The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-05-15
LIBERTY MOTORS ID |bE USED IN FRENCH
 AND BRITISH PLANES American Airplane Engine Is Now Recognized by Allies as Being Superior

Washington, May 14.--Americnn built Liberty motors may first reach the fighting lines in France driving French and British scouts. It was learned tonight that urgent requests from the allied governments for early delivery of the American engines have been received and are being met. ship ments have already been made to Great Britain and there are intimatiOns that General Pershins approves diverting additional motors to meet French and British requirements, even if further delay to production of American scouts results.
 The British government, 1t is said, after careful investigation of the en- zine by a special expert sent over for that purpose, has been pressing steadily for some thousands of motors to be de- livered for use in British machines. The French experts, at first somewhat doubt f'il Of the Liberty motor, are now asking for and will receive engines by July 1.
 DIFFICULTIES OVERCOME
 Difficulties with overheating, alleged in letter from Louis Cammen, read Tn the Senate yesterday, to make the Lib erty motor useless, are declared authori- tatively to have been overcome. Radiator trouble was encountered particularly when machines which had been operated successfully in northern attitudes were taken south for tests These have been corrected, it is stated, and the luhricat- ing system of the engine improves to the point where no more trouble on that score is anticipated.
 To support their view that the day of delays in aircraft production are over, officials point to the fact that last month saw Liberties delivered in hundreds, ana to present indications that the output will be more than doubled this month and steadily increased thereafter The output last month. so far as known here, were greater than that of any for eign ncotor with the possible exception of one l30 horse power type used in France. No high-power motor approaching the Liberty 450 figure was within sight Of the American ouput. It was to reach that end in quantity production, it was declared, that the Liberty was designed.
 ANOTHER PHASE
 Another phase of the dispute about the success of the Liberty motor promises to be settled soon by actual trial That is it's availability for use in single-seated fighting machines. Two machines of this type, one a seaplane, have been de- signed and built in this country and will be ready for final trial at an early date. They represent the first efforts ever made seriously to place such high power in single-seated, short winged speed machines.
 The difficulties facing designers in building Liberty fighters is to get them back to the ground safely, it is explained. There is no question as to the efficiency of the motor involved. The problem is one of wing surfaces, angle of attack in flight to insure stability and of low speed, which would permit safe land ipgs.
 The best foreign fighting craft like the Spads use from 150 to 1S0 horse power motors Their light weight makes it pos Aole for the small wing surface to hold the machine In air at a comparatively low rate of speed, decreasing the danger of landing smash-up. In attemptins to use the S00-pound Liberty for this work, the safe minimum speed of the craft increases and the difficulties Of landing safely increase proportionately.
 SEVERAL DEVELOPMENTS
 There were several developments today in the aircraft situation. John D. Ryan, director general of production for the army and chairman of the aircraft board. made his first directing move by announcing the appointment of Archer A. Landon, vice president of the Amer ican Radiator company of Buffalo, N Y., to have charge of the production di- vision.
 Preparations were made for launching the Senate military committees new in vestgation. Senators Thomas and Thompson called on President Wilson ,o discuss the plans and Senator Hitch cock, who went to the White House to pay his respects as the new chairman of the foreign relations committed, also talked over the aviation situation with the President in a general way.
 Officials connected with the air pro- gramme expressed the hope today that the Senate subcommittee when it is ap- pointed will go to the factories and fly ing fields to find out for itself what has been done and what present conditions