The Ronan pioneer. [volume] (Ronan, Mont.) 1910-1970, 1917-12-21
100000 AIRCRAFT
TO CRUSH FOE

Z RUBBER MEN OF UNITED STATE!
OFFER ALL THEIR FAC
TORIES FOR WORK.
Q Tell Howard Coffin That in Thei
= Opinion Three to Six Billion Dol
lars Should Be Spent by Uncle San
3 to Make our Air Force Supreme.
America will have an air fleet O.
from 100000 to 100000 airplanes
costing anywhere from three billion
/, to six billion dollars, if the tentative
suggestions offered to the aircraf,
board by seven of the biggest rubber
manufacturers of the country are de.
Veloped to their maximum IDEAL
said w. +. Enright, manager of the
northwest division of the United
States Rubber company, who was in
} Montana from his headquarters at
Minneapolis last week.
'sThe aircraft board at Washington
recently sent to the great rubber
companies of the country request
for their ideas along the line of air
plane production to win the war, and
the answer from these big concerns
was unanimous - Swamp Germany
with attacks in the air; smother Ger
man towns and German armies with
American aircraft X"
Mr.. Enright, who has been in touch
with the situation, says that propos-
ais were made that all the available
factories in the country be put i'm
mediately to the manufacturing of
parts for staggering fleet of air.
planes. The rubber men offered their
services collectively or individually
in co-ordnating all their allied or
collateral factories to aid the aircraft
board.
Present Program.
! At present, under the program
that calls for $4,000 airplanes and
the expenditure of s640, 900, 900, only
about 10 per cent of the available re-
sources OF the country are being util-
lied. Under full development of all
the resources, it is estimated that
this country could produce with the
very least effort 10000 airplanes a
month.
The committee that met Howard
r.. Coffin, head of the aircraft board,
included Harvey S. Firestone, presi-
dent of the Firestone Tire and Rub
Der company; Harry T. Dunn, presi-
dent of the Fiske Rubber company;
Paul w. Litchfield, vice-presdent of
the Goodyear Rubber company; Chas.
Il. Raymond, vice president of
the Goodrich Rubber company; Geo.
b. Hodgman, president of the Hodg-
man Rubber company; Charles Il.
Wilson, president of Charles II. Will
son company, importers of crude rub
Der, and Edgar B. Davis, director of
the Plantation of the United States
Rubber company.
Air Fleet Facts.
The rubber men had before them
these vital facts:
Germany boasts that she will build
an air fleet far greater than that
contemplated by the United States.
She has more than fifty factories
working. In July she constructed
$500 aircraft. Within year she
will have added approximately 3d.
600 airplanes to her service at this
rate.
General Petain says France will
have $4,000 airplanes before the end
of the war.
England is building large num-
bers. No one knows what Italy's pro-
gram contemplates. And, worst of
all, no one knows Germany's. It is
known that since the announcement
of the American aircraft program in
the spring Germany has bent every
effort toward outstripping the pro-
duction of this country AS early as
last June she began transforming 20
huge factories formerly engaged in
the manufacture of general war ma
terlal into airplane and hydroplane
factories. In addition old-establish-
ed factories at Berlin and many other
industrial cities have greatly in
their output. The Fokker fac
tory took over the largest piano-wire
in Germany, the Bersina, at
ochearin. Germany is building larger
and more powerful planes of all
types.
Like Action in u. S.
With such facts known the rubber |
men suggested that large piano fac
,ories be devoted exclusively to the
making of wire for airplanes, and
hat all other kindred industries be
'ut to fullest utility, such as furni- =
ure factories for propellers and :
'ther woodwork; silk, canvas and =
inen factories, electrical laboratories, {
ire and rim builders, forgings, bear
ngs, motor builders, etc.
Germany, it was pointed out, can i
'e beaten quickly and economically
W a huge. American air program 7
his country can out-manufacture
Germany. Z