New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1918-04-11
Senators Find That Work
On Aeros Is Far Behind

1918. '-'0'''' u . uie'
Another type of combat plane. known
as the DE Haviland, is included in our
programme. This machine habituallv
. carries two men, four machine guns =
moderate load Of bombs and other an
Pafa'us ana is to be driven by one Lib
er1y motor. Fifteen have been com
pleled; one has been shipped to France:
ire remaining fourteen have been very
recently completed in this country.
some OF these have been tested pro-
PEELED By a Liberty engine and ann ,s
Is have given satisfaction.
he third type upon the proorsmr,.
IS known as the Bristol fighter. This
Nachlne IS lighter and faster than the
De llavlland. It's speed is expected to
De IN the neighborhood of lo5 miles
per hour. 1t is what is known as a
rtco9hoi ssance machine. Another term
vAlch might be properly applied to it
IS defensive tighter" 1t carries +wo
men. four machine gums and is dr;von
py one Liberty motor. The decision TO
MAKE TINS type was reached on Noveln-
per l9l'. The manufacturers COM
ple'ed the first OF these machines dur
ing the week ended March 80. 1913.
ne machlnc was tested once during
lnat week with Liberty motor, and
according to the testimony Of the avia-
successfully. ThiH machine Il few
hours after its fight. caught tire while
st@hcih % upon the aviation ground and
Wa entirely destroyed. Inc officials
or the Signal Corps assured the com
mlctee thst another machine would
soon tie finished ~ the manufacturer
ana That II It met the tests satisfactor-
liy quantsry production might he cX-
pected within a reasonable period.
ne tGStltNo m AZ
was given on Apcil ,, 1918. This com
pletes the list of machines now under
manufacture and constitutes a correct
statement of the situation in this coun-
try rs Of April l, 1918. In addition to
the American production Of engines and
airplanes as herein set forth. consider
able orders for combat airpIanes and
Gngines We're last summer placed with
European manufacturers by General
Pershing, and we have furnished guam
Titles Of material and numbers Of me-
chanics to aid in their construction.
"4 our committee has full information
as to the number and quantity Of ma
chimes and engines ordered here and
abroad, but does not feel justified in
stating the number in this public r.
port. The facts contained in this re-
port are drawn from the testimony Of
the chief signal officer, General Squier:
Colonel Deeds, and Mr. Potter. the
chief Of the equipment division of the
AVIATION Section OF the Signal Corps
and are confirmed from other sources
official and otherwise.
DEFECTS POINTED OUT
"Nour committee, being devoid of
technical knowledge Of motors and air
planes, does not undertake TO point out
IN detail engineering and manufacture
ing errors which may have been com
mltted, and which, in part, may account
for this rruvely disappointing situa-
ton. Your committee. however, is CON
WINGED that much OF the delay in pro
duclng completed combat airplanes is
due to ignorance Of the art and 10 fail
ure to organize the effort in such a
way as TO centralze authority and
bring about quick decision.
"a certain aloofness in dealing with
persons possessing Information based
upon experience, an apparent intention
OF conhning the actual production to a
restricted number of concerns and Z
failure OF the officials in charge Of the
work to grasp the situation in broader
way and seize upon the best approved
foreign engines and planes and proceed
promptly to build as many as possible
,or the campaign of 1918 has contrib
uted TO the failure. 1t is greatly to be
regretted that the statements OF gov
eminent officials have represented
the progress of the aviation programme.
This has misled the public, and your
committee, cognlZant Of the facts, has,
IN the performance Of its duty, made
this report to the Senate.
ONE EXECUTIVE URGED
your committee belives that pro-
duction Of aircraft should be controlled
by one executive officer, appointed by
the President and responsible to him.
lie should be assisted by d corps Of
the best aircraft engineers and design
ers possible to obtain, both European
and American. The matter of produc-
ton should be taken out Of the hands
of the Signal Corps entirely, and no
man who has any near or remote in
terest IN a company manufacturing all
planes or engines should be permitted
10 act as adviser or be in authority.
While we are developing Am erican air
craft and American engines, we should.
temporarily at least, procure an album
dant supply of approved types OF air
craft and engines OF European design
Further, 1t seems to the committee
that every encouragement should be
given to the development of aircraft,
and that anv action which retards
progress, such as trust agreements or
the prevention of those developing ma
chimes from flying under proper re-
strictions should be removed
"Thc committee also believes it to be
its duty to point out that thus far no
broad plan looking to future develop
nent has been laid down by the au-
thorities. Warfare in the air is still
in its infancy, and it is inevitable that
rapid changes will take place in both
engines and planes. 1t is essential to
our success that those in charge Of the
American aviation development shall
DO constantly looking ahead and de-
vising plans for a continued expansion
OF the programme, as we'll as the de-
veiopment of new types of engines and
planes"
LIBERTY MOTOR DEFENDED
On the subject of combat airplanes
the minority report said
To state that this complicated
quipment is in steady and adequate
production and that factories arc now
about in shape for quantity production
Of combat planes and have about com