Evening star., 1918-08-25
Only Thirteen Squadrons Are
in France, While There
Should Be IT'S.
1919 PLANS CALL FOR $50
ASSIST GREAT ARMY
5000 Trained Aviators Ready,
Hope. to Provide $4,000 or co.
600 Machines by July /.

Americas aircraft program for the
great Army that is counted on to win
the war next year calls for $50 com.
plete squadrons of planes, and the
man part of the program is already
ahead of schedule, with 5000 pilots
trained.
This information. given by Maj.
Gen. Kenly, chief of the division OF
military aeronautics. and many other
facts hitherto held secret, were dis
closed yesterday, when the Senate
military committee made public tes-
timony taken behind closed doors in
three months of Investigations by the
aviation subcommittee headed by
Senator Thomas of Colorado.
273 Machines in France.
Gen. Kenly told the committee
there now are thirteen American air
plane squadrons of 273 machines in
France, whereas there should be 175
squadrons.
William C. Potter. assistant di-
rector of airplane production. said
Gen. Pershing had called for $4,000
planes by July 1. 1919. and had been
told 1t was hoped to deliver $4,000 TO
10000. This would meet replacement
C. w. Nash, former president or the
Nash Motors Company. and now as
sistant in engineering and produc-
tion to John D. Ryan. chairman OF
the aircraft production board, gave
it as his opinion that nothing but
De Haviland machines could be deliy-
cred before next January and II lo,-
900 airplanes were delivered by next
July 1t would be almost miracle.
Show "Brutal Frankness."
Gen. Kenly and other officers-in
fact, all of the witnesses-apparent
gave their statements with what
Senator Reed characterised at one
stage as brutal .-frankpeSSsau- BE-
ing examined secreuxrAud- aQRalently
without considering The p541f6ilfty Of
the publicity now given. Personal
An example is found in Gen. Kenly's
examination concerning Gen. PERISH
ing's calls for airplanes. In response
to uestions 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 countermands the order. and
then the next day asks for it again,
and a week later counterrnands it,
There is no real friction between
the Army and Navy, Gen. kenly told
the committee. except "a very strong
feeling that the Navy sometimes is
getting more than its share"
Gen. Pershing as Critic.
Gen. Kenly and other officers con-
Armed reports that Gen. Pershipg
stopped manufacture of Spad ma
chimes last year and recently had
criticised several of the De Haviland
models forwarded
In outlining next years program
sent in by Gen. Pershing witnesses
told the committee that Gen. Pershfng
was advised that in trying to get
$4,000 or 10000 machines delivered
by next July the authorities are "aim-
ing rather high" A squadron in the
aviation service. it was explained
normally consists of eighteen fiiers.
but they usually have twenty-one-
During Secretary Bakers examina-
tion he was sharply questioned re-
garding airplane photographs dis
tributed by the committee on public
Information with what the Secretary
conceded were Exaggerated" cap
tions. During the tilt Senator Reed
of Missouri referred to George Creel
chairman of the public information
committee. as a licensed liar" in
tending to mislead the public.
Some Testimony Kept Secret.
Much testimony. regarded confiden-
crets and inveRtions-was deleted be-
fore the testimony was given to the
public. Other testimony, the report
indicates, was of such a confidential
nature that 1t was not recorded by the
stenographer. who at times, even, was
excluded from the committee hear
ings.
Between the leaves of the volumes
of testimony are contained innumer-
able tables, showing expenditure OF
aircraft appropriations in detail, rec
ords of progress of the program, data
masses of correspondence between
government officials. manufacturers
and others.
In principle Chairman Ryan ap-
proved Capitalization in one man OF
all authority over aviation affairs
while Gen. Kenly specifically rec
commended a department of aviation,
headed by q cabinet officer, the prin-
cipal proposal Of the military SUBJ
committee. Both detailed waste OF
WHAT l0cy ICELlcu Ol QOlldIS
in early stages Of aircraft production
and improvements being worked out
in the reorganization. Lack of proper
organization and executive direction
Gen. Kenly said. was responsible for
early delays and failures.
De Haviland Being Perfected.
The De Havfland machine was con-
ceded by Gen. Kenly not to be satis-
factory. but he said 1t is being per-
fected. with every prospect Of sue
cess. De Haviland IS, he also
stated. soon are to be built in quant
Mr.. Ryan stated that. tho liberty
motors Of eight cylinders as well as
twelve are being perfected, and that
with the liberty motor demon
strated success its utility would be
expanded Gen. Kenly said that
craft authorities should have devel-
oped sooner an individual machine
about 1t and also should have bull,
foreign planes with foreign motors
of known value early in the war.
Henry Ford testified that the lib
erty motor 'is the best article tina,
has ever been gotten up along that
iine," and stated that his 1actories
expected to turn out 100 mosors daily
besides one eagle" or Dwax1 subma-
Tine chaser. Too many engineers
5ealousies ana desire for personal
glory, Mr.. Ford said. were responsible
Tor some aircraft difficulties. He ad-