Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-12-17
Especial to The Times-pispa,ch.l


WASHINGTON. December l6.--If any
committee OF Congress undertakes an
Investigation OF the signal corps OF the
army. the interesting. even startling
Tact will be revealed that TO date tn
War Department has not produced Il
single lighting airplanc.
This is true. notwithstanding the fact
that this country has been at war fer
more shan eight months, the fur;Ec-
fac: that from the outset military cx.
that an overwhelming aerial feet was
more vital TO the allied success than
any other weapon aud tho further fact
| that aside from normal sums Tie signal
corps has had at its command $780,
100000 for aircraft since last May.
! The Times Dispatch correspondent:
does not make this statement concern
ing the backwsrdness of the aircraft
program upon doubtful authority. II
Is made upon the authority OF General
George Q. Squicr himself, chief signal
officer OF the army. and upon whom
rests the responsibility for cquippirE
the American Army with the machines
which are TO guide its operations.
screen its movements and survey every
step taken By the enemy.
AS Il matter o! i2cl. rhcn General
SQuc- was app 'NaChCG arout the mat.
ter. he WAS told ;h0t Information was
anroad to IL. cf!rc: Mat the army ia
ei.h; month: :,ai Only one lighting
ma>h.ne. N'iihou; moments hest
;ation he replied tina; the informal ion
was incorrect. We haven't even one"
said the general. we haven't any at
all, fully equipped ana rsscd for
lighting.
MACHINES WILL. BI: ~ Am
WHEN THE TINT: COMES
Upon being pressed Cor the reason
to clapse before tho War Department
vas able to produce and commission
at least a squadron OF lighting planes.
General Squicr dcmurrcd. lie said that
he might talk freely abou, the matter
III confidence. but undo: NO circum-
stances could he discuss publicly the
plans or the program Of ihc signal
corps beyond tho genera! statement
that when the time arrives the ma
chimes will be in the air.
This time, tho general said, would
lie carly in 1918. just as carly. If not
y little more 50. than the machines
VIII be needed FOR enlarged operations
Of inc array. When t@r :..st - -
second or the third installmcnts Of the
$4,000 or moro planes will be delivered
is matter OF the utmost secrecy
War department officials. When
they will be moved TO Europe and
when tho cadets now in training to ny
will move across arc as much matters
OF censorship as any other ~ the whole
military establishment.
. Eut this much can be stated in an
awer 10 The question OF delay: a tight
ing airplane is no, merely motor
with Two planes and cockpit for
The aviator. II IS very wonderful
piece of mechanism. aboard each OF
then, will he tho most sensitive cam
era that it is possible to manufacture
Also there will be The mos; coHlnact
radio aavir: scnd,ns power. known 10
the electrical worl6. Aboard IL viii
DC superior r:odcl machiEs guns. -
well - bomb magazines. Al these
important adjunc;S arc in addition 20
the best motor that America can PRO
duce. and the best spruce timber TO
hc had on this continent for vac in
OF the planes.
il can he stated also th-t every one
of these pieces CT nghtinc machinery
Mills, cmpioyir. 10000 men, wili y.
seriously affected BY the end o, the
week, when tho quantity Of coal they
have on hand runs out. The Pullman
Car Works. At Pullman which employs
5000 men. are in the same condition.