The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-10-16
AMERICAN SKILL
WINS AIR MASTERY
American Superiority Shown
in st. Mihfel and Argonne
Offensives.
RYAN TELLS OF RESULTS
Liberty Motors and De Havi-
lands Get Foreign Praise,
He Says.
RYAN TELLS OF RESULTS


wAsHINoroN, Oct 1S.-America IL
able to assume the offensive In the air
as we'll as on land. American efficiency
and superiority In q major air offensive
has been demonstrated in the battle of
st. Mihiel and in the Argonne drive. On
both occasions the air offensive was
under an American commander.
The new De Haviland Fours equipped
with Liberty engines. now on the battle
front are favored over all Others by
the crack foreign fiiers. who explain
this to be due to their speed and
mannuvring qualities.
The Liberty motor Is conceded by the
heads OF the foreign air services TO be
one Of the wars greatest accomplish
ments. Liberty motors are being sub
stituted for other foreign engines and
are responsible In part for the Increased
efficiency supremacy OF the Allies in
the air.
Pool OF Air Resources.
As a result Of conferences in London
pool has been formed Of virtually all
allied resources in the way Of aviation
in order that the resources and produc-
tion facilities OF all may be utilized to
the best advantage. Unity In the air
as well as on the ground has now prac-
tically been effected.
These are the salient features of the
report brought back here by John D.
Ryan, Assistant Secretary of War who
accompanied Secretary Baker abroad
for complete survey OF tho situation
In the air with a view Of correcting any
mistakes and bringing Americas efforts
strictly UP to date.
In n talk with correspondents to-day
Mr.. Ryan showed that this country Is
no longer tagging In aviation. but Is
going ahead by leaps and bounds as
evidenced on the aerial battle front
Mr.. Ryan said: Upon reaching
France went almost Immediately to the
front and was with our air forces durins
the st. Mihiel fight and also the one in
the Argonne. I believe that In both
these ofrensives the air forces were
stronger In numbers and perhaps as high
In efficiency as In any battle OF tho war
This opinion was expressed by both the
French and British commanders as well
az by our own.
THE air forces In both offenslves were
under the direction OF the American
Commander and while the French fur.
nished large part OF the forces used
and the British cooperated, the American
SQuuuTOHS IMAGE up hDOut nalI Oh tnt
number participating. The testimony OF
all commanders. both our own and those
Of the Allies. was to the effect that oui
machines were fought well and that ou,
pilots distinguished themselves. Their
communication Of the work OF our pilots
was tempered only by a suggestion that
perhaps our boys were too venturesome
and over courageous. ana am inclined
| to believe that restraint mora than any
thing else In the fighting OF aircraft 1.
| necessary for our pilots.
The United States De Haviland
| planes were in general use FOR observa'
I ton and day bombing in both the st
M'hiel and the Argonne attacks and the
pilots were to man enthusiastic as tt
| their performance, and while individual
pilots and commanders had suggestions
as to improvements and betterments tina
might be made they were individual ant
seldom indicated anything more than &
personal preference for some rearrange
ment Of details.
Commanders Of all the squadrons us
| ing De Haviland planes, as well az plane!
| of British and French manufacture fol
| like purposes. told me that the pilot'
| IN every case would prefer 10 take a DE-
| IIaviland machine with a Liberty engine
| over the line rather than any machine
= Of like type. This Is due to the fac