Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-07-23
AVIATION BILL TO
FOR HUGE
FLOCKOF PLANES.
(ASsoe3atsd Press By q. b. Naval coEnunL
cation SGFTicel

WASHINGTON, D. C.. July $40
day may see the aviation bill under
| which the United States will construct
$4,000 aircraft and raise an army OF
| 100, 900 aviators, mechanics and help
| ers, become law. It will be engross-
ed this morning and go to the prest
dent who may sign it at once. but In
any event is expected to hold it nc
| longer than tomorrow.
Nine training camps in this country
| besides the necessary ones behind the
lines in Europe and the aviation sta,
| tions that will be needed are provided
by the bill as it passed both houses.
! Eight points are Itady selected for
| camps and one still has to be deter
| mined.
Scattered Over Country
The nine army aviation schools esti-
mated for in the army appropriation
rbill are as follows:
F Mineola, Long Island, operating.
Ashburn, Illinois, operating.
San Diego, California, operating.
Mount Clemens, Michigan, ordered
| and under construction.
Fairfield. Ohio, ordered and under
construction.
Rantoul, Illinois, ordered and under
construction.
San Antonio, Texas, under construc-
ton.
South Mississippi valley, under in,
vestigation.
The location of the ninth school has
not been decided upon, but the war
department contemplates placing it in
the Rocky Mountain region. Other
schools doubtless will be established as
exigencies require, and, in addition to
the training schools established on
United States soil, the department
has let contracts for the immediate
establishment of a wosquadron
school in France, which will be built
and equipped by American contrac-
tors. The site has been selected. and
all construction material will be
shipped from this country. Training
at this school will be on French ma
chimes and under French army in
structors.
The first aviation school squadron is
located at San Diego, the second at
Mineola, the third and fourth at Ash
burn; the first and second reserve
aviation sQuadrCns are at Mineola
and Essington, Pennsylvania, respec-
lively; and seven aero squadrons have
been organized and are on duty as
follows: First at Columbus, New Mex
leo; second in the Philippines; third,
fourth and fifth at San Antonio, Texas;
sixth at Honolulu, and the seventh in
the canal zone.
Under the provi-ions of the bill
there is appropriated $40, 100000 for
the construction of aircraft, conduct
of aviation training stations and the
establishment of first camps and later
bases for the aviators. twenty-five
thousand airships are to be built under
| the terms. of the bill and an army of
100000 men will be required for the
operations of the great project. OF
these IL 900 will become trained avia-
tors and the remaining $4,000 will be
mechanics or employed in other neces-
sary capacities in this branch of the
service. One aviator for each two
machines are all that are deemed ne
cessary in the first instance, but this
quotum can be increased from the
army of 100000 which will make up
the United States aviation corps.
The debate in the senate lasted less
than an hour and was general rather
than specifi, in character.
An amendment introduced by Sen
ator Harwick to the draft provisions
of the bill failed of passage. This
provision was one which was objected
to by pacifist senators and some 9TH
ers who claimed that taking men by
draft for the aviation corps was draw
ing them for extra hazardous service
and would be discrimination against
such as might thus be selected.
Plans for great, fleet of aircraft
and an army of ayiators and mechan-
les were first suggested by the Aero
Club of America, but the scope of
those plans were small compared to
what has ultimately emanated from
them. The Aero Club plans were in
dorsed by the council of defense and
submitted to the war department and
to the army Both Endorsed the gen.
eral terms of the measure, but added
to its scope and to the size of fleet
and army. Next the president indoors
ed it, the bill was drafted, went
to the house and its course through
that body and the senate was expe-
dited as few measures have been
during the present notable session.
Allies Will Furnish instructors
While the United States will furnish
the machines and the aviators, the
trainers are to be furnished by the
Allies from the seasoned flyers they
have developed during the war. Num-
bers of these are Americans who have
done distinguished services themselves
and can now be utiliz. for the even
more useful training work.
In America will be built the ma
chimes needed for training aviators,
while most of the actual war machines
will be built abroad. There are to
- o;r 30 I'll