The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-04-04
SHAKEUP ORDERED
IN ARMY AIR CORPS
Baker Names Board Of Experts
to Revamp Service and
Alter Personnel.
COL. SQUIER TO COMMAND

WASHINGTON. April "a general
shakeup is about to take place in the
army aviation service. Lieut. Col. George
Q. Squier. Military Attachc in London.
has been summoned to the United
States. and 1t In understood hat he
will be placed In charge Of the aviation
corps. succeeding Col. Samuel W. Reber.
Col. Reber's name figured prominently
In correspondence brought out In con-
n%ection with the court-martiai at the
San Diego army aviation school Of
Lieut.-Col. Leads T.. t;oodier. This cor
respondence. which disclosed evidences
Of inefiiciency. has brought the entire
corps under investigation. Col. Reber
Is in a hospital here suffering from in
juries sustained In "A fail at his home.
IL developed to-day that Secretary Of
War Baker had appointed ~ special
board OF army experts 20 %reorganize
completely the service, and devise plans
for upbuilding the corps on the basis
OF what has been learned regarding the
effectiveness Of aeroplanes In Europe.
During his stay In London Col. Squier
has given particular attention TO the
work OF aeroplanes In the war. and IL
considered by army officers as AN ideal
man to head the army aviation corps.
lie Is tho inventor of the multiple
telegraph.
me special board appointed by Sec
rotary Baker consists of Capt. William
Mitchell OF the General STAFF. chairman
Capt. V. T.. Clark OF the Signal Corps
aviation school at san Diego. Lieut..
Milling of the Signal Corps and Lieut..
Is. q. Jones OF the Signal Corps. Lieut..
Milling and Lieut.. Jones are two of
me pest known aviators In the army.
both beihg expert f,icrs and mechanics.
The hoard has hoo, u.,~,...l .,.,
tary Baker sale to-day. to study the
whole question ~ improving and reor-
gahizing tn" service. II already has
recommended legislation repeating "A law
which requires the aviation CORDS 20 be
made UP of SIXTY regular army .officers
under the age of 80 years. "A provision
which II has been found impossible "a
carry out. and the substitution Of "A law
providing Tor In" enlistment as aviation
Officers OF skilled civilian ~aviators.
Secretary Baker admitted that Col
Squier will be assigned To- the aviation
service after his return. but refused t.
say whether he would succeed Col. Ieber
Although he said that the special board
VIII not be "A permanent body he cN.
pressed the opinion tina; a permancn,
body of tho kind should he created ,c
keep up with the latest inventions In
aeroplanes.
Thus TAR the department has beer
able TO learn practically nothing con
corning the types of a~eroplanes In ser
vice abroad. so jealousy are the secret:
OF the foreign aircraft kept that ~
the Allies guard these details from eaci
other.
While a large number Of acroplanc.
have been mad IN this country fol
European nations engaged in the YEA
the Department is convinced that afteI
these craft are delivered changes arr
made which increase their efficiency. |
is believed. however. n a Col. Spuiel
will he in position to shed soine add
tional light on the subject. No effor
is made at the War Department TO con
ccai the fact that the foreign machines
are far better than those in the .A'neri
can army. the advantage being mostly II
reference 10 the type of engines used.
Lieut. Col. ';oodier. who Was JudG'
Advocate At San Francisco. was tried al
u charge OF seeking 10 influence officer
against using tbs" acroplaneS ~ the Sal
Diego school. The defence made publ
correspondence bet " Col. Rebsr AM
Can't. Cowan. In charge " the school
tending 10 show tina most OF the ma
chimes were unfit for service.