New-York tribune., 1918-03-21
BACKYARD Airplane
Production
From The NeaO York Time.

~ fetary Baker heheld 100 planes - ''vs' .s
air, every one driven by an A. :" 'he
how many were training machines .ah
many bombing and fighting m.ol;. 'Au now s
a'sc'oSed' II there were any combat ,nlanS
hying' they were not of American mob -.
Baker was so profoundly impressed h, .,' =,
spectacle that he made this statement.
Just before leaving America ;r.o..
gated the progress of our ay;at;on
gramme. found our manufacturers sn
thuslastic as to the outcome. Wher ~.
learn OF the preparations which have ho..
made in France for the utilization ~ 81
material which they send, they will b.ns
further incentive I'd speed I'm ,ho;.
efforts"
The enthusiasm of the manufacturers bas
been exceeded only by the optimism of tha
Council of National Defence and N.
prophetic fervor of the Aircraft Productio,
Board. Thus, on December "a. the naro,..
body announced: "a feet of 600 'nl.,..
is being built" That was three months a,a
lacking five days. The parent BODY mu.,
have got its information from Chairm.r
Howard E. Coffin of the Aircraft Product;on
Board, for three days earlier he had ss;a.
"The whole programme is progressing favor.
ably, and, while l cannot disclose all n,
details, l can say that if the people of .bs
country knew exactly what has been az
complished they would be highly satisaean
AS long ago as November ., 1917, the Air.
craft Production Board gave out the infor.
nation that the first fighting machine
American in materials and workmanshn
had made successful test flights it is vol,
to remember that they occurred almost if
not quite. five months ago. Nearly th,eo
months after those fighting machine Tests
Secretary Baker announced that the fire.
American built planes "are to-day en- rohte
to the front in France" They were euuipped
with Liberty motors, he said. 1t is an
example of the confusion that battles anu
attempt to get at the facts of our aerop)ans
production that in the previous November
the aircraft board authorized the statement
that the Liberty motor would be used on
scouting machines only, while foreign tyoes
of motors would be put into the battle
planes.
Mr. Baker, to check elation, was careful
to say in his announcement in late Febru.
airy, Oh the eve Of sailing for France. that
the first shipment Of American battle planes
was mot large" There has been report
that it consisted Of one machine Peyhaps
the Liberty motor Of the FIRST shipmentr
was an improved model, but as many of our
planes are being assembled in France The
presumption is that French and Britisi
motors are installed in any that are designed
for combat. Mr.. Baker. aglow with the still
fresh impression made on his mind by th
aerial review held in his honor, was sur
that the manufacturers at home would nov
"have further incentive to speed up thel
efforts" His message se~ms to come in tn
nick of time, for aircraft production is jus
now in bad way. AS a matter Of raet
had slumped when Secretary Baker on Feb
ruary 20 announced buoyantly that the fire
battle planes were zen route to the fron
in France" 1t is rather surprising that Nj
Baker was kept in the dark. On January
Mr.. Gutzon Borgum, who had been COZ
ducting an authorized investigation, made
notwithstanding report of production figure
to the President. That was about mont
before the Secretary of War gave out b
cheerful budget, and doubling Thomas
were told to go to the rear and sit dow
Within a few days the War Dcpartmen
that is to say the President, has appont'
a committee headed by H. Snowden Ma
shall, recently United States District A
torney. to make thorough investigation
aviation production. AS Mr.. Marshall
known to have keen scent for the tru
and always calls a spade spade the 60
ernment will soon have all the facts,
though they may not be published in the
unvarnished state. Nh Borglum, specla
list in aeronautics, proposed the invesng
ting committee, and what he says aoo
backwardness Of production IS pertinel
Reports which l have seen that we a
IA per cent behind,' he declares, "are D.
by any means eXaggerations" Perhaps
has not allowed for MIR. Bakers first shi
ment" when he says that there are
American military (battle) aeroplanes
France He declares that there is mo re
son why there should not have been as
=. American aeroplanes in France by Apln
Of this year" Expert opinions may dI
,, about that, but when, in view OF pa's > /,
perbole, Signal Corps officers say tha'
fore July "the flow Of fighting planes
France will tax available shipping 10 cs'
:, 1T" the President will want TO pc SHOWN,
Our acroplane production, heraaeo
. record breaking and soon to give the Ane
cans control OF the air at the 'front.' !.
been a mirage of iridescent tints.
reality has undeceived even those wao ".
= least credulous What is wanted 10 oIi
= order out Of what threatens to be cna
. if not remcdicd, is a central authofi's'
strong man with ideas and energy 10 V
- charge of the industry, and regulate
= rect and accelerate it to the maximum
q production.
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Co,cer,;,-o Rack Yards