The sun., 1918-08-25

GET AERO NEEDS
Asks for $4,000 Planes, but
May Not Receive More
Than 10000.
10000 PROMISED TO HIM
Programme for New Year
Calls for $50 squadrons of
10 to 21 Fliers.
10000 PROMISED TO HIM

wAsHINGroN, Aug. "a. - Americas
programme for the great army that Is
counted upon to win the war next year
calls for $50 complete squadrons of air
planes. and the man part of the pro-
gramme already is ahead of schedule
with 1000 pilots trained. a squadron
consists of eighteen fliers, but usually
there are twenty-one.
This information. given by Major-Gen
Kenly, chief of the division of military
aeronautics, and many other facts hith-
erto held secre, were disclosed to-day
when the Senate Military Committee
made public testimony taken during
three months of investigating by the
aviation subcommittee headed by Sena-
tor Thomas (Col).
Gen. Kenly told the committee there
are now thirteen American airplane
squadrons of 273 machines in France,
whereas there should be rs squadrons.
Pershing Asks $4,000 Planes.
william c. Potter, assistant director
OF airplane production, said Gen. Per-
shing had called for $4,000 planes by
July 1, 1919. and had been told it was
hoped to deliver $4,000 to 10000. This
would meet replacement demands of
squadrons in the field.
c. W. Nash, formerly president Of
the Nash Motor Company and now as
sistant to John d. Ryan In engineering
and production, gave It as his opinion
that nothing but De Haviland machines
could be delivered before next January.
atr cd
by next July 1t would be almost mira
Gle"
Gen. Kenly and other officers-in fact
all the witnesses-apparently gave their
statements with what Senator Reed
(Mo.) characterized at one stage as
brutal frankness." all being examined
secretly and apparently without consid-
ering the possibility of the publicity now
given. Personal criticisms were voiced
with freedom. An example rs found in
Gen. Kenly's examination concerning
Gen. Pershing's calls for airplanes. In
response to questions Gen. 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 for one
thing one day and the next day counter
mands the order. and then the next day
asks for 1t again. and a week later
countermands It,"
Navy Has the Advantage.
There is no real friction between the
army and navy, Gen. Kenly told the
committee except "a very strong feeling
thatsthe navy sometimes Is getting more
than its share"
Gen. Kenly and other officers con-
firmed reports that Gen. Pershing
stopped the manufacture of Spad ma
chimes last year and recently had criti-
ssed several of the De HaTland models
forwarded.
In outlining next years programme,
sent in by Gen. Pershing witnesses told
the committee that Gen. Pershing was
advised that in trying to get $4,000 or
20. 900 machines delivered by next July
the authorities are "aiming rather high. u
During Secretary Bakers examination
he was sharply questioned regarding air
plane pho graphs distributed by the
Committee cl Public Information with
what the Secretary conceded were Tex
aggerated" captions. During the tilt
Senator Reed referred to Chairman
George Creel of the information bureau
as "a licensed Har" intending to mislead
the public.
Regarding detachment from duty OF
Col. Deeds Of the Signal Corps, who was
criticised In the committees report, and
Col. Montgomery, another former mill
tary member OF he board. John ID, Ryan
Continued on Eighth Page.