The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1918-08-25
PROMISE EPERSH|NC
IS, 900 PLANES
by JULY |, 1878
AMERICAN COMMANDER ASKED
FOR AT LEAST $4,000
MACHINES.
SECRETS ARE UN COVERED
Testimony Before Senate Military Com
mittee Behind Closed Doors. Is Of Start.
ling and Serious lSature-Much Bitter.
ness Expressed by Official Witnesses.

Washington, Aug. 24-America's air
craft program for the great army that
is counted upon to win the war next
year calls for $50 complete squadrons
of planes. and the main part of the
program already is ahead Of schedule
with 5000 pilots trained,
This information. given by Major Cen
eral Kenly. chief of the division of mil
itary aeronautics and many other facts
hitherto held secret, We're disclosed to
day when the senate military commit
tee made public testimony taken behind
closed doors during three months Of in
vestigatng by the aviation sub-com-
mittee, headed by Senator Thomas Of
Colorado.
General Kenly told the committee
there now are thirteen American air
plane squadrons of 273 machines in
France whereas ther should be 175
squadrons.
William C. Potter. assistant director
OF airplare production. said General
Pershing had called for $4,000 planes
by July /. 1919. and has been told it
was hoped to deliver $4,000 to 10000.
This would meet replacement demands
Of squadrons in the field.
Nash Is DOubter.
c. w. Nash. former president Of the
Nash Motor Company, and now assist
ant to Mr.. Ryan in engineering and
production. gave it as his opinion that
nothing but the de Haviland machines
could be delivered before next January
and IL 10000 airplanes were delivered
: by next July it would be almost mir
acle."
General Kenly and other offices. in
fact, all OF the witnesses, apparently
gave their statements with what Sen
ator Reed characterized at one stage as
brutal frankness" all being examined
secretly and apparently without consid-
ering the possibility of the publicity
now given. Personal criticisms were
voiced with freedom. An example is
found in General Kenly's examination
concerning General Pershing'S call for
airplanes. In response to question. Gen.
eral Kenly spoke of what he would do
If he were In charge at home and abroad
and added:
''If you look over the cables. you
would find a cable from overseas asks
for one thing one day and the next day
countermands the order and then the
next day asks for it again and a week
later countermands that"
Jealous OF Navy?
There is no real friction between the
Army and navy, General Kenly told the
committee, except "a very strong feel
ing that the navy sometimes is getting
cmore than its share"
General Kenly and other officers con.
f1rmed reports that General Pershing
stopped manufacture of Spad machines
last year and recently had criticised
several of the de Haviland models for
warded.
In outlining next years program, sent
in by General Pershing. witnesses told
the committee that General Pershng
was advised that in trying to get $4,000
or 10000 machines delivered by next
July. the authorities were "aiming rath.
er high" A squadron in the aviation
service. it was explained, normally con-
sists of Is filters. but they usually have
81. During Secretary Bakers examina.
ton. he was sharply questioned regard