The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-04-06
DR.. JOHN A. AARRi SIS .

Police Commissioner Arthur Woods
The development OF this body under
Mr.. Wanamaker took II far beyond
anything ever attempted by the old
league. He welded 1t into a compact,
efficient and serviceable organization
ready for active duty whenever called
able recruiting ground for the depart
ment.
The reserve did much valuable
work during the Liberty Loan drives
and within few months after 1t was
started by Mr.. Wanamaker It had
membership Of about 1900. made up
of men Of all classes and conditions.
In the organization Of the reserve Mr..
Wanamaker was aided by Police In
spector John F. Dwyer. one of the old
est officers of the department and an
inspector especially we'll trained in or
ganization work.
One Of the picturesque adjuncts OF
the Reserve Is the aviation section,
which is still in process Of formation.
This was first begun by Mr.. Wanna
maker almost Immediately after the
organization of the Reserve and there
was a rush Of applicants. The avia-
ton class had more than 200 members
a year ago, and to give them practical
as we'll as theoretical instruction Mr..
Wanamaker obtained large airplane
with two extra motors from the Cur
, tiss factory. Glasses were formed.
handsome uniform was designed. and
the future air cops spent several hours
a week learning about the insides of
af,- 10 MI no
mechanicians. Recently Mr. Wanna
maker has added to his aviation sec
| ton some twenty or twenty five avia-
tors who have seen actual battle ser
vice with the British or American
| armies-men who know how to fly and
will require no training whatever.
1t is these men whose uniform Is
! now under discussion, as 1t Is felt that
| they require a more complete outfit
than the cadets. who wore clothing
somewhat similar to that worn by a
British military aviation cadet. So far
| nothing has been decided about the
uniform except that the Sam Browne
belt, the overseas insignia of a COM
missioned army officer, will be one fea-
ture OF it. The duties of the air cops
are also being decided, and the anx-
iously awaiting public may expect
some definite information on that line
soon. 1t is probable that they will be
kept on the force as a sort Of reserve
| to drop bombs on whatever buildings
| that might need bombs dropped on
them, or do scouting work for the de-
partment, or perhaps, In the not too
| distant future, to patrol the skies and
make the air safe for aerial traffic.
| Long an Air Enthusiast.
1t was only natural that Mr.. Wanna
maker should have added an aviation
section to his Police Reserve. Ever
since he was a young MANN the
days when Moissant and Walter
Brookins and the Wrights and other
pioneer aviators were taking their
perilous flights into the heavens-Mr.
Wanamaker has been an enthusiast on
the subject of airplanes. He built the
America, a giant airplane-a giant for
| those days, that iS-in which Lieut..
Porte OF the British army was to at
tempt a flight over the Atlantic. This
plane passed into the hands of the
British Government when the war
started and later was wrecked in a
Storm Mr.. Wanamaker Immediately
built another with the same name. but
circumstances prevented any attempt
at transatlantic flying. Only few
days after the United States entered
the war Mr.. Wanamaker offered the
Government a large Curtiss airplane
and the services OF a competent pilot.
Two or three months after he had
his mems Police Reserve into efficient
working order Mr.. Wanamaker
branched out and organized Wom-
ems Police Reserve, with natty uni
forms that had chevrons, Sam Browne
belts and innumerable brass buttons,
topped by IAN overseas cap decorated
with brightly colored braid. This made
an instant appeal to New York women
and within a few weeks nearly 5000
had been enrolled as members. Their
principal work was aiding In Liberty
Loan drives and doing other war work.
They met wounded soldiers at the Bat
terry. ran down and caused the arrest
of three German spies, went with in
valid soldiers to the theatre and saw
that they got whatever they wanted to
J eat, and several OF their number vol
unfairly did duty at the Women's
Night Court. Most of the members
were theatrical women, and all of them
J carried badges and police whistles. Six
! OF them later were added to the regu-
: lar force. under COMMAND OF Deputy