Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1918-11-19
OFFERS WIDE, POSSIBILITY
War Secretary Regards Serv-
ice as Possible of Many
Developments.
is GOVERNMENT MONOPOLY
Manufacture of Planes Is
Controlled; Orders May
Be Cancelled.

WASHINGTON, Nov ls.--Demo-
bllization Of the army air service pre-.
sents a separate problem on which
war department officials are now at
work. How j Is to be accomplished
so that tho aircraft manufacturing
industry, now n government monop-
oily, can be preserved has not been
disclosed, but 1t is possible to state
eratIons that will govern demobiliza-
tion plans.
Secretary Baker is known to re-
gard the air service as the field OF
military enterprise in which tho
greatest developments are to be ex-
pected. For that reason. the army
programs To bc laid before congress
probably will show recomm endatiOns
for continuing the aviation branches
on IA scale disproportionate to the
other arms Of the service, Every ef-
fort is expected to he made to i'm
prove existing types of planes and
engines or develop new ones
To Retain OfficcrA.
II is also certain that tho planS
now being formulated will make
provision for retaining in the pres
ent military establishment officers
and men who have displayed marked
ability in the operation. production
and equipment OF airplanes, balloons
and other aircraft.
The monopoly OF the government
extends to every branch Of aircraft
production. To make a start on the
extraordinary program laid out II
was necessary to build from the
ground up; to Great virtually every
facility required, even to the grow
ing OF castor beans TO furnish the
lubriCatinE oil required, The only
exceptions are the automobile fac
tories which were turned from build
Ing engines for motor cars 10 the
production OF Liberty motors. and
other aircraft engines.
For these plants, the transition
back to peace time industry Is nat
ural and many are at work. There
exists, however, no market except
the government for aircraft that
can possibly engage in any part Of
the other plants now devoted wholly
to that production and the future OF
these plants is not AS yet clear.
Outstanding contracts for military
planes Of various types are under.
stood to total between 5000 and
5000. It is regarded as likely that
virtually all OF these will be can
| celled. Many of the orders have al
ready been slowed down " not def
initcly withdrawn.
Supply IL Ample.
II was said today that there is no
need to equip heavily with any OF the
types now in production for military
use AZ improved machines OF create r
speed, endurance and maneuvering
power were developed even while
every energy was being strained TO
reach quantity production here OF the
| DeIlavilands and IIandley-Paige de-
signs II is to new types that chief
attention will be given by the gov
crnment as the existing supply OF
presonT types .pNobably Is more than
ample as a reserve.
In addition 10 the manufacturing
monopoly, which includes the as
sembling OF scientific data Of tho
utmost value on the whole question
| of air flight. the government has
| complete monopoly over the training
| facilities for fIicrs /, owns some 81
| flying fields in the United states. all
fully equipped and has built up pre-
| liminary courses in colleges and uni
versities in all parts OF the country
! The home aviation schools are now
| fitted to turn out 1000 men a month
rated as reserve military aViators
while there now are in this country,
more than 1900 men who either
have passed through that school sys-
TEN, or are nearing completion OF
their training. There ARE also tens
Of thousands OF airplane mechanics
and 1000 aviatOrs In France AT least
one half Of whom are fully qualified
military pilots.
Possibilities Offered
In the opinion Of many officials.
! the future Of air navigation in thc
/ United states rests largely with these
mon trained to flv by tn" govern
mont Having had a taStc OF air
/ work /, is believed that the majority
/ Of these men always will yearn to
/ continue flying and through them
/ great stimulus will be given 20 the
| development Of the aircraft Industry
| hv priva'r enterprises. For the time
/ being however, the army and navy
/ services. supplemented by the aerial
nostal service, Will he the only outlet
, for the product OF such an Industry
and to insure these government
( needs. II Is thought It will be neces-
sarS for the army 10 follow the navy
practice and take over some one OF
| me grra, plants where machines for
both the army and the posta. service
. AN hr turned out until norma,
. manufacturing industry has been de
velOp""