The Washington times., 1917-06-18
BAKER APPROVES
VAST AIR FLEET
Says War Department Is Be-
hind Program.
WILSON ALSO ENTHUSIASTIC
Plans Would Not Interfere With
Army Preparations.

THE War Department ia behind the
aircraft plans with every ounce Of
energy and enthusiasm at Its com
nand." said Secretary Baker today in
a statement revealing in q general
way the plan to send thousands OF
aviators to the battlehelds OF Europe.
The aircraft program Of which the
Secretary speaks was aErSsd upon
last week by officers OF the army and
navy. and the National Council Of De
tense and the Aircraft Production
Board. II calls for an appropriation
Of s6O0. 200. 900. to be used as rapidly
as possible in putting into the air
the greatest feet OF aIrplanes in
history.
That the Administration had ap-
proved this enormous program, and
that estimates would go to Congress
this week, was published exclusively
In The Times yesterday. The state
ment OF Secretary Baker Is under
stood to have the approval Of the
President. The scope OF the Ad-
ministration's plans FOR an aerial
fleet Is shown by the Secretary's
statement:
Most Effective Way.
THE aircraft program seems By all
means the most effective way In
which to exert Americas force at once
in telling fashion.
we can train thousands OF aviators
and build thousands OF machines with
out interfering in the slightest with
the plans for building up our armies
~ 10 IL a
and munitions. To train ard equip
our armies and send them abroad Will
take time, however, and In tbs mean
while we can be devotInE 20 this mJst
important service vast quantities Of
productive machinery and skilled la
Dor which otherwise could not be cen
tributing to the nations cause in full
proportion to Its capacity.
Every consideration ooin:s to the
effectiveness of highly developed air
service In its relation to the part
which the United States can play in
putting an end to the war. 1t lives up
to all Americas traditions of 1oinS
things on q splendid scale; Il will put
US on our mettle from the point of
view both of mechanical ingenuity and
of individual daring and Initiative.
At the same time compared WITH the
transportation OF an expeditionAry
force OF infantry and artillery large
enough to be decisive value on the
western front It offers little or no dit
hculty. All through the coming year
we shall have to reckon with the ship
ping problem. and whatever aid we
send abroad. whether in men or IN
supplies. must be calculated for secur-
ing as efficient a use as possible OF
available tonnage
Meets situation.
The aircraft plan meets the de-
mands OF the situation. Under exist
ing conditions Of lighting. where the
allies and the Germans are lighting
on practically even terms as regards
man-power and aircraft. the addition
which we can contribute to the allied |
air forces will be proportIonately Of
far greater value than the immediate |
aid which we can furnish on land. |
According to the best obtaInable in |
formation, there are about 1000 900 !
men on the western front today. The |
addition of a few infantry units, |
while OF great moral value.
is of little use In forcing
a decision. A few thousand trained
aviators, however. with the machines |
Tor thelr use, may spell the whole ]
difference between victory and de-
feat. The supremacy OF the air, In |
modern warfare. Is essential to q sue |
cessful army. America must make |
sure that the allies and not Germany
secure the permanent domination OF |
the air and that within the year.
at will take no more shipping |
space to send a thousand air pilots |
abroad than a thousand infantrymen:
II will take no more space to send !
airplanes and motors than to send |
artillerymen. II IL now certain that !
II we make the effort we can send |
enough Of both men and machines |
within q year to be OF great value, |
perhaps to turn the scale all without |
handicapping our plans for the army /
which is to follow. nor hindering the |
vital flow OF food and munitions.
American airmen and aeroplanes |
may turn the tide. They furnish our
supreme opportunity for immediate |
service on the lighting line"
Hearings continued before the SEN
ate subcommittee on military affairs
today on a bill to establish a depart
ment. uf aerCnautics. French officers
Immediate construction
OF a great aero feet were heard In
executive session. and Rear Admiral
Peary continued his plea for an aero
post in the Cabinet
I'm Gods name" he said, why not
take the initiative and lead. instead
Of being pushed into every move OF
preparedness. as has been
the case with us for the past two