The sun., 1918-03-19
U. s. T0CONTROL
AIR NEXT YEAR
Full Strength Not to Be En-
erted Until Spring
Of 1919.
DELAYS UNAVOIDABLE
Battle Planes Now Under Con-
struction-Plcnty of
Motors Ready.
special Dsspotrk 10 Tuy SrN


WASHINGTON. March 1S.-America's
aeroplane programme will not become n
real factor in the fghting abroad until
the spring Of 1919. This. 1t was ex-
planned to-day. is the inevitable conclu-
sion which must be reached by the spe-
cial committee appointed by President
Wilson to investigate AIRCRAFT produc.
tion. There will be a considerable num-
ber Of American battle planes in the
fighting this fall. but the Overwhelming
preponderance OF American aircraft will
be ready to exert maximum pressure
about one year from now.
Officers of the army working under
Maj Gen. George y. Sou.cr. III charge
OF the nations aircraft programme. and
manufacturers who are working with the
| Government are unanimous in the dec
laration that the work has progressed as
rapidly as possible in the circumstances,
| but the optimistic forecasts made last
! fall were impos sibe Of tuli!men..
/ The general view of manufacturers
has been from the start that the real
weight of Americas aeroplane forces
could not be felt before 1919. The same
holds true with respect to every phase
Of the nations military programme
abroad, II is said. In the matter OF fight
Ing troops. or artillery. or ships. or aero
planes the results will not really be felt
until next spring. It is said
InVestiRatiOn Welcomed.
In view OF the pending investigation
! the ban OF secrecy has been somewhat
relaxed with, respect to progress made
in getting airfane work under way.
| Many officers welcome the investiga tion,
| because they claim il will snow that the
only real obstacle to more speedy prog
ress is the fact that the element of
time must necessarily be given prime
consideration in the matter OF airplane
construction.
on the question of battle planes. for
example. the prints Of latest designs
come from France in metric measure
ments. which first have to be translated
into inches SO that American tools can
be used. The first work is devoted to
masking a sample plane. which has to be
tried out. Inevitably something is found
wrong. This needs change and adjust.
ment &c. which may require the pro.
curement of new materials. the manu-.
facture of new tools. Then the sample
is again tried and found perhaps better
but not good enough. These changes
go on over and over again until a com.
pleted sample up to all requirements (.
produced. When this stage is reached
production can 20 ahead swimm!ngly. I,
Is explained. but in the preliminary pro
cess il is humanity impossible to eliui
nate the element of chance.
Delay ON Battle Planes,
There has been delay in getting battI,
planes started. although one sample ha,
now been sent to Gen. Pershing ant
there are a few completed machines now
In this country. BY April there should
be between 100 and 200 completed ant
more than 500 completed during tn,
month Of May. The most difficult mar
Of battle plane construction has nov
been overcome.
On the matter Of Liberty motors IL /,
estimated now that concerns workin,
on this construction will be able to tur,
out between 800 and 400 a day in a few
months il they get full leeway to q,
ahead. At present Liberty motors ar,
being produced at a rate which insure,
a small number daily.
Training planes are being produce,
more and more rapidly, but there is still
some delay in advancing training planes
Motors for training planes are beinl
turned out in quantities OF considerabl,
more than 1000 month.