Bisbee daily review., 1918-03-14
TO
COMBAT SUBS
ARE ACCEPTED
New Style Air Craft Equipped
With Liberty Motors; Cen
eral Pershing Desires Large
Armament On Planes.
CBy Review Leased wire)


WASHINGTON, Narci l3.-Ameri-
cs's first fighting seaplane equipped
with Liberty motors has been tried
ou. and accepted. it was learned to-
night, ard . number Of the craft now
are being delivered for the use of
the naval air service. They are the
advance guard of a bic fleet which
win be added to the forces engaged
in submarine hunting in the war zone.
A ser cnnd type Of fighting plane for
the American army known as the
Bristol model also has reached the
production stage and q considerable
number will become available during
tie present month Still another
type. 2 two-seated machine is being
manufactured
Construction details Of these planes
never have been published. It is
known. however tnat the seaplanes
are Substantially similar to the Brit
ish flying boats and are equipped
wen two Liberty motors. which pro-
vide approximately 700 horse1 power
0 drive the ship. This is understood
to be much in excess OF the power
used in similar British craft and their
performance II expected to be pro-
roT ticRlte,y better
Many Ready BY July.
In this connection it was learned
IA. engineers OF the aircraft board
rave overcome the last minor defect
Of TIE Liberty motors. having 10 do
with the fabrication system. A num-
ber of motors taken haphazard from
the quantity production supply have
been operated continuously for many
hours without any trouble developing.
Officials in close touch with pro-
gress being made On production of
fighting planes in this country are
satisfied that the output viii tax
shipping facilities before July. when
delivery in quantities in Franco has
been scheduled. Already problem
of caring for the planes on the other
side is one to which General Perish
ing's staff is giving serious thought.
Those produced in the United States
are in addition to the fighting avia-
tion equipment to be provided under
contract through the French and Brit
ish governments. There are indica-
tiOns that these foreign contracts als1
are not up the original schedule OF
delivery. No details are available.
however. as to the actual number of
machines that viii be turned over
to General Pershing during the sum
mer
New Motor Success.
Tie success of Liberty motor is
h own to have attracted the atten-
tion of both French and British air
service officials and both governments
have had experts in this country
studying its construction and methods
of quantity production employed. 1t
is anticipated that a large number of
foreign planes, particularly British,
will be using Liberty motors during
the present year Steps were taken
here recently to expedite the delivry
of motors for British use.
Meanwhile American engineers are
devoting thems Slves to a study OF
the motor to be used next year, which
will show very con-
siderable increase in horse power,
over the present II cylinder model.
Decision as to the machine to be
made the standard for 1919 will not
be necessary before July.
More powerful motors viii be need
ed for machines 20 carry such an arm
ament as General Pershing has pro
posed.
Wants Larger Guns.
In response 10 inquiry some time
ago as to the gun power of American
fighting planes. General Pershing re
at least two heavy and
two light machine guns, adding:
1--WE should anticipate the use of
three Vickers Synchronized guns and
three Lewis Unsynchonized guns on
every airplane."
To carry out such program larger
planes would be necessary and II is
the judgment OF officials here that
fighting aircraft will increase cen
stantly in size and armament
3DIE IN EXPLOSION