New-York tribune., 1918-06-10
Airplanes Needed
To Whip Germans,
Is Cry of French
Liner, With Name Dis:
played, Arrives in Port
of New York

A French liner came into port last
night. and nearly every passenger of
prominence asked impatiently: "Why
can't America send over airplanes ?"
There isn't bit of fault to find with
America, according to returning French
travellers. America is beloved in
France, but oh, those airplanes! Isn't
1t pity they are not coming over in
abundance?
II think if France were to send over
an unofficial wish or message to the
American people," said j. " Davy, Of
the Chambre Syndicate des Marchands
Grainiers Francais, at would me, Give
us airplanes.' We can hold the line
against the enemy, and we can lick him
if you send us 10000 arplanes and
aviators."
Frederick H. Prince, of Boston,
brother of Norman Prince, the aviator
who was killed in France, also spoke
of the need of more force in the air
for the Allies on the Western front.
Everything is fine over in France
now" he said, "but they need airplanes
and aviators, plenty of them. They are
an absolute necessity, and they must
get over there quickly"
~ Ihere err was more optimism aboard
the. French liner that came in last
night than there has been aboard any
OF the Allied passenger carriers in
many months. Somehow the news of
the effectiveness of the American
troops in resisting the recent German
offensive had filled every Frenchman
and American aboard the ship with
high hopes. One of the ships officers
who is with the French naval reserve
said: "America has come in time Now
tor 10000 American airplanes, and the
beginning of the end will be in sight"
This spirit of optimism and feeling Of
defiance of Fritz was apparent in the
brazen means the French vessel took
to advertise her identity.
Name Prominently Displayed
Since the war the French have taken
pains to chip off the ships name from
the bow and stern OR paint it over with
the camoufage. of grays and green's,
in last night. High on the bridge was
a big white sign bearing the liners
name in large black letters.
On Friday wireless message was
received informing the skipper that
submarines were operating along the
Atlantic Coast from Maine to Florida.
The lifeboats which were swung in
since leaving her armed escort were
swung out again, and under forced
came safely within the harbor.
Prominent among the travellers was
General Henri Berthelot, the French
military strategist who was in charge
of the French military mission sent
to Rumania in October, 1915, to help
reorganize the Rumanian army. He
comes here on a special mission, and
after visiting Washington will make
a tour of thea merican training camps
where French military instructors are
employed.
John Kendrick Bangs, the humorist,
who had been abroad for six weeks for
the Y. NJ c. A., returned after lectur-
ing to American soldiers at Red Cross
and Y. M. G. A huts along the Western
front.
Troops Show Fine Morale
"The morale of our troops is great"
he said, "and their spirits are high.
talked with one wounded American
soldier--a young fellow-and comment
are seen except for occasional prison
ers that are brought in. This isn't
much of a war l remarked to the
wounded soldier and he answered.:
He'll, it's the best we've got" The
only fault to be found with the Amer
lean soldier is a superabundance of
eagerness and daredevil spirit. He has
to have, spikes driven in his coattall
to hold him back.
Also on board was Harriet Ely Fans
Ter, of this city, who has the degree
of Phi. D., from Columbia University.
She has been abroad for the American
fund for French wounded and returns
to attend special conference of the
fund to be held in Nashville, Tenn.
The now work before the organization,
she said, would be devoted to the find
CHANGED to be in French hispitas.
Miss Josephine Hayden, of Philadel-
phia, who represents the Emergency
Aid of Philadelphia, returned after
strenuous month in Picardy. She
drove, unassisted, a big motor car
truck and apart from assisting aged
mn and women and children to places
Of safety brought back many wound
ed soldiers to base hospitals.
Gale des Marchands Grainiers Fran
cais. comes here on mission to Cali
fornia, where he xpects to purchase
81 10000 worth Of grain and vele-
table seeds for the crops of the French
farmers for next year.
Seeks Aviation Commission
Frederick H. Prince, who was for two
years with the Lafayette Escadrille, re-
| turned with his wife to- seek commits
sion in the American aviation corps.
Eugene Escaler, Of Los Angeles, who
! drove an ambulance with the Norton
Harvard unit and later with the Ameri-
! can Ambulance, saw much fighting on
the part of the French and Americans
/ in Picardy.
"Germany," he said, "secms to have
unlimited man power. The French were
compelled to give way in the recent
drive simply because the waves Of Ger
mans came on faster than the French
machine guns could NOV them down.
At times the Huns came over ridges Of
dead banked up higher than the barbed
wire entanglements of the trenches.
| The Germans are now throwing power
| full bombs from their airplanes. On