The New York herald., 1921-07-03

at least put out of commission, by single
bomb. For the price of one battleship,
General Mitchell asserts, not less than 1,5O0
airplanes could be built-airplanes, that
is, of a type capable of carrying a bomb
weighing ton. The latest contracts for
Martin bombers called for an outlay of
$23, 900 for each.
In the opinion Of the airplane enthusi-
asts the end is not yet in sight for battle
ship construction. Attention is invited
to the reports that have come lately from
Great Britain that the British are prepar-
ing to build great superdreadnoughts Of
not less than $4,000 tons and carrying
twenty inch guns. The largest dread.
nought now building in the United States
is only four-ffths this size, that is of
$4,000 tons and carrying sixteen inch guns.
America is foolish to put money into
dreadnoughts that are licked before they
are launched" one of the high air service
officers insists. at is either up to us to
build battleships as large as those of any
other nation or to find some other means
of combating them. l honestly believe
that the airplane offers the solution, and
answers all the arguments, both for eff
cheney and for cost"
The ideal air programme for the United
States, in the opinion of those who have
been making close study of the situa-
tion, should be for the maintenance of
an aerial fleet of $500 airplanes. These
should be, it is figured, divided into 2,4O0
airplanes for the offensive, while at least
1900 should be of various types for the
Territories and various strategical points,
such as the Panama Canal Zone.
OF the 2,400 airplanes for offensive
service about 60 per cent. should be of
the single-seater pursuit type, with high
speed and much ability to maneuvre.
These are the airplanes, the authorities
believe, which would give to the United
States supremacy in the air.
About 20 per cent. of the 2,400 should be
of armored type the estimates provide;
airplanes capable of attacking infantry
organizations while flying at low attitudes
and encountering anti-aircraft fire. The
remaining 20 per cent. should be of the
heavy bombing type, like the Martins, to
carry bombs, torpedoes, mines to strew
around enemy fleets and poison gas in
large quantities.
Limited Range of Flight
Makes AirpIane Carriers Essential
OF course, II is realized that airplanes
are limited in their range-that it is i'm
possible for land machines to venture
forth with any degree of safety to a posi-
tion more than 100 miles at sea, certainly
in the greatest emergency not more than
200 miles. For this reason any such pro-
gramme should contemplate the construc-
tion of a reasonable number of airplane
carriers, not less than six, to accompany
the fleet or to operate independently. pro-
viding landing fields afoat, from which
the airplanes should start out to attack an
enemy and return to as a base.
Great Britain already is constructing six
airplane carriers, while the United States
is tagging far behind in this regard. The
carrier Langley is being constructed by
the Navy largely for experimental pur-
poses. She is not as yet in commission.
but is expected to be in the late autumn.
She is collier converted for service as a
carrier until real carrier. properly sized
and fitted, is authorized by Congress-
With such an air organization the air
plane enthusiasts insist the United States
could be reasonably sure of preventing any
sort of attack, even from a fleet far greater
than that maintained by the United States.
If an enemy fleet were to come out against
the United States the aerial forces would
set out to sink IL, through combination
of the dropping Of bombs, the laying OF
mines. the spreading of poison gas and the
launching of torpedees.
The great difficulty with the present sltu-
alton, so far as aircraft is concerned. seems
to be lack of interest among those who
are responsible for the armament policy
of the United States. Up to this time the
airplane advocates have been bucking a
solid opinion among the so-called old line
officers of both the Army and the Navy.
who have, so the flers insist, failed to
make a proper investigation of the possi.