New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-04-05
Air Society's Committee
Charges Wilful Misrep-
resentation
"Production Lags;
Motor Not Complete"
Faulty Machines Declared
Constant Peril to Amer
lean Fliers

Charges that Secretary of War Baker
and other government officials have en-
gagged in campaign of wilful misrepre-
sentation as to the condition of the
nations aero preparedness in an effort
to conceal from the public the failure
of the department are contained in the
report of special committee of the
Aeronautical Society of America made
public at meeting in the Engineering
Society building last night.
According to this report, not only
has the Secretary of War been guilty
Of making statements calculated to give
other than an accurate impression of
existing conditions, but he is charged
in specific instances of making direct
and wilful misstatements of fact.
Faulty Planes Peril to Men
The charge is further made that to
date the Liberty motor is not COM
pleted, that large number of the ac-
cidents on Texas flying fields are avoid
able and due to bad management,
faulty machines and poor inspection,
and that there is a fair chance that
when American aviators do begin flying
in Amercanmade machines they will
be "sent practically to certain death in
inferior planes"
The report, document about $4,000
words long, was signed by Leon Cam
man, associate editor for the Ameri-
can Society of Civil Engineers; Thomas
A. Hill, patent attorney, and Charles
". Howell, general manager of the
Sun Typewriter Company, all three
being directors Of the society.
The further charge that there is "an
aeronautical trust" which has a mo-
nopoly of government business, is con-
tanned in the address made by Fred
erlck w. Barker, president of the So
cieey, who presided at the meeting.
Statements Misled Public
The report of the committee. ap-
pointed In August of last year, starts
IN by saying that cas- time went on the
committee saw with dismay the issu-
ance Of statements by the government,
which it was compelled to regard as un-
true. For while it was under the i'm
preston that such statements were is
sued for the deliberate purpose Of mis-
iead!ng the enemy. 1t regrets to have
10 say. however, that it has become ap-
parent since that it was to mislead the
american people that these statements
were issued.
=, A still more threatening feature of
tne situation appeared to be the grow
ing lack Of coordination between the
engineering and the production depart
ments. clearly indicating that neither
realized the nature of the work which
they had to do and the means by which
success in such N undertaking could
be accomplished.
The committee found that the or
gan'zation Of production was such that
delays would be inevitable. Not only
mat. but the production was so or
gsniZed that no effective plans were
made TO keep the American aviation
engineering at least on the same level
VI excellence as that Of the enemy.
Peril for Fliers
"As men familiar with the art and
nsVing information concerning the mil
tary use Of aircraft, the committee
was frankly Mortified to find that Amer
'can aviators, the flower Of the youth
oi TINS country, might be sent up ulti-
Mateiy IN inferior 'planes-scnt prac-
ucaly TO certain death.
lhc situation was far too serious
M .ol either the committee or the So
eiety 70 Keep silent, as silence in such
case would be reasonable.
hence, thc committee has made sew
srai efforts 10 bring the results Of this
investigation TO the attention of the
proper officers Of the government, bu.
HSs not been successful in accomplish
,,hg TING end. On all occasions it has
Oeen told that the situation is either
"sn IN hand, or will be so in the
oflefest time.
Committees Conclusions
Briefly, the committee came to the
S"hc!usion that:
4; Practically all statcmerts issued
" tne officers Of the government with
1espec, 10 the execution Of the air
craft programme must be absolutely
neglected az being untrugtworthy, az
Msrepresenting the situation in a
sns'eacing and over-optimigtic manner,
aaa AZ sometimes containing matte r
tnn'eating the technical ignorance OF
s"Dss 1n VINO compose such statements.
...%. lhat the very vigorous censor
mp over all matters connected with
W. execution Of the aircraft pro-
amme has been Of no military value
t.A.seeycr, as 1T failed TO conceal
~. tvm the enemy that which ought to
ss;.s nssn concealed. In fact, the com
IT, ~ ventures TO express itg conylc-
~ shat the only purpose Of tbe riyor
.s~ s csnsorshiD was u preclude thu
Continued nm Inst pr.