Evening journal., 1918-05-30
america HAS 1916
PLANES At front
5,O76 Have Been Placed in
Service Here and Abroad,
Army Report Shows
AND MANY MORE
ON THE WAY

OlN ! nc w "A
WASHINGTON. May 30.-Facts COM
nunicsted to the Military Committee by
,nlcers Of the Signal Corps and made
public in the consideration Of the si2,-
p0.000000 army bill make IL possible TO
Jum up the situation as IL exists today
regarding production OF airplanes, their
lost and shipment overseas. Summarized
be facts show
OF the 1900 airplanes called for in
ne original programme adopted almost
/ year ago there have been completed
md put in service 5.076 machines.
or this number $3.50 have meen made
Ind put together here and are still in
mis- country. Most OF them are training
planes.
The rest have been constructed abroad
Ind are now with Gen. Pershing's army.
These machines were made In foreign
Bctories, br largely OF American mate
sal
or the 1916 machines in France 323
re combat planes.
Deliveries OF the Liberty engines up
o date are:
For the army, sol: TO the navy, 4s0
total delivered, i,0u; to foreign gov
rnments, 900. 4 total Of 5000 Lib
rty motors have been ordered by Great
britain. Average price OF planes, 5000
rice OF Liberty engines, 1880 to So
% Total cost OF planes and engines,
rom $500 TO $4,000
Life OF airplanes in continuous ser
nee, one month.
Rate OF deliveries in last week OF
tpril was: For planes. no primary
raining planes, 40 advanced training
llsnes, combat planes
For Liberty engines, 24i primary train
hg engines, los advanced training en-
hnes, SO combat engines.
This rate Of production is slowly but
aiadlly increasing.
The total expenditures and obligations
made In connection with the aviation
ervice is now 1855, $4,000.
There are today in the srmiss OF the
Bnlted States 6,2ii flying officers and
j364 non-nying officers. OF the flying
Ulcers there were on May 4, 1900
broad and 4.eO6 in this country. or the
'on-fiers 1854 were abroad and 6.5o5 in
Ibis country.
For the 1859 flyers abroad theer are
1916 machines, or less than one ma
hine per man, compared with a re-
uirement, according 20 latest revised
fluctuations. Of six machines per man,
r total for 1909 fliers OF 9..O5i ma
hines.
There are 1888 cadets at the flying
shools in this country and 2.0n
broad, total OF 5,o37.
Statements made to the House COM
Rittee show that for the past three
Feeks considerable number OF air
lanes have been >hipped on practically
very vessel leaving this country, co
hat the ratio between tho number OF
sers and machines is rapidly being
Ncrcome.
A prediction that Charles r. Hughes
Fill IND no graft in the War Depart
tent in his Investigation Of the aircraft
ituation and praise for Maior-Gen.
eonsrd Wood were outstanding fea-
hres sf the House debate yesterday on
be army appropriation bill. Represen-
stive Anthony (ksnsss), a member Of
be Military Committee, said that the
Var Department had made mistakes in
he production OF aircraft. but that no
raft had been perpetrated. lie said:
Charles Z. Hughes. as director Of |
he governments Investigation into afr
raft. viii be sent on a wild goose chase
} he goes on hunt Tor graft by any
IAN in the War Department Oflcers
! the department are not that kind OF
len. They mad make mistakes Of
1dgment sometimes, but they are not
raffers."
Mr. Anthony said the chief cause of
rlay in sirpIsne production for I've or
A months was indecision and expert {
rs It not fact asked Representa-
We Gordon (Ohio), that It required
'me time also to locate and build fac
'ries?"
The great mistake" MFR. Anthony
piled. was that the government did
1t take advantage OF existing factories.
or example, the Curtiss factory after Il
nd spent some time equipping for pro-
iction OF certain type Of plane was
lddenly stopped
Was that stop order not issued on
Ie advice Of Gen. Pershing?" Mr.. Cor
IN asked.
Il don't care whose order 10 was"
I'D Mr.. Anthony ut was a fatal
under. Conditions now, however, are.
uch improved. My understanding is
at production of aircraft is now COM
& along in good shane 4"