Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-04-08

to secure information, establish a stan.
and work out the program finally
adopted. The problem was twofold-
first. personnel; and, second, equip
ment.
To-day the personnel is over 100
times that of a year ago. practically
every member a skilled man who has
gone through an intensive course of
training. Schools of Ill different
kinds have been instituted. courses
Of instruction laid out, and instruc-
tors secured. including foreign ex-
perts in a score Of lines, as follows:
For flyer at ground schools and flying
fields; for mechanics at the flying
fields INC at over a dozen different
factories; for photographers, balloon
lists, adjutants. supply officers. engi-
neer officers, armorers. and instructors
OF mechanics.
American aviators are now flying
in the aggregate over 100000 miles
daily, o four times around the world.
Only recently at one field 1875 planes
were in the air, a grand total of 882
hours in one day.
A great amount Of construction has
been necessary to meet this program.
Flying fields have been built, some of
them with site selected, ground clear
ed and leveled, hangers and quarters
erected, and telephone, transportation,
drainage, etc, installed in five weeks
time. So far as possible, they form
the basis Of a strategic network of
fields distributed over the country
along the main proposed aviation
routes, and options were arranged to
provide for permanent purchase at
any time within three years at a stated
price. If desired. as future aviation
icenters.
While this enormous educational
system was being built up. American
flying cadets were sent t, allied coun-
tries. almost the advance guard OF
Americas military forces, and have
now been in training for months in
Canada, England. France. and Italy,
The first few have already gone over
the German lines and have downed
their first German plane.
, The problem Of equipment has beer
Ia more time-consuming problem
Last April only one company in the
United States was anywhere near
quantity production Of training planes
and battle planes were an unknown
quantity. Now over a score of large
companies have been encouraged AND
assisted in taking up the production
of planes, about Is the production o.
engines. and over 400 other companies
have been organized to provide tht
necessary source for spare parts. &C
T: cessories, and other essential supplies
! Over 40 times the number of plane!
accepted by the Government last yea
nave been accepted this year, sufficien
to keep even with the demands fol
training. and a monthly rate of pro
duction reached five times the tota
1916 output. New companies also art
steadily coming into production.
Battle. Plano Development.
Battle planes, however. presented T:
much more difficult problem. Yer!
little was known of what had beer
done in this regard in Europe. wher,
new types were being rapidly devel
oped by the unending competition a
the front. Delays OF three months il
getting samples to his country ant
last-minute changes of types afte'
product Of was about to begin hav'
repeatedly caused delay.
Nevertheless, the United States i
now actually producing battle plane
of the very latest European design
immediate needs will be met by alliet
manufacturers.
The Liberty motor has made goot
and solves the greatest problem .
quantity production in aviation
Whereas there are eel 20 differen
types of engines. on the western alllet
lloII. IS 'hiANu al VIII "bpVo
with a single standardized type, which
will greatly reduce the ratio of 4
men required on the ground by foreigl
services for every man in the air.
Planes and engines. however. ar
only a part of this intricate and scien
jtific development. Over a dozen small
instruments OF. the most delicate work
marship are needed for each plane, s.
per cent of hem never made here be
f~,,4 IN tnl1 tho c~14j n1ts%,,1@ s-pI;
nation, and direction. and the tenn
p%erature of tn engine; special ma
chine guns synchronized to fir,
through the propeller, sights requir
ing the finest lenses, cameras of new
and special designs, and Il special kin,
Of radio. and five different types o
bombs. as we'll as devices for direct
ing and discharging them.
The supplies of vital raw material
in sight at the start were in man,
cases wholly inadequate, and effectiv,
necessary quantities The Northwes
output of spruce has been comman
deered. regiments Of lumbermen or
ganized and sent into the woods t
f; get the lumber out. and the first Gu
up mill built on the Pacific coast; tn
supply of dope" for coating the sur
face of the planes has been increase.
by the building Of four factories a
Government expense; the supply o
linen having failed, a cotton substitute
has beer developed: and castor oil 70
engine fabrication has beer provided
by the planting Of 10000. acres o
beans. These are but instances Of in
dustrial undertakings of this nature
Production has been decentralizet
out of Washington by establishin,
branch Government Offices in the chic
industrial centers. with power to cea
quickly and effectively with manufac
turing problems. Loans in money AM
machinery have been made: and
system for making partial payment
in advance, as we'll as for making