Omaha daily bee., 1918-08-25
AIRCRAFT
PROGRAM
TAGGING
OF $50 sdhadrons Needed to
Win War Only 13 Are Now
in France; Pilots Wait
ing for Planes.
BY Associated Press.

Washington, Aug. "a
Americas aircraft program for
he great army that is counted
upon to win the war next year
calls for $50 complete squad
IONS of planes, and the man
part of the. program already is
ahead Of schedule, with 5000
pilots. trained.
~ This information, given by Major
General Kenly, chief of the division
Of military aeronautics, and many
other facts hitherto held secret were
disclosed today when the senate mill
tary committee made public testi-
mony taken behind closed doors dur
ing three months of investigating by
The aviation subcommittee headed by
Senator Thomas Of Colorado.
273 Machines in France.
General Kenly told the committee
there are now IS American airplane
squadrons of 273 machines now in
France, whereas there should be us
squadrons.
William c. Potter, assistant di-
rector of airplane production, said
General Pershing had called for
$4,000 planes by July l, 1919, and had
been told it was hoped to deliver
$4,000 to 10000. This would meet re-
placement demands of squadrons in
the field
c. w. Nash, former president of the
Nash Motor company and now as
sistant to Mr.. Ryan in engineering
and production, gave it as his opin-
ion that nothing but De Haviland
machines could be delivered before
next January and if 10000 airplanes
were delivere'' by next July it would
be almost q miracle"
Witnesses Speak Plainly.
General Kenly and other officers,
IN fact all of the witnesses-appar-
entity gave their statements with what
Senator Reed characterized at one
stage as brutal frankness," all being
examined secretly and apparently
without considering the possibility
Of the publicity now given. Personal
criticisms were voiced with freedom.
An example is found in General
Kenly's examination concerning Cen
eral Pershing's calls for airplanes. In
response to questions General kenly
spoke of what he would do if he were
III charge at home and abroad. and
added:
IF you look over the cables you
will find a caple from overseas for |
one thing one day and the next coun-
!ermands the order, and the next day
asks for it again. and week later
countermands il" 4
There is no real friction between |
the army and navy, General Kenly
told the committee, except very
strong feeling that the navy some
times is getting more than its
share"
Stops Spad Manufacture.
General .Kenly and other officers
confirmed reports that. General Per-
shing stopped manufacture of Spad
Elachines last year and recently had
criticised several of the De Haviland
models forwarded.
In outlining next years program,
sent in by General Pershing, wit
nesses told the committee that Gen
eral Pershing was advised that in try
ing to get $1,000 or 10000 machines
delivered by next July the authorities
are aiming rather high"
A squadron in the aviation service,
it was explained, normally consists OF
l8 flyers, but they usually have 2l.
During Secretary Bakers exami-
nation he was sharply questioned re-
garding airplane photographs dis
tributed by the committee on public
with what the secretary
conceded were Exaggerated" cap
tions. During the tilt, Senator Reed
of Missouri referred to Chairman
George Creel of the information COM
mittee as "a licensed liar" intending
to mislead the public.