New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-10-28
To .he Editor Of The Tribune.

To .he Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: Everybody who cares about ma
tona. defence should know the army
plans for military aviation. Thirteen
million dollars has been provided 20
meet the cost. 1t is none too much and
comes none too soon. The army officers
have difficult task. They have few
presidents and little 20 build on. Their
most difficult problem IS the aviation
reserve.
Everybody knows that our regular
army is too small for any serious mill
tary undertaking. IL may never DO
large enough to DO more than gain
time for second line troops to be drawn
from civil life. How these second line
troops are 70 be provided fl for service
when they are called is a grave prob
lem. The army plan provides:
First-A system OF aviation schools
will be established throughout the
country; (aj Army aviation schools;
(b) civilian schools. maintained by
manufacturers and others, 70 receive
army support II they accept army
standards and supervision. Already
three army schools are in existence.
The one al San Diego, where only army
officers have heretofore been trained,
has been recognized and brought to a
high standard. A permanent training
school has been established at Mineola,
Long Island, where the lst and I'd Aero
companies Of the New York National
Guard were camped throughout ;he
summer. third school has been es-
tablished in Chicago. The army schools
will be used largely for finishing re-
serve military aviators. Use Of civilian
schools will aid both the army and
these schools, most o. which have not
been financially successful.
Second-The aviation reserve may
employ civilians. That is a great help.
Really good flying instructors, aviators
really qualified for military work and
expert aviation mechanics are few in
this country. They earn high wages
and will not enlist in the regular army
at soldiers pay. The power to engage
such men as civilian employees is i'm
portant.
Third-Oficers and enlisted men
from civil life may be trained and or
ganized into United States army
aviation reserve corps. This corps will
be a Federal organization. under direct
and complete Federal control. For rea-
sons given later that seems the best
method Of organizing, training and
equipping an aviation reserve.
Fourth 49, National Guard aviation
units may be mustered into the Federal
service if they can be organized and
maintained according to the require
ments of the United States army. This
seems possible only in special cases.
An aviation unit is unlike other or
CARNATIONS in the National Guard. Its
creation, training and maintenance at
real efficiency are probably impossible
for the National Guards of most states.
There must be maintained large and
thoroughly equipped aviation field. with
hangers. storehouses and shops for
motor and aeroplGne repairs. There
must be many aeroplanes, spare parts,
tools, machinery and permanent force
Of motor and aeroplane mechanics.
The force must be organized so that
the mechanics become expert in their
different branches of work. Added to
the skilled men must be semi-skilled
men for routine care Of the machines
ard ordinary workmen for the mainten-
ance of buildings and field. The Of
ficers in charge must be at the field all
the time. They must have such train
ing and experience as can be found IN
this country only among officers OF the
regular army aviation service. National
Guard officers who can give only por-
ton of their time and attention to
military duties cannot successfully
manage an aviation field. There must
also be direct supervision and control
of the flying by officers trained and ex-
perienced in military flying. Only army
officers with several years flying ex-
perence are properly qualified for this.
In military aviation unit only a small
number of men are taught to fly. These
are usually commissioned officers, with
few non commissioned officers. More
than three-fourths Of the members are