The sun., 1917-06-19
BAKER TO ASK
$600,000,000
FOR AIR FLEET
Speed Motor Designed Com
bining Leading Features
of Foreign Makes.
AUTOMOBILE MEN TO AID
Rear Admiral Peary Renews
Plea for Quick Rule
of Skies.
AUTOMOBILE MEN TO AID

WASHINGTON, June 1s.--A new Ameri-
can airplane engine. developed from the
most efficient air fighting engines In use
by our Allies, will be the basis of the
mammoth aerial fleet which this Gov
ernment will construct as rapidly as
machines can be turned out and pilots
trained to operate them. The new en-
gine has been designed in large part by
Howard Coffin OF the advisory commits
sion OF the Council OF National Defence
and automobile engineers working under
his direction. 1t Is designed for great
speed and rapid climbing and man9u-
vring, type which never has been de-
veloped in this country.
Plans FOR the expenditure OF S60O,ooo,-
900 for the construction OF tremendous
aerial fleets In this country have been In
the making for months. They we're not
formally put UP for the approval OF the
War Department until the engineers felt
confident that they could present to the
country an airplane engine capable OF
coping with the highest development OF
that art abroad. The cooperation of
foreign war offices was obtained and
plans and designs OF French. British and
Italian fighting airplane engines were
furnished Mr.. Coffin. himself one Of the
leading automobile engineers Of the
country.
His Plan Il Endorsed.
Starting from this point and enlistins
the most advanced automobile and en-
gine designers. Mr. Coffin progressed to
a point where It was deemed safe tc
present the matter to Secretary Baker
and the army chiefs. After carefully
going over the plans the Secretary and
Cen. Squier. Chief Signal Officer. en-
thusia astically placed the weight OF theii
support behind the project and deter
mined to ask an appropriation OF $780,,
O0O, 900 for the work.
The Bureau Of Standards Is now en-
gagged in standardiEing the machiner,
and patterns which will be used In turn
ing the engines out In tremendous guam
titles. The biggest automobile factories
in the country probably will be used ant
80 largely will their facilities be utilized
according to one authority, that the out
put Of pleasure cars in this country ma!
be materially curtailed.
The temperance OF Rear Admra
| Peary before the Sheppard sub-commit
| tee Of the Senate Committee on Militar,
| Affairs to-day was marked by re
newal Of his plea for quick, earnest and
|
ment Of the United States as the unde
niably superior air fighting nation o.
the Entente allied group of nations ant
the dominator OF the world war through
| this superiority. Rear Admiral Pearyi
plea was couched In simple terms which
| the committee seemed thoroughly to un
| derstand.
"In Gods name" said Peary. "wh,
not take the initiative and lead? VIII!
| = t-A1 n
tional preparedness? And why not d.
1t now"
Wants United states to Rule Air.
Then Rear Admiral Peary buckle'
down to a review and a Strengthening o
his plea uttered several days ago for tn
creation OF a real air navy to be mistres
OF the skies He urged the establish
ment Of a great central plant In the in
terror of the United States where air
craft by the. tens OF thousands could b
built. assembled, tested. tuned an
started for the battlef1elds. The Unite
States should, he said, become the frs
air power Of the world.
The explorers statements were lis
tened to with great interest so long a
he dealt with the problem of maxim
America great in the war in the all
Later he digressed from this subjeC
and resumed his advocacy of the crea
ton of a special department of aero
nautics and the interest began to flat
Testimony was heard from two mem
bers Of the Lafayette Escadrille, Adj
Frederick Prince and Adjt Lawrenc
Rumsey, both Of whom have seen fight
ing at the front Prince has tough
seventeen engagements and Rumse
thirty five. The testimony Of the tw
fighters was suppressed by the commit
tee. which went into executive sessio
when the two fliers arrived.