The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-01-20
SQUIER TO ASK
ABILLION MORE
FOR AIRSHIPS
Nations Programme Causes
Request That Will Reach
Congress on Monday.
PLAN SECRET HEARINGS
Even General Explanation, 1t
Is Thought Might Be Of
Use to Enemy.
Special DesposcA to The srN.

Special DespatcA to The SuN.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 19.-More than
billion dollars. nearly twice a. much a.
tho last s6A0. 900 appropriation. is
to be asked from Congress by Major.
Gen. George o. Squier to continue the
nations aeroplane programme. The ex-
act figure Of tho estimates which Gen.
squier will submit 10 Sl.ot3.2s4.:so for
aviation, with approximately 100000
900 extra for Signal Corps work. He
will 20 before the House Military A.
fairs Committee on Monday. s..
1T Is probable the hearing will Be- be-
hind closed doors. as even the general
explanations made by Gen. Sauier might
disclose information II is desired to
keep from the enemy. 1t Is expected the
committee may want to know how the
huge $S40.000.000 programme has pro-
creased. Particular interest Will be
shown IN progress already made. in
cluding number Of completed machines.
number Of flyers trained and in train.
ing. development OF the Liberty motor
and outlook for quantity production OF
standardized parts
In this connection, THE Sun is per
mitted to state the whole aviation pro-
gramme. which aims TO get prepon'
derance Of aeroplane forces to Europe
| this year, IL, in most respects. up &c
, schedule and, In many instances. ahead
OF prearranged plans. Tho need fol
more funds Is due primarily to the fac
that Gen. Squier has turned the mato'
part Of the $40. 100000 into hghtinl
material Of some sort without permit
] lem ~k-Nn 80 f,l en
path.
/ All details are barred by the censor
ship. but II may be stated the Unites
States to-day could put more machine
into aerial services than the Allies hav
ever used on q single day on the entir
western front. On December last tn
| Government had twenty times a. man!
airplanes a. on January I. 1917. an
the number since December has In
creased at an accelsrsting proportion.
Even while Gen. Dquisr is tsstifyinl
before the committee new planss. nev
Libsrty motors neV aviatste win b
i nrqgrRnme is to be reality on tn
Esstofn front this YEAR. and aeris
aghtlng forces OF significant proportion
are In actual service now.
Credit for delivering the goods doe
not 60 to Gen. SQuier exclusively. but
is shared ny him with Chief Constructo
Taylor OF tie navy and Howard I
Coffin head OF the aircraft productio
board The army and navy have worke
hand in glove on the programme. wit
tho aircraft production board acting q
connecting link between the two sci
vices and rendering invaluable service
is said toward cooperation.
One explanation offered for result
achieved in aviation 10 that every sen
blance Of red tape has been eliminate
: and none of tho membranes OF speed
. action have been permitted to choi
, progress, The expenditures in arm
aviation Average 100000 day. Coz
/ tractors dealing with tho Governmei
do not have to wait more than twent!
> four hours for payment. Plans Of prin
. importance are conceived. passed upc
at meetings Of the aircraft prOductic
= board. and put into effect the same da
That the American airplane sQuadrol
, will be in q position the coming ye'
} to strike effective and powerful blows
: strategic German military centres al
! penetrate into Germany Is fully realixe'
1t ia estimated the Germans have
= oper alton on the western front. TO-
D airplanes on any single day. The Unit
> states Army already has approprlAtio
for 10000. without counting the ne
E billion dollar appropriation. and the
= added to the British and French al
b plane forces indicate an overwhe'mi'
predominance over the Germans. &c
many has long been building airplan
:. as fast as she could and cannot great
increase her building capacity.