The Washington times., 1918-04-10
RESULT AFTER
DAY'SHEAR|NG
in SECRET IS
MADEPUBL|C
tcOntinued from First PAEs.l

n continued expansion OF the pro-
fxram, as well as the development OF
inew types -of-engines and planes"
Generar Pershing last summer
placed considerable orders for. COM
hat planes and engines with Euro
bean ulanufacturersI and the United
States has Furnished quantities of ma
lid in their construction, the COM
buiittes reported.
Blame Placed.
The committee described the blame
SOr the siuation in this language:
"'Your committee, being devoid OF
;tschnical knowledge of motors and
asropIanes, does not undertake to
,point out IN detail engineering and
manufacturing errors which may have
been committed, and which in part,
.bnay account for this gravely disap-
pointing situation. Your committee,
Aowever, IS convinced that much OF
the delay IN producing complete COM
bat aeroplanAs-is-du due to ignorance OF
the art and to failure to organize
the effort IN such q way as to CEN
trAlizs authority and bring about
euick decision
"A certain aloofness in dealing with
persons possessing information based
upon experience, an apparent inten-
zion OF confining the actual produc-
'tfon to q restricted number of con-
Germs, and a failure Of officials "a
sharge of the work to grasp the stu
'ation In { broader way and seize upon
The best approved foreign engines and
planes, and proceed promptly to build
rs many as possible for the campaign
of 1915 has contributed to the failure.
at is greatly to be regretted that
the statements Of Government Of
Metals have misrepresented the prog
ress OF the aviation program. This
has misled the public, and your COM
mittee, cognizant of the facts, has
IN the performance OF its duty, made
this report to the Senate"
Drawn From officials.
The committee pointed out that the
facts contained in the report were
drawn from the testimony OF Maj
Gen. George o. Squier, chief signal
officer OF the army; Col. E. A Deeds
and other officials OF the signal corps.
at is apparent from the evidence"
said the committee, that the twelve
cylinder Liberty motor is just emerg-
ing from the development or expert
mental stage. Since the original de-
Hlgn and the setting up OF the first
completed motor in July, 1917, a
large number OF changes have been
found necessary, many OF them caus-
ing delay in reaching quantity pro-
duetion. Within the last two months
changes OF considerable Importance
have been made which. II is hoped.
will make the motor seryiceable for
combat planes OF the defensive type
and for bombing and observation
planes. II Is not designed for and
cannot be Used in the swift, single
scatter fighting machine. A few of
the motors are being flown in appro-
pirate machines
VIII Hold It's own
These reports as recited to the
oommittes indicate that with the
latest changes the motor will be
iatiGfactory for the character of
work expected Of IL and that IT bids
fair TO hold its own with foreign
notcrs Of similar power. weight and
purpose. For the campaign OF 1919,
the Liberty motor must undoubtedly
be further improved In order TO keep
up with the evolution constantly go
inE on along the frcnt.
twenty-five thousand fve hundred
Liberty motors have been ordered
122 have been completed for the army
and 1t2 for the navy. Four have been
shipped overseas. Some OF those al
ready delivered are being altered to
overcome the defects ascertained dur
ing the last few weeks. II is under
Etood. however, that these alterations
will consume but q very short time.
Substantial Failure.
NsgHr6inE combat planes. the com,
fritfes had this to say:
The production OF combat planes IN
ehs United States for use in actual war
fare has thus far been a substantial
Failure and constitutes a most serious