Viewing page 248 of 270

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

24. Q. How fast could an Air Force based on Washington be moved to protect the New England Coast?

A. Pursuit at the rate of 140 miles an hour, within one hour after the order was received.  Bombardment as the rate of 90 miles an hour 2 hours after the order was received.

24 1/2. Q. How long after the order was received, would it take this entire air force to proceed from Washington, concentrate at Boston Airport and be ready to take the air again?

A. Seven hours.

25. Q. Would this move be measurably affected by weather conditions?

A. No.

26. Q. How effective would this Force be in keeping an enemy away from striking distance of the coast?

A. It would keep a large expedition 100 miles away from the coast.

27. Q. How fast could a large land force based on Washington be moved to protect the New England coast?

A. This would depend entirely upon the amount of transportation instantly available.  Roughly speaking, under ideal weather conditions, at about 20 miles a day, 12 hours after the order was received. 

28. Q. How effective would this force, in addition to the coast defense forces, at present in this region, be in keeping an enemy away from striking distance of the coast?

A. At specially protected points it could make an actual bombardment dangerous, but no impossible.  At points unprotected by large caliber coast artillery, it would be powerless to defend the coast from bombardment.  Its only method of repelling an actual landing would be to maintain adequate forces at every possible landing point capable of repelling the concentrated force of the enemy.  This would obviously require a great dissipation of forces.

29. Q. What would be the numbers of men involved in a move like this of an air force adequate to defend this coast from attack by a first class power?

A. Including mechanics, not over 15,000 men.

Q. Of a land force?

A. It is impossible to say. 

-5-