Sharp County record., 1918-02-08
BIG ARMY NEEDED
FOR AIR SERVICE
FORTY TO FIFTY MEN REoul lHEp
FOR EACH ACTIVE PLANE At
THE FIGHTING FRONT.
FIGURES BY HOWARD COFFIN
Veterinary Corps and 7emount serv
Ice Growing Rapidly-.nformation
About the Pay Received by Uncle
sam's Enlisted Men.

(Frem Committss on Public hfornation.)
Washington.--In statement issued
by Howard d. Coffin, chairman OF the
aircraft production board, Ia the fol
lowing:
"In discussing the accomplishments
OF the air service in the cOnsummatton
OF the army program, 1t will be well to
point out the impossibility Of certain
proposals enthusiastically and persist
entity 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
riCatiOn 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, 1t
would mean that some 100000 men
would be required in our aeronautical
department on foreign soil between
our ports OF debarkation and the fight
ing front.
Even though this number Of men
could be reduced by so per cent by In
creased efficiency and Standardization,
the number required Is still stagger-
ing. Consider, also, the overseas
transportation problem as related to
material only and without reference
to personnel and Its maintenance. The
transportation of finished planes, prop
erly Grated, with the necessary spares,
accessories, and equipment Is In itself
a 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 68,145; 1t Is now $4,000. The
remount service April consisted Of
one officer and four clerks In Washing
ton, Ave remount depots where horses
were received, and personnel and
purchasing organization In the field in
proportion. The veterinary corps, re-
sponsible for the treatment Of animals,
consisted Of "a 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 1900 men. The
1000 officers have been secured and
enlisted men are being transferred at
a rate which will soon bring It up to
It's full authorized strength.
The remount service had similar
task in securing personnel. Its pres.
ent strength Is about 300 officers and
1000 enlisted men. In place OF 5
remount depots II has "a, for which
plans had to be drawn, sites chosen.
and construction Of shelter, hospitals,
storage buildings, and unloading fa.
cilities In short time.
The greater proportion Of deaths ot
animals In the army results from Inru-
enza, populariy known as shipping
fever" and It's complications. British
losses on horses purchased In the
United States during the war hive
been about 10 per cent counting only
deaths occurring In this country
French and Italian losses have been
higher.
The rank Of commissioned officers ~
the United States army Is shown by
insignia on the shoulder loops
The shoulder loops Of a general bear