The evening world. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1887-1931, 1919-02-01
J.. S. SHOULD LEAD
WORLD AIR FORCES,
SAYS PREMIER ACE
Rickenbacker TO Devote Time
10 Rousing Country to lm-
portance of Flying.

Capt. Eddie Rickenbackcr. premier
American nee. plans to devote his time
TO rouslnE the United states 20 the
need for tho greatest air force In the
world.
Rickenbacker declared as he came
Off the liner Adriatic to-day that Just
as soon as possible he will go to
Washington to offer his services to the
Government, and he said he Is think
ing seriously Of embarking on n ma
tional tour TO address the people. who,
he said. don't know the difference he
| tween "A bombing and combat plano.
"Amcrlca's future depends upon rs
/ air service" said Rickenbackcr. The
biggest army and tho biggest navy
| In the world would be useless In mod
crn warfare without the largest air
service"
cant. Rickenbackcr declared Amer
lca should be able TO mobilize within
twcnty-four hours 10000 aviators,
with flve high class planes for cacn
man.
"Construction Of airplancs and con-
troll OF this service should be sepa-
rate" no continued, but should DOM
mate both tho army and navy fo7 the
slnplc reason that the air dominates
the oceans and the earth.
"The American people must be
nronycd to these facts at once. Tho
! Government deserves some criticism
for not allowing more TO be known OF
the great use OF airplanes in the war.
Mastery OF the air has completely
changed warfare"
American fighters coming home
from the war are going TO take
greater interest in their country. and
In who is running II, Capt. Ricken-
hacker declared.
at seoms like "A dream to have gone
! through that raging hell" he said.
"sccinE so many men die-some of
them your own pals. II makes
! fellow realize what life means. and
what a fino country this Is, that men
should fight so for 1t. II certainly
has given me new and broader
vision. when you've been shooting
straight down to earth from n height
OF 5000 or 5000 feet to escape death,
you're bound to begin TO think.
Personally. feel l shall take a
greater interest In this country, and
In who In going to run Il. l will want
10 know whether this man or that Is
best fitted TO hold position OF trust
in the Government. And this spirit
I have found among thousands of
men who have been fighting for It."
Rickenbacker. as he camo off the
Adriatic, wore nine decorations from
three countries-Unlted States, Great
Britain and France. Accompanying
him were three other famous Ameri-
can accs-'Major James Meissncr of
Brooklyn. Lieut.. Douglas Campbell OF
san Jose. Cal. and Lieut.. Paul +.
Iiacr. All were members ot the IA
nous HAT in the Ring" Squadron,
officially designated as No. 81. The
total OF German machines TO thor
credit is ftty. Rickonbacker led all
,, American aviators with twenty-six.
That Campbell and Mcissncr still
: live Is due mainly to the daring and
skill OF Rickenbackcr, who sGvcd
both In what came near being fatal
air battles. When asked TO account
. for his phenomenal exploits In the
p clouds. some OF them 10000 feet
above the earth. this same Ricken-
backer modestly says he's the luck
lest fellow in the world.
. capt. Rlckenbacker IN quite con-
A yiuced he viii never go back TO tn,
Q automobile racing game.
|, Aviation Is a tremendous thing
: explained the Premier Ace. land an
anxious To help. or the two. auto
4 racing and aviation, | much prefe
h aviation. On the other side we haC
Q tho nucleus OF a fine aviation service
American ayers were the equal o
any. or machines | cannot say, as
only used French combat machines
Nieuports and Spads We had N
special fighting methods. II wa
mostly luck and cOmmoa sense, W
didn't underestimate our advcrsaries
II was nearly an equal thing on bot
sides, with luck the deciding factor
q Al the front you would simply liv
from patrol to patrol. After secin
dozens OF friends going west IN
then coming out unScmtched mysel
you will understand why | believ
n, I'm the luckiest fellow in the world
- Rickenbacker had nothing TO say G
his greatest exploits, when he tough
~ three Germans at once and had
D. wing shot away, and another tim,
I'd when CRIPPLED engine dropped hi
la machine 10000 feet before he coul
ne straighten II out; but these account
Of were pieced together by Campbell an
,r Mclssncr, vino delighted telling abol
no Rickcnbncker's feats but little {
their own.
re- Both the automobile and acr
a worlds are going TO pay appropr
10 ntc attentions 10 their famous wal
rior. Rickcnbacker. with his mothC
~ and sister. who came from Columbu
Yesterday to welcome him home. an
n few friends will he guests at
n local theatre tonight,
y. Monday night at tho Waldorf IN
combined auto and aero organization
n will tender the leading Ace n banqut
At which Secretary Baker. Gen, Men,
her. Dr. Henry Van Dyke. Congress
''' man clifford Ireland and Bourke Cocl
H. ran will make addresses.