Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-08-15
Army AVIATION
WILL PROGRESS
UNDER new Law

Aviation in the army is now assuT.
ed of that progress which has been inn
possible under the conditions hitherto
prevailing in the military establish
ment. There has been occasion for
much regret that this government has
been in some respects so far behind
the European governments in the de-
yelopment of mechanical flight as APP
piled to the operation and employment
of the fighting forces. This is not due
TO lack of enterprise, absence OF in
genuity, or want of intrepidity in this
country. II is attributable, rather, to
lack of funds. Until lately there has
been no definite and adequate organi-
zation in the military -nay0l establish
ment upon which to erect an efficient
system of aviation. Under the circum-
stances which have existed II is sur
prising, and creditable TO those most
directly concerned, that SO much has
been accomplished with so little ma
terial aid in the way of legislation,
especially applying to the problem
and Its practical operation. Records
of flight in various aspects Of alti-
tude, endurance, and so on, have been
repeatedly made Something OF real
value, outside of establishing a new
record, has been achieved by the mill
tary-naval aviators and the expert
mental work has been productive Of
permanently useful results. 1t has
been realized, however, that much
must be done in all directions IL this
government is to keep pace with the
development of flight abroad, If ayia-
ton is to contribute its best and most
effective function TO the problem OF at
tack. The desirable results can only
be obtained by an appreciation on the
part of Congress of the importance OF
the subject and by reasonable allot-
ment OF funds for the encouragement
and maintenance of aviation to the
end that the military-naval establish
meIft may derive the maximum bene-
fit from the new element.
The Hay bin providing for an avia-
ton branch of the signal corps with
an adequate number Of officers and
proper strength OF enlisted force and
other means of developing mechanical
flight as an agency of the army is one
of the most important additions to SER
vice legislation in years. This should
be gratifying to those who have APP
preciated the difficulties of getting
Congress, as it is now constituted. to
do very much, IL anything, for the
army and navy requiring an increase
in the expense Of supporting the SER
vice. There has been no inclination
in either House or Senate to be liberal
in any particular direction. The pol
icy of the leaders at the Capitol has
been one of rigid economy, even when
its application has seemed to threaten
the efficiency Of the military-naval
force, and imperil it's readiness to re-
spond to a call for extraordinary du-
ties. There have been discouraging
signs of congressional prejudice
against the service which has taken
sagacious and tactful management on
the part of Mr.. Hay, as chairman Of
the House military committee. to ac-
eomplish such piece of legislation
as that embodied in the so-called avia-
tion bill now enacted into law and en-
trusted to the discretion and resource
fulness of such officers as General g.
p. Scriven, chief signal officer of the
army, and Col Samuel Reber, who
will be the chief aviation officer. The
latter is eminently fitted by practical
experience and by proper apprecia-
tion of the conditions and possible
ties at home and abroad to undertake
this new work and It may be conf
IDENTIFY expected that, despite the diff.
ficulties which must beset the inaugur-
alton of new system, he will shortly
have the aviation branch of the army
in state of development full of pro
mise for results of value to the SER
vice.
For the first time since the art of
flight was made possible by Professor
Langley's demonstration and discov-
cries, this government is in possession
of law that makes it possible to do
something in the development Of me-
chanism and in the training and en-
ployment OF a personnel commensur-
ate with the military importance of
aviation.-Army and Navy Journal.