AMERICAN AIRMEN.

Bruce Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 73, 17 September 1917, Page 5

AMERICAN AIRMEN.

GREAT THINGS EXPECTED. MORE IMPORTANT THAN INPANTRY. Monsieur Pierre Etienne Flandin, head of the Inter-Allied Aeronautic Service in France, expects great things from the co-operation of the United States in military aviation (says the special correspondent of the New York 'Evening Post'). 'lt is from the air/ he said, 'that the great republic can strike the blow that will be the most quickly felt by the enemy. Five thousand American aviators, bringing with them their own. equipment in machines, would weigh more heavily in the balance of the war just now than 5000 infantrymen or 5000 artillerymen with their equipment in arms and munitions.' Monsieur Plandin is a man with whom Americans will treat regarding the co-operation of the Flying Corps of the two armies. He was an aviator himself before the war, holding a license fro nitho Aero Club, dated 1912, and served with the Flying Corps at tho front in Belgium during the first months of the war. Since then he has worked incessantly for the development of the air service, and when Monsieur Daniel Vincent, an aviator himself, was made Under-Secretary of War for Aviation, he sought the aid of M. Flandin ; s energy and experience to help organise and administer this branch of the service. Both of them know aviation in its minutest details from experience in actual service. 'America is considered in France as a country of miracles in the domain of industry,' he said, as to the co-operation of the United States in military aviation. 'Public opinion imagines that this new country is able to make factories spring from the ground in a few days. It imagines that you will be able to furnish in\ a very short time a considerable aerial fleet that will carry terror into the enemy's country, and will give us absolutely the mastery of the air. If that opinion is/presumptuous, I think myself that wo may expect great events fromi the United States. in aviation. More Machines Needed. 'lt is by bringing to bear its effort in air warfare, in the first place, that the great republic can give an almost immediate co-operation, bringing *„o France a material aid that would make itself felt quickly upon the enemy,' Monsieur Plandin added. 'lf you send us 500 aviators, with an adequate proportionate equipment, you would "bring us, outside of the morali support, an aid that would weigh far more heavily in the balance. It must not be forgotten that France has made a formidable effort. From the industrial point of view, it would he difficult for her to increase that effort, because of the lack of raw materials and the scarcity of labour. The United States should then bear in mind that it is not sufficient to send aviators to France, but it must give France every means to increase its production. At the same time, it should adapt certain of its factories by necessary modifications or extensions to the construction of aeronautic apparatus and material. 'On our side, we will furnish designs and plans of the latest typo of aeroplanes and motors which would permit you to adopt the best models and avoid a loss of precious time in research and experiments. Good Impression Made "by American Aviators. 'As to what has already "been accomplished in the direction of co-op-eration in, aviation-between the United States and France,' Monsieur Flandin said, 'our negotiations with the Government of the United States will soon show in results; but I cannot at the moment say anything further on this subject. I wish to express, however, the excellent impression made by the 200 American pilot's who have already enlisted in the French army. They are all courageous men, filled with a desire to do great things. They will ' certainly make an excellent nucleus around which may be grouped the new American flying recruits. The exploits -of the Lef ayette Corps are almost without number. The decorations that -nearly all of them wear give the measure of the courage that they have al'•ways shown.' r