South Bend news-times., 1919-08-31
insignificant Corps at Wars
Beginning, II Has Grown TO
Be Mighty Armada.

signifcert corps the United States
naval aviation service was EXPANDED
so rapidly during the war that when
the Germans quit it was the second
largest naval flying force IN the
world. Developments OF the service.
hitherto carefully guarded secret.
was disclosed by the navy depart
ment today in the first or series OF
announcements dealing with navaI
aerial activity since April. 1917.
Small Navel Embellishments
When the United States entered
the world conflict 81 maintained a
small naval aerial ablishmenr.
with the principal station at Pensa
cola, Fla. The personnel a. thar
station was 2S aviators and lse en-
nsted men and the equipment con-
sisted Of p seaplaneS. five kite baI-
looms and two free balloons
department OF aviation was or
ganized Immediately ana tho ,a-i-
GUS bureaus took up the work of
providing men and equipment The
bureau OF steam eugineering took
charge OF the development and man
ufacture OF motors and radio eouin-
menti the bureau Of construction
ana repair dealt with the huns and
wings Of the planes: the ordnance
department provided machine g7,Ds
and bomb launching devices ana
thousands Of tons OF high explos.,es
and the bureau Of navigation S,D-
piled and trained thousands OF o.
hcers and enlisted men
Armistice Found Navy Strong.
The armistice found the navy vritb
more than 1900 aviators zoo
ground officers, and $4,000 enlisted
men with 5000 fight officers and
IO'OoO enlisted men in training
There were in commission ] 400 sea
planes and airplanes and about 2oo
hghter-than-air craft OF sl tvnes
More than 1900 officers and 1s
600 enlisted men together with qQs
seaplanes, 40 airplanes and ~ kite
balloons were sent 20 the war zone
Meantime the single station main
tained in the United States prior IN
the war had grown 10 seven train
ing stations 10 patrol stations. nine
rest and refueling stations. two ex-
perimental stations and a number OF
additional stations for various pur-
poses were under construction. They
formed a girdle that encircled the
entire sea coast Of the country IN
Europe there were established and
IN operation 2S American naval -hv-.
ing stations, two training staGions
and u bonn bing stations located in
England, Ireland. France and Ttalv.
There also was marine aviation
station in the Azores.
Regulars In Charge.
a capable administrative force.
drawn by the navy from civilians.
administered the affairs OF the serv-
ice with great success. but regular
navy officers were In direct charge.
Technical and manufacturing ex-
perts OF internatioEl reputation re-
presented the navy at the bases
abroad and in this country Their
loyal services with those OF the fiers
made possible the achievements
which brought from Admiral VII
liam S Sims the following praise for
the work OF the naval aviation serv-
ice in the war:
Please express 20 the naval
aviators or America my most
sincere appreciation or their
courageous and loyal perform
ance Of duty az home and
abroad throughout the war.
Their brilliant exploits. their de-
termination 20 w:n. Will ever re-
main one OF the highest tributes
10 American manhood. The
performance OF duty OF these
young naval aviators under nv
command has not only been in
keeping with the very best ira
ditions OF our naval service but
has in addition won for Amer
ica the enthusiastic praise of
her allies"
The American navai aviators car
ried out Joint patrols with the Brit
ish, French and Italian naval air
forces, raiding enemy submarine
bases and aircraft bases A. Ostend.
Zeebrugge, Bruges. HeIgoland. Pola-
Trieste and various other points
Large quantities of planes. subma-
rlnes, materials. buildings hangars.
ARRAf Hta-lDllrs nlll u IllNAlM AAU.Na
and other valuable military projects
were destroyed
Particularly Successful
Seaplane patrols and aerial con-
VOWS were particularly successful.
After the installation OF American
seaplane patrols and during thou
sands OF miles OF convoy. only one
ship iu such conveys protected hv
seaplanes was ever successfully at
tackled. In the 10 months American
patrols were active only three ships
were lost in the entire area between
Penmarch and Isle d'Yeu
British. French and italian of7alal
records give the American naval
Aviation forces credit for attacking
s5 per cent. OF all submarines sight
ed while on patrol in spite ~ ter
rifle weather conditions az times.
OF damaging - per cent and sink
ing % per cent OF all those attack
ed The exact number OF subma-
rlnes sighted. attacked and sunk
cannot be made public until rhe
compilation OF figures contained u
allied records Is completed