Arizona republican., 1918-07-29
AIR RAID LIN GERMAN CITIES
 NOW POSSIBLE
Berlin Likely to Be Includ-
 ed In Aerial Offensive.
 Success of Allies Depends On Air Independence
Republican A. p. Leased Wire1

NEW YORK, July 2S.-An aerial of fensive to cities of Germany including Berlin, is possible in the opinion of Major General W. $. Brancker con- troller general of equipment of the British air ministry.
 Major General Brancker in a state ment to The Associated Press laid em- phasis on the organization of the air forces on a basis quite independent Of the land and seat
 General Brancker believes, event ually, the United States will be obliged to create a secretary of air forces. toi the success of the allied cause he feels strongly that the quicker air indepen- dence is realized in this country, the better.
 Should Profit by Experience
 We simply had to come to an air ministry in England" said General Brancker. "The Zeppelins and the Gothas, coupled with the experience gained when aviation was controlled by the army and navy, forced it upon us. You have had no Hun air raids in this country to arouse you. but it is much hoped that, lacking this stimulus, you will profit by our experience.
 Are not the advantages of indepen- dent control obvious? Here you have one branch of aviation under the ad- minstration of the secretary of war, another under the secretary of the navy. These ministers have many otn- CT affairs to attend to in addition 10 aviation.
 'Nn Great Britain we have Lorl Weir the air minister, as the head of q council of seven.
 Is an Independent Force
 This council controls everything pertaining to aviation, both for land and sea combat. It supplies the army and fleet with airplanes and pilots, and in addition maintains an independent force. This independent air force real ly has the same status as the eXpedi- tionary force or the grand fleet 'l We can formulate policy and strat- egy, with production, equipment anC personnel function under one control We do not have the anomalous situ- ation of one branch of aviation service competing with the other for produc- tion and equipment. Such co-ordina- ton as this, obviously is the only way a great air offensive can be prepared for and conducted. We need your help your great resources and a similar or ganzation in this country to cooper ate with us on equal terms. Can Bomb Berlin Shortly
 "It is within the realm of certainty , that we can bomb Berlin in the spring if not in the fall, with airplanes we have building, as we have already bombed Cologne and the Rhine cities but we have not the numbers for { really big offensive, in my understand ing of the term. We have plenty o planes and can build plenty more, bu we lack engines, and we have abou reached the limit of capacity for engine ! production.
 We have built up a big airplan' program to take the liberty motor ant bomb Germany, but America canno now spare these motors, and so, I flea x that our airplanes will be wasted ant , the real offensive from the air ser iously delayed.
 "The delivery of certain types o s planes by flying them across the. At a lantic is feasible. If we can fly t Berlin and back. which is more thai 800 miles, we can fly from Newfound land to the Azores (the longest lap 0 the journey), which is 1200 miles. Thi means a big organization. airdrome \ and plants in Newfoundland and tn e Azores"