AIDED PERSHING.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 281, 26 November 1937, Page 9

AIDED PERSHING.

SPECIAL ADVISER.

METEOROLOGICAL EXPERT. PROGRESS IN AMERICA. An important part in the Great War was played by Major K. H. Bowie, Meteorologist-in-Charge, United States Weather Bureau, San Francisco, who arrived in Auckland this morning by the Matson liner Monterey. From December, 191", until after the Armistice, Major Bowie was special adviser in meteorological matters to General Pershing, Chief-in-Command of American forces in France. •

Major Bowie's main considerations were for weather conditions which had a great bearing on gafc attacks, aiul lie was also required to forecast what the weather watt likely to be wlien an offensive, either by land or by air, was contemplated. The speed and direction of wind at considerable altitudes was gauged by small balloons.

"All the armies of any importance to-day have their meteorological |>ersonnel in times of peace as well as war," he said. "They are of great importance. If a general wants to make an attack he wants to know what weather he is likelv to encounter.''

The purpose of Major Bowie's visit is to attend a conference at Wellington convened by Dr. K. Kidson, Director of Meteorological Services in New Zealand and chairman of the Subcommittee

of the International Meteorological Organisation of the South-western Pacific. At the conference, which will be attended by all interested in meteorology in this sector of the world, an effort will be made to standardise the routine services, codes and radio communications so that the fullest co-operation may follow. Major Bowie is representing the United States Weather Bureau, Importance to Aviation.

In the United States, he said, meteorological services had grown with a speed proportionate to that noted in aviation. In fact, it was vital for any air service being pioneered to be preceded by meteorological experts. "Otherwise it is just like trying to run a railroad train before the tracks are down," he said.

Major Bowie added tliat the mo«t recent progress made in liifl own work was the use of radio nieteorgraphs attached to small gas-filled balloons which made altitude at a known rate. The radio transmitter sent out signals in tCrnm of barometric pressure, temperature and humidity, affording highly valuable data.

While he did not £cel inclined to discuss the projected trans-Pacific air services, Major Bowie explained that the greatest airport 011 the Pacific Coast was beinjj built on San Francisco Bay, and it was intended to be a base for both land and sea craft. The issue of bonds to raise 2,000,000 dollars for improvement purposes was recently authorised. In addition, the site of the San Francisco exposition of 1939 was later intended to be converted into an air base, this, however, being a terminal more particularly for passenger and mail services. It would be only 10 minutes from the post office at San Francisco. With these two new airports, San Francisco s facilities would compare very favourably with those at New York and other Eastern centres, but thev would all be needed.

After the conference, Major Bowie will proceed to Sydney and Melbourne.