Norwich bulletin., 1918-09-04
FACTS AND COMMENT

The senate committee appointed to investigate the failure to produce air.
 craft has reported that the appropria-
 tion of $40 millions has been practi-
 cally wasted. Instead of reproducing approved European designs one type
 of planes after another was ordered, manufactured. condemned and aban-
 doned. Attention was concentrated on the development of motor adaptable
 to all types of planes. This was due
 to placing the business in the hands
 of automible manufacturers, men skill
 red in the production of gas engines
 but without experience in the new
 science of aeronautics. There was
 favoritism also in assigning contracts,
 due to the presence of Dayton interests
 on the Aircraft Production Board. The
 while report is singularly clear in
 statement of facts while absolutely
 free from condemnation Of any in-
 dividual. It points out that the sys- tenn under which we attempted to
 produce aircraft lacked responsible
 head and recommends as the solution
 the creation of department of avia-
 tion equal in rank arkl importance to
 the army or navy departments. Mean
 time Justice Hughes ucder special ap-
 pointment by the president is proceed ing with his investigation to fix the
 TUT our cLlICrSt1I failure. Justice Hughes character and
 ability are such that his report will
 be generally accepted as true, while
 the temper of the public is so arounsed
 over the failure and disgrace that full
 justice is likely to be exacted.
 A boIder attitude toward Germany
 in her declining fortunes is indicated
 by Spain's note to the imperial gov ernment in which was set forth the
 intention to substitute German ships
 now interned in Spanish ports for any
 Spanish ships that might be sunk
 thenceforth by German submarines.
 One-fifth of Spain'S shipping has al
 ready fallen victim to Germany's sub
 marine piracy and Spain declared that
 the decision was only intended to se-
 cure the tonnage necessary to her very existence, hoping that Germany would
 not assume that any break in neutral ity was purposed by the Spanish gov ernment. The German reply to the note declared that no guarantees could
 be given but hoped that Spain would appreciate Germany,s position and continue to maintain her neutrality.
 Within a week, however, there follow ed the sinking of another Spanish ship, coal-laden from England, .and Spain promptly seized one of the in- termed German ships in compensation as she had threatened. It will not be at all surprising if a break in relations 1 is the result. From the beginning of the war Spain has suffered as much from German propaganda within her borders as any of the European neut-
 rals. German-made news has been issued daily in German bought papers | inspired by wireless direct from Ber- | lin. Announcements that the Germans | had entered Paris and that England was making a separate peace kept the l Spanish government on the anxious seat, continually doubtful what to do next. It is undeniable that the course of the smaller European neutTals has | been difficult enough in itself; that it 1 should have been made any more diff l fcult by the dissemination of German
 made lies spread broadcast was simply I maddening. The Spanish people will | doubtless welcome the chance to come out on the side of the allies now that
 it may be done without fear of what l Germany may do.
 | Spain is not the only country in which the continued success of the AL 1 lies is having a heatening effect From the beginning of the war till the cleo 1 tions of a year ago the government of
 Sweden. either from inclination or fear, had been decidedly pro- German
 in it's neutrality. The Swedish am
 bassador in Washington was con- mouly known as Won Bernstoff's mes
 senger boy" while the Luxburg mes ! sage recommending to the Berlin gov
 ernment that Argentine vessels be sunk without a trace was transmit ted from Buenos Aires trough Swedish 1 channels. Sweden has all along deni-
 cd the allies contention that Germany was effectually blocked and in keeping With this position has continued to supply the Kaiser with everything she