Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1918-04-11
Majority and Minority Reports
Of Senate Committee, Filed
Following a Long and Ex-
haustive Investigation,
SITUATION DISAPPOINTS
DECLARES CHAMBERLAIN
Other Members Assert Major
Statement Fails to Give an.
Accurate Impression of Ex-
listing Situation,
tsv noss,sa JOURNAL SPECIAL LEASED WIRE,

THN MORNING JOURNAL SPECIAL LEASED WiRGl
Washington, April 0.-Difficulties
encountered in developing the ma
TONS great aviation program were
presented to the senate today in wide
ly different aspects through majority
and minority reports on the military
committees protracted investigation
Of the subject.
The majority, through Senator
Chamberlain of Oregon, chairman,
declared the entire aviation situation
sravely disappointing, charged gov
ernment officials responsible for the
program with misleading the public
with overoptimistic statements, and
urgently recommended that control
be taken from the army signal corps
and placed in the hands of single
executive officer, appointed by the
president.
This report is understood to have
been adopted by vote of to in
committee.
Senators Myers of Montana and
Kirby of Arkansas joined Senator
Sheppard of Texas in the minority re-
port which asserted the majority fall
cd to give an accurate impression OF
the facts and that in tho face of un-
paralleIed obstacles ION the whole the
record of the Signal corps is one of
which every American can be justly
proud"
Although the majority says the
production of combat planes has been
n substantial failure, apparently there
is no great difference of opinion be-
tween the majority and the minority
as to the present status of the pro-
gram as a whole, the disagreement
arising over whether there has been
inefficiency and representation and
misleading publicity as to the major
ity charges.
Guarded Secrets Disclosed.
Some information heretofore re-
garded as closely guarded secrets is
disclosed in the reports. Among other
things it is shown that:
Primary training planes to the num-
Der of S,458 and 342 advanced train
ing machines have been completed In
this country;
Production of training planes in
the United States is proceeding on
quantity basis;
Arrangements have been made with
France for the construction there of
5000 battle planes by 1000 American
mechanics sent across the ocean for
the purpose and using 1000 tons
of American materials;
Plan 1880 Battle Planes.
Construction of II 500 battle planes
in the United States is planned;
Twenty training schools in America
have graduated 1926 reserve officer
aviators, though few Of them have
been given advanced training, ana
that
OF 1900 cadets sent last year to
England, France and Italy for train
ing, only 450 have completed primary
training and because of the lack OF
planes the others may have to be re-
called home.
Investigation of aviation problems
by President Wilson'S special COM
mittee, headed by II. Snoden Marshall |
Stlll Ill DTOSTeSS anu d ~
port from that body as to it's findings
in connection with organization of the
aviation service has been called for
by the war department 1t has been
indicated at the department that ac-
ton toward readjusting responsibility |
for the production of aircraft would
be based on that report.
The subject was brought up in the
house today by Representative Cald-
well of New York, chairman of the
military subcommittee on aviation,
who defended the signal corps and
declared the manufacturers of the |
United States have thought more of
their country than they have of Eu-
ropean money 'and today we are
upwards of 1000 air.
planes every month and the produc-
ton is increasing every day. /