New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-04-05

III IN
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speed fighting machines have been OF
are to be manufactured in this coun-
try at any time.
Only Two Machines Shipped
"On February 20, 1918, an Associated
Press dispatch stated that 'contro! Of
the air in the American sector belongs
to the enemy On the same date, o.
viously to counteract the impression
produced by the press dispatch, was
! the Secretary of War, in order to give
as complete a picture as is permiss Bile
under military requirements of the
problem and the progress in equipplng
the air service with fighting planes
"The picture is so complete that one
can't help seeing in it things that are
not in the original landscape. "The
first American built battle planes are
to-day en- route to the front in France.
This first shipment, though in itself
not large, marks the final overcoming
of many difficulties met in building up
this new and intricate industry" This
statement would be palmer to the
ordinary man if it were frankly stated
that only two machines were en- route.
"'These planes are equipped with the
first Liberty motor from machine pro-
ducton. One of them in recent test
surpassed all records for speed and
climbing for planes of that type The
committee hesitates to state what it
thinks about this statement, because it
does not know whether it was simply
invented in the office of the Secretary
of War or elsewhere, or whether it
was based on an actual engineering re-
port.
Predicts Lack of Men
After denouncing the censorship on
Liberty motors and other aeronautical
matters as having mo military value,
but actually interfering with produc-
ton" the report passes to accidents,
declaring that collisions on the train
ing field, with the whole State Of
Texas to fly in, are inexcusable. "Acci-
dents, due to ignition of tanks under
conditions existing on training fields,
arc declared to be absolutely ineXcus-
able
In the matter of recruiting, it is
charged that as matters now stand the
best material for aviators is being d.
verified into other lines. that not more
than 100000 men in the first registra-
ton are fit for the service and that
there is grave danger the service will
be handicapped for lack of men later
as it is now handicapped for lack of
machines.
SO far as research and invention is
concerned, the committee finds that,
aside from some work being done at
McCook field, in Dayton, Ohio, and in
the Bureau of Standards, the work of
the National Advisory Committee.
charged with the signal corps with
doing this work, virtually is nothing
but an office for the filing Of descrip-
lions OF inventions.
in the matter of production the
committee found that in some cases
brokerage commission (to give it
company by those VINO desire to get
work"
In conclusion the committee says it
found situation "fraught with the
gravest danger" and recommends
that the aeronautical programme
and its execution be revised from tor
to bottom, but especially at the top"
Supplementing the report, Thomas A.
Hlll' CT the committee. read paper
charging "lncompetents high in the
government service and other undesir-
scntatlon to 'intrench themselves"
have seriously jcopardized the country
and have unnecessarily exposed our sol
Gicrs to needless loss of life"
No Machines in France
ITO see through the veil Of deceit so
skllfully drawn over our acronautical
programme to cover those in default"
said Mr.. Hill, eve need go no further
:, NM
OF Americas popular idols and great
soldiers, Major General Leonard Wood.
who, returning from the front, has said
that not one American aeroplane is in
use by the American forces in France.
that the Germans have the asccndcncy
in the air over the American sector:
that the Americans arc entirely de-
pcndent upon what machines the
French are able to give them.
General Wood confirmed The Asso-
Grated Press report. which told of the
freedom with which German acroplancs
ny over the American lines, owing to
the lack Of American acroplanes with
which to combat them. He spoke of q
thousand American armen ut the front
without machines to fly, and said he
knew the new Liberty motor was re-
gardcd in France by experts as unsuitcd
for combating machines"
"It was officially stated on the floor
Of the Senate that the orgiIal pro
grammc called for 10000 planes bv
July /. and when asked what the de-
livery would be by July /. the answer
way thirtyone Machines IT was also
admitted on the floor of the Senate
that the condition OF our boys in
France is auch that German planes
can ay 80 low over our lines that our
boys fire at them with rcvolvcrs. and
this evoked the view in the United
Cfo%nu Cnpnfo <bn~. L.