Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-03-19
AMERICAN A|RMEN
DEVELOP RAPIDLY
Scenes at Aviation Camp in
France Inspire Visitors
From States.
BAKER Is GATHERING FACTS
Makes Decisions on Ground,
Where Promptness Is Essen
tial to Secure Results.
BAKER is GATHERING FACTS
fBy Associated Press. !

oN BOARD SECRETA RS BAKER 5
SPECIAL TRAIN IN FRANCE. Satur-
day. March lG-Newton D. Baker. tho
American Secretary os War. is MAX
ing important decisions in France
upon such questions as. in his judg-
Inen,. require immediate action lie is
gathering knowledge for future use
upon many aspects OF the situation Of
the American army. but problems
pressing for Il settlement he solves
on the spot
Thus. to-day In the headquarters Of
one OF the American aviation ccntcrs.
Secretary Baker inquired if all of the
host OF aviators sent first from Amer
lea we're !irs; TO complete their train
Ing in France. and il all Of them had
been commissioned. The chief OF
aviation told the secretary that all of
them had not yet. because of reasons
which he explained. had 4 chance to
take their final training.
The secretary went into the subject
He directed at the conclusion OF the
inquiry. with General Pershing's ap-
proval. that aviatorS SO delayed should
have their commissions when they
were ready for them dated ahead of
those issued in America 10 men who
had entered the service later. because
the men had right to their priority.
HUNDRED MACHINES IN
AIR TO GREET BAKER
When thc secre,arys train came into
tho a"iation region the SKY was darkly
overcast, and the clouds were of a
o!ue-cray color which the aviation OBJ
servers say constitutes the finest back
ground fer seeing air work. Many
mouoplancs and bipianes awaited the
secrctary's arr!va! upon the field: then,
with a rush. one after another took the
air, unit! toward the end OF the morn
ing a hundred machines were in flight,
an1 every machine was driven by an
American. Individual aviato-s prac-
iced maneuvcrs used in combat, such
As reversing the direction OF the fight
by turning cdGewise upon ono wing.
or spinning in nose dives. Then there
were evolutions in notilia formation OF
tires. after tha, in squadrons OF fifteen.
with all the machines in tho air"
remarked & French officer. "wc sec no
mere than a tcnth Of what America
has IN ;..is one school. You will soon
have no more need for French in
struction. We have shown everything
We know and your young men have
taken 10 the ar. with astonishing ia
cii!ty. as well as audac!ty. nerve and
resource. The danger and difficulties
fascina,e and inspire them. think Il
must be wha; you call the sporting
spirit"
AMERICAN COLLEGE,
MEN ARE THE FLYERS
Yes said one OF Mr. Bakers party,
so many OF these men are direct from
our colleges and universities. They
arc football and baseball players"
Secretary Baker discussed with va
rious OF the aviators Themselves the
difference between the machines. lie
brought TO the subject much .knowl-
edge of detail and UNMARRIED interest.
He spent hours talking with the men
and examining with them the types cf
MA chimes. some OF which he saw for
the first time.
The closing incidcn; OF tho morn
ing's air training was combat and
the escape of one plane when attack cd
The secretary watched with intense
interest. He then visited the machine
shops and settins-up shops and the
10 him the schoo! organizations. which
include eight classes, each with 4 sepa-
rate camp. Sharp sporting rivalry
exists among them.
AMERICAS AVIATION
ALREADY POWERFUL.
The party left with the conviction
that Americas aviation effort is al
ready powerful one; that It combines
the best TO be found in the French and
British service. in addition to develop
ments, and that an organ ton has
been created capable of sch inely
tempered air battalions. u~axNN
The aviation school in on has
reached 81 per cent OF t., expected
efficiency. Graduating classes are
turned out with steady regularity be-
cause OF the speed with which the stu
dents reach the level of competent air
men. But this depends, of course, upon
The amount Of flying, which has been
uncommonly abundant this spring.
TO TRY CRENSHAW AGAIN