Albuquerque morning journal., 1918-08-25
Commander in Chief Requests
$4,000 Machines by Date
Indicated, but Can Get Only
10000 to 10000,
TRAINED AVlAT0RS ARE
AHEAD OF THE SCHEDULE
5000 Pilots Are Ready to
Fight Foe in the Air Short
Comings Of Aircraft Pro-
gram Aired at Hearing.


Washington, Aug. 24.-America' 8
aircrafa program for the great army
that is counted upon to win the war
next year calls for $50 complete
squadrons OF planes. an dthe main
part of the program already is ahead
OF schedule. with 5000 pilots trained
This information. given by Major
General Kenly. chief of the division
OF military aeronautics, and many
other facts hitherto held secret waio
disclosed today when the senate mil
Hary committee made public testi-
ihony taken behind closed doors dur
Ing three months OF Investigation by
ehe AVIATION subcommittee headed by
senator Thomas of Colorado
General kenly told the committee
there are now thirteen American cir
fifne squadrens of ga machines now
~ france, whereas there should 30
Il squadrons.
William G. Potter. assistant direct
Or ol alrplane production, said Ger.
erttl Pershlng had called for $4,000
pit neE by JulN 1. 1919, and had been
lpld II was hoped TO deliver 1g.a00
20 10000 This would meet replace
lt eht demands of squadrons in the
G. w Nash. former president of
INC Nash Motor Company and now
assistant TO John q. Ryan IN engin
eeilg and pfoduoAon gave ~ as his
opinion that nothing but De Gfayi.
iand machies could be delivered be.
fore next January and If 10000 air
p!ahes We're delivered by next July IL
would be almost a miracle"
AH Examined Secretly.
General Knnly and other officers
IN fact all OF the witnesses--.a pparent.
~ gave their statements with what
senator Reed characterized at one
stage as brutal frankness." all being
examined secretly and apparently with
cut considering the possibility of the
publicity now given. Personal critic
isms, We're voiced with freedom. An
example Is found In General Kenlys
examination concerning General Per-
shing's calls for airplanes. In respose
to questions, General Kenly spoke of
what he would do If he were in charge
at home and abroad and added:
IF YOU look over the cables YOU
would find a cable from overseas asks
W nv INNS bil'' 'ttNs anu inc next
day countermands the order. and the
next dav asks for it again and a week
l5ter countermands it,"
There is no real friction between
the army and navy, General Kenk
told the committee except "a very
strong feeling that the navy some
times is getting more than its share"
General Kenly and other officers
confirmed reports that General Per
shing stopped manufacture Of Spad
machines last year and recently had
criticized several Of the DE Haviland
models forwarded
"Aiming Rather High.n
Tn outlining next years program
sent in by General Pershing. witness
es told the committee that General
Pershing was advised that In trying to
get $4,000 or 10000 machines deliver
ed by next July, the authorities 'are
aiming rather high" A squadron in
the aviation service, 1t was explained.
normally consists of eighteen filters,
but they usually have twenty-one.
During Secretary Bakers examina-
tion he was sharply questioned re-
garding airplane photographs distri-
buted by the committee on public in
formation with what the secretary
conceded were exaggerated, captions
During the tilt Senator Reed of Miss
ouri. referred to Chairman George
Creel of the committee on public in
formation as a licensed liar" intend
ing to mislea1 the public.