South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-03-15
NAVAL BOARD To
STUDY AIRCRAFT
DEVELOP MENT
SeC'y Daniels and Three Chief
Advisers to Give Special
Attention to the De-
Velopment. /.

W AShlNGION, March 15.-Den-
mite plans for extensive experiment
al work with aircraft are being
worked out by the navy general
board, and in their conferences
abroad with officials Of the British,
French and Italian admiralties,
Sec'y Daniels and his three chief
technical advisers will give particu-
lar attention TO aircraft development
Congress later will be asked TO make
a special appropriation for the nee
essary experimental work.
Mr.. Daniels personally confirmed
this outline Of the navy's plans be-
fore he left today for New York en-
route for France. He will be joined
tomorrow aboard the L. s. S Levia-
than by Rear Admirals Robert s.
Griffin. chief engineer, David w
Taylor, chief constructor, and Ralph
Earle. chief OF ordnance, who will
make the trip with him. He expects
70 return by May after visiting
Paris. London and Rome. The
three admirals will confer with
European experts in their own lines
and visit shops and dockyards where
guns engines and war craft are
under construction.
VIII Lead the Way.
"It is our purpose in the navy to
keep not only abreast Of aviation in
the future" Secy Daniels said in re-
ply 10 a question as to the part air
craft developments will play in the
conferences overseas. but to lead
the way in the development OF this
new art. Under the whip and spur
Of conditions. much was accomplish
ed here. The Liberty motor is the
most striking instance. Tt is still
unrivaled in its own field-that Of q
high power aircraft motor suita bic
for rapid production i'm quantity.
That was our war problem-produc
tion-and we solved it,
Now. however. with the stress of
war behind US, our problems are to
advance the science Of air naviga-
ton. TO explore every avenue of pos
sible development; to build better,
faster. safer aircraft from year 10
year as we build better ships for the
navy For that purpose we must
devote ourselves to orderly expert
ment in peace times. We must keep
in touch constantly with what other
nations are doing. prOfting by their
experience and sharing with them
the benefit of our own.
VIII Talk with Experts.
During our stay in Europe we will
talk with admiralty experts on air
craft. Admiral Taylor, who is the
navy's representative on the aircraft
production board, is already widely
experienced in the designing and
production Of aircraft for our own
feet. He will organize and direct
the expanded campaign of aviation
experiment on which the navy is
embarking. Abroad Admirals GRE
fin. Taylor and Earle will have re
aid of Capt Craven, fresh from in
tensive war time experience witt
aircraft"
The subject Of aircraft develop.
ment was fully reviewed by the gen
eral board this week with the three
admirals who are accompanying
Sec'y Daniels. Information and sug-
gestions arising from the trip will
be cabled back to the board in or
der that the formulation Of plans
and estimates can go ahead here
without delay In this connection
Mr.. Daniels said:
when congress reconvenes we
viii have a very definite project for
aviation experimentation to present.
II will require appropriations for
which 7 intend to ask. I am conf
dent that we will find congress
wholly sympathetic with our desires
20 take a forward looking course
and ready TO provide literally the
means of carrying on the work