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Show pn of i VITAL. SMS PEARY Explorer Points Out Where U. J. Defense System Is Lame. XEVT VlpEK, March 2. Command of ttie soa ( ami commana of tho land nra worthless without command of the nir, said flii-ir Admiral Kohcrt E. Peary today in an address hero under the auspices off the National Special Aid society. I Admiral ( Peary, who is chairman of the Natioilal Aeriaf Coast Patrol commission, com-mission, UTged tlie upbuilding of a powerful' pow-erful' air I fleet, lie advocatod the establishment es-tablishment of a department of aeronautics aero-nautics vlith a place in the president's cabinet, I he creation of "an aviator class of J thousands and thousands of young n.J.en," a comprehensive aero "coast 'L-ense system, and the estab-V0 estab-V0 of n great industry which jTould be to the air service in this conn- try what the Krupps re to Germany in their field. He suggested a great central aeronautic aero-nautic manufacturing plant located in the interior of the country, "where it can be protected to the last ditch." "The broadest material lesson for the Vnited States in the present. European war is this,'-' Admiral Peary said: "Command of the sea and command' of the land are worthless without command com-mand of the air. Our military forces, both navy and army, will be useless without a" superior and commanding air service "Leaders across the water who are in the thick of things, men on whose shoulders rest the responsibility for the verv existence of their respective nations, na-tions, are saying publicly and officially in thoroughlv considered words: "First That the time is near when the air service of a country will be more vital to its safety than its army and navy combined. "Second That the decision in the present war mav come in the air. "Third That every country will be obliged to have a separate independent air service by the sheer necessity which " knows no law', regards no precedent, fears no government. The very growth aud development of air work will force such separate department. "Little Bulgaria," he continued, "with an area slightly greater than the state of Maino and a population slightly slight-ly less than Massachusetts, is said to have some 300 airplanes. "The personnel of the French air service is said to number more officers and men than our entire navy. Germany Ger-many is said to have over 10,000 airplanes air-planes in commission." Laying stress on the "imperative need " 'Jtrtf a powerful airplane coast rieje svstem to give warning of the ii'roach 'of the foe or to attack a hos-ctile hos-ctile fleet. Admiral Peary said: . "At the present time four foreign TVS'cj-s, prohably six, have the men, the C'.ps. the experience and expert J?e that would enable any one jv issuing an order today to lA'ashington or any other of our astal cities from" the air in a -ight two weeks from now. We neither airplanes nor dirigibles, .iutors, nor anti-aircraft guns, nor ither means of preventing such de-.tion." de-.tion." 'he airplane with its speed and Xnge of vision. Admiral Peary pointed yiut, is "the quickest aud cheapest anti- dote for the submarine." The nation should spend, he said, $50,000,000 a year on its r.ir service. |