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[[article cut out, top left]] Calls Aero Corps Worthless. "Flying" Says "Winged Mob" Would Be Useless in case of war. Flying, the official organ of the Aero Club of America, says editorially in its May number that little need be expected of our army and navy aeroplane fleets if occasion arises for their use in large and critical operations in Mexico. "America, it would seem, is about to pay once more the price of military unpreparedness," the editorial says. "The hurried construction of a fleet composed of unit and hastily whacked up craft, comprising a medley of types; the rushing into the air of untrained men, military and civilian, and the huge mishandling of the resulting forces must inevitably follow. The straitjackets of niggardliness and neglect have been strapped upon our struggling and enthusiastic aerial corps. "if it develops that they have no wings, or are unable to use them masterfully when they are hastily supplied, the fault will be not theirs. It is Congress itself that must bear the blame if instead of a trained aerial force we are compelled to send into the field a winged mob, knowing nothing of military science, defiant of military authority, out for the fun of it rather than for the work to be done, and subject to enormous loss." [[article on top right]] [[title]] Volunteer Flying Corps Indignant Over Rebuff [[Sub-title]] In Editorial in Flying Airmen Are Referred To as "Winged Mob Knowing Nothing of Military Science" - Mr. Jerwan Resent the Criticism [[/subtitle]] Aviators who offered their services as members of a volunteer aerial army corps are indignant to-day over the reference made to them as a "winged mob knowing nothing of military service.". This reference was made in an editorial in Flying, the official organ of the Aero Club of America. This editorial declares that army and navy officials support this view The attention of the club was called to this statement by Mr. Shakir S. Jerwan, who aided informing the Aviation Volunteer regiment. In an explanation Tuesday Henry Woodhouse, managing editor of Flying, declared that he had learned the views of the military and naval authorities at Washington before publishing the editorial. "The paragraph to which Mr. Jerwan objects," he said, "expresses accurately a phase of the present conditions which is supported by the United States army and navy authorities. If Mr. Jerwan had read the editorial in question he would not have written the letter. The part to which Mr. Jerwan objects is as follows:- " 'The hurried construction of a fleet composed of unfit and hastily whacked up craft, comprising a medley of types; the rushing into the air of untrained men, military and civilian, and the huge mishandling of the resulting forces which must inevitably follow. All of this should already have been guarded against; both branches of the service should have been liberally supported in their efforts to upbuild skeleton aerial forces of generous proportions. Instead, the straitjackets of niggardliness and neglect have been strapped upon our struggling and enthusiastic aerial corps. If it develops that they have no wings or are unable to use them masterfully when they are hastily supplied the fault will not be theirs. It is Congress itself that must bear the blame if instead of a trained aerial force we are compelled to send into the field a winged mob, knowing nothing of military science, defiant of military authority, out of the fun of it rather than for the work to be done and subject to enormous loss." Mr. Jerwan in a letter of protest to Mr. Woodhouse wrote:- "Your remarks would have passed unnoticed were it not that your paper is supposed t be the official organ of the Aero Club of America, and should above all others voice the patriotic sentiments and wise and constructive criticism of its membership. "Were you acquainted with the military conditions in this counttry, you would understand that it has always been and will always be largely dependent upon its volunteer army at time of war. Therefore our army and navy are adequately equipped with air craft, when one takes into consideration the patriotically enthusiastic members of our aerial corms, who possess the supreme qualities of exceptional courage, skill, and common sense which are the fundamental requisites in military science, and who are ready for the call to war, and can be depended upon to valiantly and faithfully acquit themselves on the firing line to the credit of themselves, the honor of their corps and the glory of their country." [[/article on top right]] [[Typed letter, bottom]] Mr Henry Woodhouse, Managing Editor, "Flying [[cut-off, article overlapping]] 297 Madison Ave., New York City. Dear Sir:- My attention was recently called to a clipping from a leading metropolitan daily, quoting a passage from your editorial in the May issue of "Flying" in which you lament Jeremiah-like the utter unpreparedness of the United States in its aeronautical branch to cope with critical conditions in the present war with Mexico. Your remarks would have passed unnoticed along with a lot of balderdash daily dished up to the public by false prophets, were it not that your paper is supposed to be the official organ of the Aero Club of America and should above all others voice the patriotic sentiments and wise and constructive criticism of the membership. For your aerial edification and to better give the patriotic public a chance to learn the truth about the aeronautical branch of our Army and Navy, permit me to say that your wild and illogical statements of "We are compelled to send into the field a winged mob knowing nothing of military science, defiant of military authority, out for the fun of it rather than for the work to be done, and subject to enormous loss", savor more of the utterances of an editor whose brain racked with the fever of airy nightmares "gets up in the air" once in awhile and spouts off in his mid-air delirium things of which he has no more knowledge than a hog has of time. Were you acquainted with the military conditions in this country, you would understand that it has always been and will always be largely dependent upon its volunteer army at the time of war. Therefore, our Army and Navy are adequately equipped with the air craft, when one takes into consideration the patriotically enthusiastic members of our Aerial Corps, who possess the supreme qualities of exceptional courage, skill and common sense which are the fundamental requisites in military science and who are ready for the call to war, and can be depended upon to valiantly and faithfully acquit themselves on the firing line to the credit of themselves, the honor of their corps and the glory of their country. SSJ/L Yours very truly, [[signature]] S. S. Jerwan
