Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1918-02-01
BIG ARMY NEEDED
FOR AIR SERVICE
FORTY TO FIFTY MEN REQUIRED
FOR EACH ACTIVE PLANE At
THE FIGHTING FRONT.
FIGURES BY HOWARD COFFIN
Veterinary Corps and Remount Serv.
ice Growing Rapidly-Information
About the Pay Received by Uncle
Sans Enlisted Men.

ifrem Committee on Public Information
WashlngtOn.-In statement issued
By Howard Il. Coffin, chairman of the
sircraft production board, is the fol-
lowing:
"ln discussing the accomplishments
vi the air service In the contamination
M The army program II will be well TO
point out the lmpossiblllty of certain
proposals enthuslastica aud persist.
emily put forward by word Of mouth
aud 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 a coun.
ny where one great Industry produces
100000 motorcars per year, the fab
rleation Of 100000 planes might seem
rasy. but actual figures based upon
three years Of practical experience In
The war shows that there are now be-
tween 40 and 80 men OF the auxiliary
services required for each active ma
rhine at the front. II this same ratio
should be adhered to In our service. II
wonid mean that some 100000 men
woulc be required In our aer0nautlca
department on foreign soil between
our ports OF debarkation and the fight
Ia. front.
Even though this number OF men
roa'd be reduced by so per cent by In
efensed efficiency and Standardization,
The number required Is still stagger.
Ing, Consider, also, the overseas
transportation problem as related TO
mnierial only and without reference
TO personnel and its maintenance. The
transportation Of finished planes, prop.
eriy Grated, with the necessary spares,
accessories, and equipment IL in itself
. serious problem, In view OF the stu.
alton In ship tonnage"
When war was declared the strength
Of the United States army In animals
was 66,l45; II Is now 344, 900 The
reinount service April q consisted Of
sne officer and four clerks In Washing.
ton, five remount depots where horses
we're received and personnel and
purchasing organization In the field in
proportion. The veterinary corps. re.
Sponsible for the treatment OF animals.
r0nsisted Of "a officers and no enlisted
personnel when the United States on.
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 ut /
rate which will soon bring II up to
Us full authorized strength.
The remount service had a similar
task In securing personnel. Its pres. t
ent strength is about 300 officers and /
1.OOO enlisted men In place of ; 4
renount depots II has "a. for which
plans had to he drawn sites chosen,
and construction Of shelter. hospitals,
storage buildings, and unloading IA.
dlities In short time
The greater proportion Of deaths of
animals In the army results from innu-
enza, popularity known as shipping
fever" and IT'S complications. British
losses on horses purchased In the
United States during the war have
been about 10 per cent, counting only
DEATHS occurring In this country.
Wrench and Italian losses have been
higher
The rank OF commissioned officers Of
the United States army Is shown by
insignia on the shoulder loops.
The ShOuldpr lame NJ a t.npnroI Lno.