The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1918-02-07
BIG ARMY NEEDED
FOR AIR SERVICE
FORTY TO FIFTY MEN REQUIRED
FOR EACH ACTIVE PLANE AT
THE FIGHTING FRONT.
FIGURES BY HOWARD COFFIN
Veterinary Corps and Remount Serv-
ice Growing RapidIy-lnformation
About the Pay Received by Uncle
Sans Enlisted Men.

(From Committee on Public Information)
Washington.-ln statement Issued
by Howard H. Coffin, chairman of the
aircraft production board, Is the fol-
lowing:
'In discussing the accomplishments
of the air "ervice in the conSummation
of the army program, II will be well to
point out the impOssibillty of certain
proposals enthusiastically and persist
emily put forward by word of mouth
and in the press. We have seen and
heard much OF the proposed 100000
airplanes to be provided by the United
States within the next year. In coun-
try where one great industry produces
100000 mOtorcars per year, the fab
ricatlOn of 100000 planes might seem
easy but actual figures based upon
three years of practical experience In
the war shows that there are now be-
tween 40 and so men of the auxiliary
services required for each active ma
chine at the front. If this same ratio
should be adhered to in our service, II
would mean that 'some 100000 men
would be required in our aeronautlcal
department on foreign soil between
our ports of debarkation and the fight
ing front.
Even though this number Of men
could be reduced by 80 per cent by In
creased efficiency and Standardization,
the number required is stlll stagger-
Ing. Consider also, the overseas
transportation problem as related to
material only and without reference
10 personnel and its maintenance. The
transportation of finished planes, prop
erly Grated, with the necessary spares,
accessories, and equipment is in itself
serious problem, in view of the situ-
alton in ship tonnage"
When war was declared the strength
Of the United States army in animals
was 66145. II is now 344000. The
'emGUHt service April consisted OF
one officer and four clerks in Washing
ton, five remOunt de. )tS where horses
were received, and n personnel and
purchasing organization in the field in
proportion. The veterinary corps, re-
spOnsible for the treatment of animals,
consisted Of GA officers and no enlisted
personnel when the United States en-
tered the war.
The veterinary corps faced the job
Of building an organization of about
1000 officers and $1,000 men. The
1000 officers have been secured and
enlisted men are being transferred ut
rate which will soon bring it up to
its full authorized strength.
The remOunt service had a similar
task in securing personnel. It's pres
ent strength Is about 300 officers and
1000 enlisted men. In place of :
remOpnt depOts 1t has "a, for which
plans had to be drawn, sites chosen,
and construction of shelter, hospitals,
storage buildings, and unloading fa-
cllities in short time.
The greater proportion of deaths OF
animals In the army results from influ-
enza, popularity known as shipping
fever" and its complications. British
losses on horses purchased In the
United States during the war have
been about 10 per cent, counting only
deaths occurring in this country.
French and Italian losses have been
higher.