be a deciding factor In the
war.
Untli recently. the United ctates
was more poorly equipped with flying
machines han any other great power.
Our little army on the Mexican border
had scarcely enough flying machines
Ito meet the needs of Pershing's in
vadIng force OF 10000 men. As 500
as IL beeames evident We must be-
come involved IN the European con-
nlct, the possibilities Of airplanes be-
eame apparent.
The first grist Of air machines 10 ne
ground out in this country will be
49, 900 planes. but II necessary this
number win be increased TO 100000
or more. Washington now is con
WINGED the air plane is likely to de-
lcide the war.
At present the ailes nave perhaps
La shade the best OF the central pow
ers In aircraft. and &. is conceded the
manufacturing concerns of the United
States have a united capacity for
turning out more % these machines
THAN all the other countries In the
world combined. This means that With
In a few months the allies. with the
help OF the United states, win cont
pletely dominate the air on ali battle
fronts. The result viii be the blind
inP 81 the German and Austrian arr
tilicry. the wrecking ~ their ammu-
milton and supply trains. making 4
impossIblo 10 supply the army at the
front