New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-05

bring quickly into a state of efficiency
the lamentably weak aeronauticsl de-
fences Of the United States. This coun-
try in what may be the eleventh hour,
stands face to face with the condition
against which disciples Of preparedness
since the affair at Carrizal have
warned.
All men connected in any capacity
with aeronautics are leaving no stones
unturned. Manufacturers Of aircraft
have communicated with the War De
partment, expressing willingness TO
place themselves at once under Federal
orders Experts in various branches Of
the service have VOLUNTEERED their Of
fees. The Aero Club Of America has
become a recruiting centre.
The members Of the LIST Aerial Coast
Patrol. all Yale men. either wealthy m
their own right or the sons Of wealthy
men, yesterday placed themselves I'M
der the orders of the Navy Department.
All but two are undergraduates They
are leaving the university 20 begin ad-
vanced training.
+. Trubee Dawson. a son Of Henry ?.
Dawson. partner IN J. ?. Iiorgan & Co.,
commands the unit The other names
on the roster are Henry p. Dawson, jr.,
Robert A. LOvett. son Of Judge Robert
Scott Lovett; John Vorys. John Far
well, Sd, Albert Ditman, Wellesley Laud
Brown. Artemus /. Gates, Ell c. Il.
Gould. Allan Ames, Charles Deere
Wiman and Albert Dillon Sturtevant
The two last were graduated in the
classes of 1915 and 1915. respectively.
Wiman rowed on the Yale crew three
years and later coached It. Sturtevant
captained the eight-oared shell N 1919.
The government flying station Al
Nineola is under armed guard. No one
is permitted TO enter without satisfac-
tory reason, and having gained en-
trance is kept under surveillance. AG-
mittance was refused Bud Mars, the
aviator, yesterday.
Aeroplanes Are Expected
Recruits arc being received for
training at this station. A hundred Or
more men are expected 10 arrive this
week TO begin 70 learn 10 fly. Fifty
aeronlanes, part of the comparatively
recent government order of $50, are
expected to-day.
The men in the 1st Aerial Coast
Patrol are among the few who have
had real experience in military work.
the mosquito feet" al the end of the
naval cruise last summer they have
planted mines sunk eighteen feet un-
der water i'm Manhasset BAY. The
nave spotted torpedoboat destroyers
without being detected. They have
flown In the worst possible weather.
And they furnished proof. az least 20
naval officers, Of the ncispensabillty
Of the aeropiane in modern warfare.
There are manv VINO be eve that a
single aviator, scouting ahead Of tn2t
Inflated division Of the 10Th Cavalry,
would have discovered the Carrzal
ambuscade And taking this engage
ment as proof Of the helRlessness OF
a blind" army. the necessity Of bring
ing the United States from the pre-
carious position Of last Of all the great
powers in aeronautical defence 70 at
least the equal Of the second and third
rate nations has been urged.
Congress ultimately passed an ap-
preparation Of some Sl4,0OO,00O 20 be
expended upon aeronaut!cs. With TINS
ACKNOWLEDGMENT after campaign
marked By petty jealousies and silly
controversles-muc has been done
Lieutenant Colonel George q. SquleT
has formed aviation centres at chi
cago. san Diego. Cal, and MIneo!a..
He has ordered the organization. OF
another aero squadron. he has
bought $50 machines. He has organ-
lied an aerostatic division.
L. :. Still Unprepared
Commendable though his efforts may
have been. it does not alter the TACT
that the United States to-day is a0so..
lutely unfit. from the standpoint OF
aeronautics. for even an exhibition
bout much less real war; with the
smallest Of the great powers.
II war were declared TO-DAY me
United States might-and even TINS
estimate is a liberal one-be able 10
bring together 800 trained aviators.
There is at present limit Of seventy
seven placed on the number OF Onltec
States army aviators. There are, per.
hans 100 members Of the National
Guard who can hy. There are twenty,
seven who are said 20 have quallhed
as aviators in the naval militia. mere
are soue thlrty-five navy flers. There
are possibly 100 more unattached ANA,
tours and professionals. These are, OF
course, round numbers, but they MINI
nize rather than exaggerate the "ed"
ness Of the service.
From these sources mIgnl De
drav-i fiers who are in training. THESE
men At least are as well prepared 10Y
military work as any foreign aWators
These men a. least could be ready at
a moments notice. But they are scat
tered all over the broad e&panse o.
these United States.
Granted. however, that 300 would an.
,wer an aeronautical roll call wha'
eaaipment would be placed ~ their as
posal7 The aviation section has eiihei
delivered or ordered $50 machines
Ninety-six % these are twin-motoreo
hydro-aerOplanes. The rest are scouts
tractors and few battle planes. some
81 900 900 has been obligated for motor
truck. hangers and other accessories
n is extremely doubtful whether nc
equipment if sufficient IN war tune ioi
400 men Zach aviator, aeronauticai cK'
merits agree. should be provided WIN
fhres machines. II u presumed that
his system will enable a fier 70 nave
always a. hand az least one machine
In good working order.
Conditions IN other branches OF aero.