Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-05-14
Haste Makes
Waste in
Basic Plane
u. S. Emphasis on Speed
Juoks New Designs
BY PAUL MALLON


first into the experience of the
army with one of its basic air.
craft motors.
Full facts of such matters
are usually reserved for history,
but it is revealing no military
secret TO say that a motor upon
which the army heavily relied
has developed so many bugs it
had to be redesigned only re-
Gently.
The motor was supposed to
develop something like 1850
horsepower. The first model.
with its parts laid out alongside
Rolls-Royce, looked superior to
the engineers. In practice it de-
Veloped considerably less horse
power, some say only 1,150.
This deficiency was JUS {
enough to injure its value New
demands for armor plate adding
10 the weight of planes limited
its efficiency to disturbing de-
gree. Another bug developed in
it when it was placed on the
block.
In the end the engineers
decided to redesign the whole
engine and hope for 1000 horse
power, which might yet make it
a sensational new discovery,
months after it was thought to
have been perfected.
MUCH gossipy criticism of
WI every one involved has been
heard in Washington. but con-
gressmen on the military affairs
committee who have looked
into the subject. are satisfied
the unfortunate delay has been
conquered at last.
The only clearly valid Criti-
ciSm accepted among the con-
gressmen is, here ag a n
American aviation placed too
much emphasis on speed and
maneuverability. too little on
fightability. This is the same old
+ criticism. heard first before
France fell. when the Allies dis
covered American ships were
under-gunned and under-pro-
tected for the Nazi competition.
That is why the British have
been able to use so few of our
ships.
4 Ii concerned here are thank
"A ing their stars that the time
was afforded us to correct these
and similar mistakes. They fore
see happy ending to such painful
dilemmas of which the public
has not been conscious, but not
Immediately.
The British are supposed TO
have a new super super engine
of "a cylinders. laid out in II
style. with six up and six down
on either side of the II, con-
nected to a single driving shaft.
One United States plant has a
new one coming along which is
supposed TO develop 5000 horse
power. Authorities here will
wait on these Until the bugs are
fumigated.
Tl1E neither New Dealers who
L want to make national de-
Tense transmission belt for
further reforming. contrived a
scheme to lay the federal gov
ernment's hand upon the schools
through the S150,000,000 de-
Tense public works bill. 1t was
ScotChed by the House public
buildings committee so quietly
the subject was not mentioned
in the House debate.
The original bill, written by
the New Dealers, would have
given the President blanket
authority to provide schools,
libraries, sewers etc. in the
new communities mushrooming
up for defense work in certain
localities.
Apparently the federal bureau
of education intended to exer-
else large measure of control
over the new schools after these
were built. Teachers were to be
supplied through the WPA.
The committee. headed by
Rep. Fritz Lanham. Texas, COM
plotely rewrote the bill TO keep
II out of the hands OF the educa-
ton bureau The federal works
administrator was made director
Of the program under the Presi-
dent. \ specific provision was
added that no board shall exer-
cfSr supervision over any school.
The committee sent word
through Lanham TO the New
Dealers that il would not stand
for any step toward further fed
eralization of the school systems.
The way IL was told TO con-
gressional leaders. Mr. Roosevelt
could not offer stronger depar-
lures in his foreign policy TO the
Pan-American meeting because
the delegates are official repre-
SentativeS of their governments.
If presented there, stronger
British aid action by us would
bear the implication of an Off
cial proposal to the Latin
nations.
Distributed by King Features Syndicate
Inc Reproduction In whole OF
part strictly prohibited.