The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-08-24
War Department Plan
ming. for New Branch
of Army.
SCHEME APPROVED
BY GOVERN M EMIT
Permanent Military Organization
Is Formed by 200 Civilian
Aviators, Which. in Case of
Trouble, Will Be Under
Direct Control of Min
lister of War.
ny GEORGES DurREsNE.

Paris. August 23.-Not satisfied with
Increasing the size OF our army on a
peace footing of $4,000 men. the War
Department is now planning to pro-
vide France with the first aerial militia
in the world The kernel of this al
ready exists in the form of zoo civilian
aviatoIs who have been formed into
:. permanent military organization.
which IN case of war, will be under
the direct control OF the Minister OF
War.
The scheme Of aerial militia was
originally invented by NJ. Alfred le
Blanc. and has now been definitely
approved BY the government. 1t
sis,s in a project to organize all the
suitable civilian pilots into a body
liable to service at any time when
called upon by the military authorities.
They Will have stated periods of eXcr
else during the course OF the year and
II is proposed at the time to
allow sum Of 500 year pay TO
each aerial militiaman. This will in
dumnfy him for his service, and leave
m i'm free at the same time to earn
6tceptre. either as an aviator or in fol-
they adng some trade or profession.
lesion present the proposal contemplates
nov onr classes OF aviators. First pilots
hoard rrown machines second, pilots who
derfulIv the service of builders; third
rrea, ali who have no machines The
had snIe ana second categores the
for ~ NO umerous. and it is believed that
rnsor,. eScst contingent will be recruit
the third category.
u Hcm the indemnity OF s72o a
,as 20 III be an important consider
Eeenlv aiiveii Hitherto all officers or soldiers
49, >;imot,lied to be attached TO the
ourb, IA =, corps had TO pass their mill
agriculturaiTvet as pilots, and were then
this is his to some centre
overlook @ nembers of the proposed mi
oil her usetll have TO go through the same
sat the government will advance
hold ecessary surn-about 5000 to the
but it lders TO allow the asp!rants To
that.Iss the tests. y special committee
OF officers viii examine the applicants
beforehand. as 10 their record and
ability. The accepted candidate will
have 10 sign an enlistment in the mi =
li,in 10 which he will be bound. and in
case ne leaves before his time is ex-
pired he Will have TO pay an indemnity.
1T is calculated that about 500 avia-
tors are al present available. and will
almost certainly enlist in the proposed
militia FIFTY pilots are already known
TO have passed their military brcvets.
and this would leave about $50 more
10 pass the tests The entire scheme
would cost only about $500, 100 a year.
All Records Broken.
slowly the season is approaching
when Paris shall once more be in
hahitated by Par!sians, and when we
may once more begin TO expect things
10 happen after the long summer dull
ness The influx OF foreign tourists
TINS year has broken all records. and
at various times the number OF Ameri-
cans here has been enormous. prob
ably because ihe weather In Switzar-
land and NcE,hsrn Italy has been ex-
ecedingly pad, and the amount OF
money which visitors from the
o;he. SIDE or the Atlantic have left
here runs into millions OF dollars
Small wonder, therefore, that we are
told officially by NJ. Thierry. the Min
ister OF Public Works. that France is
goins 10 make strong efforts TO lead
an even greater part OF the world 3
tourist traffic into the country and as
lar as possible prevent 1t from cross
ing our borders. visiting France only
In transit for Switzerland
Win this object in view new Of
ncial tourist department has been
opened by the minister. the chief aims