Evening journal., 1918-08-22
FIND MUCH Waste
IN AIRCRAFT WORK
Committee Reports But
Little Accomplished Under
$640, 900, 900 Fund
ONE MAN CONTROL
is ADVOCATED
BY the United Press.


WASHINGTON, Aug. 22.-Recommend-
Ing one man control OF aircraft pro
duction, speeding up OF production, en-
couragement OF invention and reduc-
tlon OF profits on future contracts, the
Senate aircraft subcommittee today
submitted It's report 90 tho military ar
fairs committee.
The Investigation disclosed waste OF
money and lack Of common sense
policy early In the war. the committee
declared. II said that while many
"dlsappolnting results" were disclosed
"much has been accomplished and the
committee Is glad 10 report that while
| Il believes there are many Things Se'
10 be remedled, nevertheless, we are
approaching a period when quantlty
production Of planes may soon pe hopeo
/ for"
Three primary causes OF failure OF
! the aircraf tprOgram TO measure w 10
the armys needs were set forth III
the report which was read to tho Sen
ate today. They are
4. That the airplane program was
largely placed IN tho control OF inc
great automobile and OF the manuiac-
| turers. who were ignorant OF aeronaut-
lcal problems.
2. These manufacturers UNDERTOOK
the impossible task OF creating motor
which could be adapted TO oil classes
OF flying craft; Il Is not too much 70
say that our air program mas peen
largely subordinate TO me Liberty
motor.
q We failed at the beginning OF the
war 10 adopt the common sense course
OF reproducing the most approved types
of European machines In as great NUM-
bers as possible. This should nave
been carried coincldent with the pro
ducllon OF the Liberty motor: ihls
sound policy has very recently Dul
after a lamentable lapse OF iime' Deen
adopted. ,
These mistakes, the report declares,
'e,yould probably have been largely
avoided n the aircraft program had been
under the control OF one man, assisted
nv skilled aeronautlcal engineers ana
practIcal flyers TO design and test our
machines. with production made SUD
ordinate TO them"
The supply Of planes on the American
front is "wholy inadequate 10 met re-
ouirements OF modern warfare, the
renort declares, adding that the Unlted
\ states troops are forced 10 use many
sntIouated machines discarded by the
FRENCH. This is due In large part the
report declares. TO the failure OF Ameri,
can manufacturers 10 deliver huisheu
A total OF Ella English and French
planes have been delivered TO inc
American forces. the report states.
That a commission Of engineers ane
D puots for observation at the front
formed in relays. be named, Is recon-
0 That in view Of the prime hour 10
0 machines, quantity production shouu
bs accelerated by enlisting the con
0 structive abilities OF all responslpI
3 concerns engaged or which can De en-
essed in the business.
That aircraft development and pro
ductlon be taken up. not as military
0 necessity. but as an industrial ana com
0 mercisl problem.
0 That better arrangements be mao
for taking advantage Of new inVen
tions. -.
0 That the margin OF profit, partiou
] larly on motors, be cut down.
5 That the planes and engines rejected
shall be al the cost OF the producer
not the government
r That aircraft factories be better pro
I tected against flre.
The report opened with a review O.
what had been accomplished preiacee
, bv a statement that In the opinion o.
Inc committee "a substantial part o.
the first appropriation for aircraft wai
practically wasted" This appropria
tion. made July %. 1917. waes for soAo'
OOOOO0
Summing up the aircraft situation
TODAY. the committee reported ina
"while an army Of three and one-hal
million has been raised, the airoraf
situation is as follows:
"slx hundred and one De HavilanC
ls have been embarked for France vi
: to August 1, 1918. -
"Of these, 81 had reached the ron
by July 4.
. "on August a squadron OF Is ID
a Haviland Is flew over the German
+ lines. Details OF its performance nav
!. not been received.
! I'VE have not a single American
j. made chasse, or plane Of attack, upol
the battlefront.
S I'VE have not single American-msd
J. heavy bombing machine upon the Dat
; tlefront ..
a "Wo have not developed and put i
o ouanitity production a successful
i chase or lighting plane.
- "Our attempt 10 create ngnuns
y plane was centered in an attempt u
b sdapt the Bristol tighter and Dc haIl
b land 10 the Liberty motor. The Bristo
i ,sas ,yithout sufficient test, put II
= quantity production, over seoo'OoO eA
5 peuded and the lives Of several gailan
J. men sacrificed when the macnine wa wa
c condemned and its manufacture ais
continued. .A,,
e "Ths standard J., training machine
] was equipped with the Hall-Scott en-
u sins and put III quantity production
S After more than 400 had been manu-
J. Featured AZ a cost Of S6OOOOOO IN
e machine thus equipped was condemned
! ss dangerous and placed in storage.
!, "The spad Is a chasse or nshtln'
VI n,ane OF the highest type Early u
seniember an oral order was gwen y
: me Curtiss Aircraft Company for IN
y rnsnufsc,ure Of 5000 Of these msenines
Work was at once besun ana u'a''
s Iues practically completed
: "on September 27, Col. CLARK an
\ Major Vincent, one OF the inventors 9
. the Liberty Motor. concluded thst tn
machine could not be operated win
Liberty Motor.
), acctober s the contract was can
- ceIled. the reason given being that IN
~ sinrle-seat flehters was regarded
: obsolete. But the fact Is that on Apr