The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-07-17
A NAVY FOR THE AIR
THE TOPEKA STATE JOURNAL
INFORMATION BUREAU
By Frederic j. Haskin, Director,
Washington, ID. C..
U-Tbe Men in Charge.

nection with the new aircraft pro-
gram. over the question of who shall
be in charge of the building and oper-
alton of our aerial navy. On the one
hand there are those who want to see
an aviation department established
similar to the war and navy depart
ments of equal rank with these, its
head to sit in the cabinet as tenth
member. On the other side is the
party opposed to the creation of such
a department, and in favor of keep
ing the aviation service under the war
and navy departments
Among the most prominent adVo-
Gates of a separate aviation depart
ment is Rear Admiral Peary, VINO was
one of the first to awaken the coun-
try to the Importance of an adequate
air service. Various members OF
both houses of congress also favor the
proposed department of aviation, as
do numerous civilian authorities
bill to create the department was IN
trOduced in congress early IN April,
and now that the building program
has been enormously increased, with
a corresponding increase in organiza-
ton and detail work, supporters or
the aviation department idea claim
that the amount of extra work would
overtax the organizations of the war
and navy departments
On the other hand, numerous men
in high positions, both official and
CIVILIAN, are OPpOSco u lAC VI CatAOAA
of a separate department of aviation.
Secretary Baker and Secretary Daniels
appeared before a house committee
considering the question, and while
supporting the new building program
Internationally, gave 1t as their opip-
ion that the creation of the new de-
partment at this time would be in
opportune and not in the interests OF
efficiency. 1t is understood that they
compared the project to the establish
g. IIA,,1a riFaa dnr or~fr7 1nT1f
tinct from the navy department, or an
artillery department distinct from the
war department. The aeroplane is
weapon either for sea war or for land
war, according to this view, and can
best be co-ordinated with the work
of other land or sea weapons by be-
ing kept under the same supreme
command.
So at this writing it is still uncer-
tain whether we will have an aviation
department to look after our aerial
navy or not, but 1t does not seem
proba BILE. The views of the secretaries
before the military committees were
given in secret, but it is understood
that a complete plan has been worked
out to coordinate the existing aviation
sections of the war and navy depart
mentS with other official agencies al
ready existing and still others yet to
be created, into one whole which Will
be capable of administering the avia-
ton service no matter how large it
may grow.
The existing agencies for develop
ing the aviation service are numerous
and various. They show how the
problem of aviation has been attacked
in the past from numerous different
angles, and also the need for welding
all these different parts into a single
whole. 1t should be remarked that
these different agencies are working
together very smoothly, united by
their common enthusiasm for the
same cause.
To look after the aviation service
we have the war department, as rep
rsented by the signal corps; the navy
department, represented on three joint
boards; the aircraft production board,
a subcommittee of the Advisory Com
mission to the Council of National De-
Tense; and the National Advisory
committee for aeronautics, which was
created by act of congress, in March,
1915.
Besides these, the department of
commerce is represented by the bu-
reau of standards, which is oversee
ing a constantly increasing amount of
the most important tests and research
work. The Aero Club of America is
entitled to be listed alongside the Off
cial agencies, for it has supplied the
government with machines and men
in time of need, it has consistently
backed the movement for expansion
of the aviation service, and several of
! its prominent members are represent
ed on official committees and sub
committees. Its membership includes
every licensed amateur and profess
sional pilot in the United States to-
day.
The latest addition to this forrnid-
able array of agencies to administer
and develop the aeroplane is a COM
/ mission nTOnnSPd a in
/ troduced in congress a few days ago
The new commission will be known as
the commission on aerial navigation
1t Will be made up of three senators,
| three representatives, a general of
| the army, a rear admiral of the navy
and civilian mechanical engineer.
Its function will be to investigate the
problems of establishing a system of
aerial navigation for military, naval
and commercial purposes, along with
related details.
Most of the machinery for aviation
organization that exists today is found
IN the war department. Under the
chief signal officer, Brig Gen. Squier.
there are some thirty-four subordinate
divisions and offices, each dealing with
a particular problem of construction
or organization. The war and navy
departments maintain three joint
boards to coordinate their aviation
activities, and to study the leading di-
visions of the air service problem.
The aircraft production board bids
| falr to become the largest and most
important Subcommittee of the adj
visory commission to the council of
| national defense. The advisory COM
mission. by the way, is giving some
concern to certain of our legislators.
Appointed originally to advise the
government, it is today one of the
most powerful organizations in the
world. Thru its subcommittee. it
exerts a tremendous influence over all
our leading industries, partly because
of its buying power, and partly be-
cause the subcommittee include
some of the most powerful men in
each particular industry The SUBJ
committee on transportation alone,
thru its control of the distribution OF
cars, has a means of making the voice
of the commission listened to with re-
spect in any industrial quarter. Some