The Washington herald., 1918-06-13
HUGHES PROBE
OF AIRCRAFT
WIDENS SCOPE
Irregularities. if Any, and
Reasons for Delays to
be Shown.
PRODUCTION PROGRESS
378 Planes and l26 Ava
tors to Operate Now
at Front.

IL was disclosed yesterday that
Charles Evans Hughes has eNtended
his Investigation Of the work OF the
Aircraft Production Board. His find
ings will not only include report
on the charges that irregularities
were permitted in the outlay OF funds
but will also give to the nation
comprehensive statement of the rea-
sons for the boards failure to create
a large number Of planes for use
abroad 1t is understood that the eX-
tension OF the scope Of the lnvetlga,
tion is undertaken with the approval
of President Wilson.
The examination Of the witnesses Is
conducted behind closed doors at off,
ces in the Department OF Justc.'
Building. Mr.. Hughes opens his hear
ings at an early hour and they CON
tinue until late in the afternoon Win
but a brief luncheon recess.
From facts placed in the record
within the past few days. 1t Is made
clear that Mr.. Hughes Is running
down every report Of ineffciency'
and that he is acting with the
thoroughness which brought him
into the limelight in the New YORK
insurance Investigations, Although
many of the facts being adduced
will never be given to the public
lest they reach the hands OF the
enemy, much information which. up
to this time has been refused, VIII
be made public.
37s Planes at Front.
From evidence bearing upon the
effort. of the Signal Corps to give
fronts held by Gen PershingS men
ADEQUATE air defense, 1t has been
brought out that there are now at
the front S7s -airplanes bearing the
American insignia. These planes
arc being used by the American
aviators who constitute seven
suuadrons. Few of the planes are
of American manufacture.
There are now l,7i6 American avia-
tors in France. A large share Of this
number are ready to go into the air
fights, but only 126 have been pro-
yided with equipment. There Is an
eouaI number Of observers and 1885,
enlisted men to act as mechanicianS
and airdrome men are at work COM
pI-ting the fyinE fields to be used by
The american forces.
That the training of aviGtors has
progressed with far greater speed than
has the production Of aircraft is evil
denced by the fact that there are in
this country today 3,467 trained avia-
tors and 4g22 observers and nonhyinS
officers awaiting orders to proceed 10
France. The enlisted men, many OF
whom have finished their mectanical
training at the flying schools in this
country total s9,oOl.
1894 Being Trained.
It would appear that the capacity
of the twenty-seven training schools
Of this country is approximately
go men. At the present time there
are about 1894 men being trained a
ayjstors at the flying schools ana
5qs at the ground or preparatory
schools. About 1926 men. passed by
the examining boards, are awaltlnS
an opportunity to enter the ground
schools. There are ,0S6 men who are
taking advanced training courses In
this country perfecting themselves IN
p,Irsuit. bombing or observation WORK
About 900 Americans are being train
ed in schools in France. England
italy and Egypt
Records of Contracts
From records brCu"ht ~ TO date
two weeks ago, il appears that the
Aircraft Board ordered $500 elemen-
tary planes. 21OO advanced training
planes and II. 900 conbatplanes. The
Engines ordered comprise 1000 for
elementary planes. 6.692 for advanced
nIanes and 1900 for combat planes
The program also included orders
for 35,913 propellers, 1,C7 balloons,
sc ~ bombs and thousands of ma
chine guns.
Definite figures Of deliveries Of air.
nIanes and equipment will not he
olaced in the record of the evidence
until later. II Is understood. 1t Is
krown, however. that planes deliv-
cred from American factories in
>He 1855 elementary. go advance,
ombat and 1876 experimental En-
delivered include s.12S elemen-
1.sl5 advanced training and 1903
,at. More than 13.SsS propellerS
been delivered and more than
machine guns. About rs bal
IoorAs are in use.
Th,ere will be a thorough investiga-
ton Of the statement that the aver
age price of the planes. propeIlers and
NJ. Or =n Gj"p.rre j. 5000 and that
a.,-y here from 1850 10 5000 more is
n-t.,ieI = equip tie plane with an en-
$50 .....i =. 10 ..-.,rr . -; Some of the
manufacturers are inclined to criti-
a. = sGuTlalcs, -. "a make possible a
$4,000 airplane, pointing out that there
are few automobiles which approach
that price To date $1O5 ,O00. 900 has
been spent for complete airplanes,
with an additional 81, 900, 900 for gen.
eral equipment including instruments.
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