The sun., 1917-07-06
AMES SAYS PLANES
CAN WIN THE WAR
Says Allies Want 10, 900 Pilots
and 10000 Craft From
America.
SPEED is IMPERATIVE
Quotes SHUTS as Saying Decis-
ion of the Conflict Lies
in the Air.

BALTIMORE. July 5.--Dr. Joseph 8.
Ames, chairman Of the scientific COM
mission recently sent abroad by the Ma
tlonal Research Council with regard to
the conduct Of the war. who has been
in conference with Washington officials
since his return q week ago, gave his
first statement out tonight In an inter-
view.
DIR. Ames said his conviction. founded
upon his own observations, was that In
order to end the war quickly two things
are necessary in everything-speeh and
size.
The one way In which this country
can be effective, DR.. Ames said, Is the
application OF these two principles TO
the building OF aeroplanes.
smuts wants AifpIanes. D.,
The whole situation" said DR.. Ames,
''is summed" up in an interview with
Gen. Smuts, who in my judgment is
one of England's greatest men, He said
to me: 'Ame8, the decision OF this war
lies in the air and complete victory can
only be won by 10000 or more lighting
airplanes with which enemy aircraft can
be annihilated. This achievement Will
he worthy of America and is a contribu-
tion which she Is capable of making. and
will give her an enviable position at the
peace table
After conferences with military au-
thorities In France and England / am
convinced that The immediate steps for
accomplishing these aims are these:
America must furnish 10 900 pilots, a
least 10000 aeroplanes and must main
tain this average in the face OF pos
sible losses"
DR.. Ames explained that the apparent
discrepancy in the numbers Of pilots and
aeroplanes was due to the fact that each
pilot must have two planes at his dis
posal in order 20 insure the greatest
possible efficiency.
This programme" said DR.. Ames
must be carried into effect before the
close OF this year. We anticipate no
difficulty in getting pilots In view OF the
number OF training schools already es-
tablished in this country.
There are fhTee classes OF planes
school planes, observation planes (for
observation, bombing and photography
and fighting planes. This country In
able to make ti:c first two types and will
be able to furnish the third type before
the close of the wear.
Meanwhile the fighting planes for our
aviators may have to be made abroad
for the time being. This is the least
expensive way in men and money by
which we can contribute TO the war 1t
is the one thing of any Importance that
we can do within a year"
Everything on Huge scale.
DR.. Ames came back deeply impressed
with the "bigness" OF the war. He sa i'd
the American people cannot appreciate
laI Nl.t.
are being done abroad. ...
ITO Illustrate" he said. in some
places the British battle line in France
is forty miles deep, and l have seen
with my own eyes trains OF motor lor-
ries twenty miles long and a train of
inch guns six miles long.
The average daily loss of man power
for the Allies Is 10000 men, and II we
were to replace those We would only
be keeping the war going. But by sup
plying 10000 aviators we viii be making
a definite and valuable contribution 10
the winning OF the war"
Dr. Ames then talked OF the general
work of his commission. MY owl
work" he said. consisted Of many
things besides the study of aviation
Among other things took up the con.
struction and operation OF captive bal.
looms, which are used in enormous num-
bers for observation purposes. There is
a captive balloon every five miles alons
the front. >Dirigibles were another prob,
lem ! Investigated, and seapianes, which
are useful as naval scouts but have
been a complete failure as military
weapons.
Locate Guns by SOsnd Waves.
Another problem was the locating OF
big guns by means of sound waves. Tt
illustrate the value of research alonf
this line, In the recent battle of Mes.
| sines sixty-three big guns were located
and destroyed by this means
There are improved types OF peri
scopes and field glasses which will Civ,
an accurate idea OF distance.
There are many things in which oul
| country and our labora tories can help
| For instance, we have been sending wal
| nut and ash wood to England for pro
pellers. 1t was found that 1t had beer
improperly dried and failed to give goot
service. We will now be in a position
to treat these woods in the proper man
| ner."
|