The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1941-01-02
bell wNU Service

due, in very large part, to the fact
that, during the long period after
the first World war, in which she
was not allowed to have armament,
her youth went in for gliding.
America, many authorities are
contending, should do the same
thing, not because there is any le-
gal restriction on military planes in
this country, but because the devel-
opment of gliding as a sport for
youth would provide an enormous
reservoir from which the army and
navy air forces could draw in an
emergency.
Commander Eugene F. Mcdonald
Jr of the naval reserve quotes Ern-
est Udet, the German f1ier. as say
ing that from 100000 to 100000
young Germans learned to fly, in
the period just before the outbreak
of the World war, in inexpensive
elders.
American boys are even more
adapted to this sport than the young
Germans, Mcdonald points out. And
the great advantage of glider flying
is that it is within the possibilities
of so many more American boys
proportionately. If put into guam
tity production. good glders could
be sold, Mcdonald contends, for
about $3.50 each. But the big fac
tor is that there is little upkeep for
elders. The chief expense, after
the sail planes are acquired. is an
old automobile for towing and the
gasoline to run it.
FAvORS FREE GLIDERS
Many experts think that one OF
the most economical expenditures
the United States government could
make would re to supply gliders
free to boys clubs. Orders for as
many planes as would be demand
ed, should this be started, would re-
suit in very low price per sail
plane, perhaps as loW@as the $3.50
Commander Mcdonald calculates.
The chief advantage Of glider
training for prospective airplane pi-
lots is that they are forced to learn
all about air conditions, particular.
ly rising currents, air pockets, down
drafts and how to take advantage OF
them.
Many of the important improve
ments in radio, Mcdonald says,
were first conceived by the radio
amateurs, of whom he estimates
there are at least 81 1000 in this coun-
try He predicts that many inn
provements in aviation will be de-
vised by amateurs if we can get our
boys enthusiastic about glider clubs.
BRITAIN NEEDS PLANES
Mysterious to many observers is
President Roosevelt's attitude on the
present system of giving Britain
half of Americas military aircraft
production and giving the other hall
for our own defense. 1t does not
seem to these observers to fit in
with the underlying notion of many
| persons that unless Great Britain
wins this war the United States is in
trouble, and hence every possible
| aid should be extended to Britain
not so much as an unselfsh line oil
action as one of very real but in
telligent selfishness.
II Britain vitality needs more fight
ing and bombing planes, of which
there seems to be no doubt what
ever, it would seem that the inter
ests of the United States-once it is
accepted that If Britain goes doWr
we are In trouble-would require
that Britain be given every fighting
plane this country can produce.
1t is very simple to say that i
Winston Churchill's warnings hac
been needed The said as long agt
as 1917 that Britannia must rule
the clouds as well as the waves,
there would have been no such ter
rife bombing of London and ths
Midlands as Britain has undergone
1t would be just as simple to sa.
that if the warnings in this countr,
voiced by Gen. William Mitchell hat
been needed, from 1920 until hi
court martial in 1925, this countr.
would now be in a position to sup
/ ply Britain as well as our own de
tense with all the planes needed.
WARNINGS IGNORED
| The facts are too simple for that
The facts are that old-fashiones
high commands in both the British
and United States army and nav.
made compliance with such warn
ings impossible.
II Recrimination NOW is OF no espe
ciai value. Most of the men VIII
disagreed with Churchill in Britain
and Billy Mitchell here were sin
cefe in their views. The point is
What should be done now? There i
no doubt that Britain is STILL il
danger. Whether the island can b
fed despite the constant destruction
Of merchant shipping by bombers
added to the shipping toll taken y
mines and submarines, depend
very largely on the number G
planes that can be sent her fron
America. Meanwhile we are build
ing up capacity to produce plane
for our own defense.