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Show Appropriation Made from the Aeroplane Fund To onablo California, Arizona and Texas, tho, Btates bordering on tho Mexican line, to start Immediately to train officers of tho Militia ln flying nnd military aeronautics, and to or-ganlzo or-ganlzo aviation corps for thoso states tho Executive Committee of tho National Na-tional Aeroplane Fund has decided to contribute $2,000, Flvo aeroplanes havo been offered for training olllcers of tho Militia of California, Arizona and Texas by Mr. Earl Ilemlngton, a western sportsman. sports-man. Tho $2,000 of tho National Aeroplane Fund will bo apportioned at the rato of ?400 to each of tho machines offered. This sum will en-nblo en-nblo tho Mllltla authorities of tho three states to havo ono ofilcer of tho Mllltla trained to pilot an aeroplane aero-plane so that ho can thereafter train other officers of tho Mllltla and volunteers vol-unteers who want to Join thoMMtla tvlatlon corps. Aviators aro needed at tho present time at tho Mexican border. They aro perhaps needed moro than any other arm of tho Service, as they can do moro to preserve order nnd prevent pre-vent tho loss of American lives than j nny other nrm of tho Sorvlco. Italy ond Franco found aeroplanes to bo Invaluable ln tholr campaigns ln Trl-polltanla Trl-polltanla and Morocco. Without aeroplanes they had, In fact, been un-ablo un-ablo to copo with tho harassing reprisals rep-risals from hostile nntlvo tribes. Tholr air servico drove tho natives so far Into tho Interior that all stir-prises stir-prises and sniping were mado Impossible Impos-sible Wo need aeroplanes at tho Mexican border, and unless our war department gains from tho experiences experienc-es of Franco and Italy, American lives, tho lives of valuable soldiers, of whom wo nlready havo too fow, will bo lost. Tho $5,000 donnted by an Interested Interest-ed person whoso namo Is withheld from publication on request, for tho purposo of training officers of tho Mllltla of New York, and Massachu-Letts, Massachu-Letts, $1,250. This sum will In euch tlonal Guard of Now York, $1,250; National Guard of Massachusetts, $1,-250; $1,-250; Naval Mllltla of Now York, $1.-250 $1.-250 and Naval Mllltla of Massachusetts, Massachu-setts, $1,250. This su mwill, In each case, pay for tho training of threo officers of tho Mllltla, affording thorn a thorough course ln piloting an aero-Tlnno aero-Tlnno and enabling them to tako tho Aoro Club of America's pilot license. Tho matter of selccUng tho uvia- tlon school nt which tney aro to " trained Is left entirely to tho Mllltla Mlll-tla authorities, who arc urged to tako tho advlco of tho Wnr and tho Ilnvy Department In this matter In order to Insure uniformity of training train-ing and organization. This will mnko almost $20,000 that bos been given to tho National Guard nnd Naval Mllltla of Now York btuto through the National Aeroplane Fund, which wns instituted by the Aero Club of America a fow months ago, and by next Spring both organizations organ-izations Will linve tho nucleus of un aviation corps. In view of tho fact that Now York and Massachusetts will havo 14 of-tlcors of-tlcors of tho Natlonnl Guard nnd Nnval Nn-val Mllltla to train, tho Aero Club of A-.. 1. ...Ill ..rao. tn (tin Wn. ntiil America will suggest to tho War and Navy Departments that arrangements U, bo mado to train theso olllcers In tho Army nnd Navy Aviation Schools thereby Insuring a thorough course In military aeronautics and uniformity uniform-ity of training. If tho Army and Navy Departments should ncccdo to this suggestion it Is not likely that tho Federal Government Gov-ernment would nccopt paymont for (mining tho olllcers, so tho money Intended for this purposo could bo ueed for tho lncldentnl expenses of tho organization nnd for tho upkeep of tho aviation corps. |
