The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1917-06-25

|
direction.
The governments committee on pub
lie informant ton has issued the follow
ing statement regarding part of the
details Of the steps already taken tG
train aviatOrs In large numbers:
Last month group Of army Off
GERS visited the training camp Of the
Royal Flying corps at Borden, Ont.
one of the four camps established in
Canada, and the aviation school at
Toronto, where cadets are trained un-
der military discipline for the service
| In these schools there has been incOr-
porated the latest European experience
in the development of this new art OF
| the air.
"Our officers were deeply impressed
| with their observations, and as re-
suit we called together here the heads
of six prominent engineering schools,
which also have military training, and
made arrangements to establish sim
liar system in the United States. The
six institutions are the Universities OF
California, Texas, Illinois and Ohio,
Massachusetts Institute of Technol-
ogy and Cornell university. Three
technical instructors from each OF
these places were sent to Toronto.
They returned after a comprehensive
study Of the course given there, pre-
pared to teach it themselves. These
six engineering schools have opened
similar cadet aviation schools at their
respective institutions.
Courses in Aviation.
'These cadet schools might be de.
scrbed as laboratory courses in avia-
ton. The students are given thorough
instruction in the theory of flying, in
Guiding the necessary physics and
mathematics and the mechanics of air.
plane construction. The training
schools are thoroughly equipped with
samples of airplane, parts and instru-
ments for demonstration, as well as
textbooks. Technical matters relating
to map-making, photography, bomb
dropping, sun-sighting and all similar
subjects which Il military aviator must
know are also taught. All during this
time the cadet is under military train
ing following the methods which Great
Britain and Canada have found so sue
cessful. At the end Of two months of
this preliminary work the cadet is CIV
en- final test to determine whether
he shall 60 on to the aviation camp. s.
General Squier's Office has been
handling these schools. All applica-
lions from persons who wish to become
military aviators have been turned
over to this department, over which
Prof. Hiram Bingham of Yale has been
given general direction by General
Squier, and there have been far more
applicants than could be admitted.
The schools began on May 10 and 25
cadets a week are entering each or
the six colleges, which means that as
soon as the first entering class COM
pletes it's preliminary work approx
mately $50 students a week will be
available for the regular training camp
with a good ground work on which to
start their practical training.
Six Hundred Cadets in Six Colleges.
"There will be 600 cadets in
the six colleges by July. In the
meantime arrangements are going
ahead for the nine aviation fields to re-
ceive their men when they are ready.
The aircraft production board is work
ing constantly with the military de-
partments in preparing for the con-
struction of these fields. The standard
field on which we, are basing our pro-
gram will provide for accommodating
two sQuadrons of $50 students each
with the necessary officer instructors
and enlisted men, together with GER
tain number of additional enlisted men
who will be training at the same time.
"The hangers will take care of Y
airplanes. The preparation Of these
fields will cost approximately million
dollars each, including the construc-
ton of the necessary buildings, DORM
tories, work shops and hangers. A
standard set of buildings has already
been worked out. the fields will be APP
proximately a mile square, and great
care is being taken by the military Of
ficers as regards their location.
1--WE are estimating about four
months as the period for getting these
students ready for army service.
'"rhe aircraft production board is
working hard to assist the military de-
partments in their arrangements to
have all these related activities CO.
ordinated and at the same time to get
the necessary training machines ready
in time for their use.
Both the manufacturing problem
and the training problem will be much
simplified the second year if we can
establish the proper coordination Of
effort this year. The manufacturing
capacity can easily be doubled the sec
ond year. In getting the cooperation
Of the manufacturers in placing their
facilities at the disposal of the gov,
eminent we have found the organiza-
ton of the Aircraft Manufacturers as
ISOLATION, effected last February, Of
great assistance.
"A prominent British general has
asserted that Americas greatest con-
tribution to the war will be aircraft
and ayiafnrS Wa holioNo fhnf oncn