New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-06-21
Canal Builder Says Divi-
sion of Power Always
Weakens
Airmen Win Battles
British and French Behind Till
Ministers Were Given
Full Charge

Washington, June 20.-"Division al
ways weakens," General Goethals'
builder Of the Panama Canal and now
prospective builder of feet Of ships
to overcome the submarine peril, de-
clared to-day. concentrate the power
and hold one man responsible for re-
suits"
General Goethals might have been
speaking of his controversy with the
Shipping Board, or he might have been
speaking about his late controversy
with the Isthmian Canal Commission.
which ne settled by scattering the COM
mission and never permitting it to get
together again. But as a matter Of
fact he was attacking the present sys-
tenn Of dividing control of aeronautics,
and was favoring, before a Senate sub
committee, the bill creating a Cabinet
member who would have control Of
aeronautics.
Listeners recalled his remark at the
Steel dinner in New York. when he
said that "all boards are long, narrow
and wooden"
Aviation is very important ele-
ment in this war" he said to-day:
Control of the air and artillery will
be the two determining factors of the
war. Aeronautical authority now is
distributed through various branches
of the service. Responsibility and au-
thority should be concentrated.
at would work much better by hold
ing some one man responsible and vest
ing him with authority.
Fayors Present Course
at seems to me that this bill is
working along the right lines and IN
the right direction.
Division always weakens. Concen-
trate the power and hold one man re-
sponsible for results. Whether this
concentration should go so far as TO
create a new department at this time
is for the committee to say. 1t doesn't
make much difference what name you
give post so long as the responsible
ity and control is centred there
1.-The proposed expenditure OF $780,,
600 900 for a great aeronautical air ser
vice" said Frederick II. Allen, would
be our cheapest investment in money
and lives for the results that would be
obtained.
al have been on the Western front
every year since the war began, with the
exception Of this summer, and can
assure you from personal observation
that the aeroplane has become the eyes
o. the war.
"The Belgians got valuable use from
aeroplanes at the very beginning. The
Allied position at Mons was saved in
the nick Of time because Belgian
ae-oplane reported that the German
army was making an important move
r.ent to the left.
"The famous and vital Battle of the
Marine was won by the French because
aeroplanes informed General Foch that
there was a gap in the centre of the
German lines.
Britons Slow at First
at the beginning of the war the
British Admiralty was slow in regard
to aeroplanes, as a great many of the
sea dogs of the navy kept saying, Ships
are good enough for mel The airmen
of the British navy were held back all
the time. They could not get what
they wanted and needed, but now, un-
der the Air Ministry, they are getting
what they need.
Before the British Air Ministry was
created there was always conflict of
authority and competition between the
Admiralty and the War Office for ma
chimes.
THE same thing was true Of France,
but now in that country they have
Deputy Minister of War for Aviation.
who does nothing but handle aero
nautics, and does il for the navy as
well as for the army.
an other words, the English and
French had the same divided authority
in aeronautics that we have here, but
now all that is changed"