Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-10-13

i In the case OF two young
aviation officers whom Lieut..
Col. Hiram Bingham. in charge
of aviation personnel with the United
States expeditionary force. had de-
prived of their commissions and
sent back from France. These two
men were in that grooup of young
Americans who at the outset of
hostilities rushed into the military
service of the country After grad
uating from the ground school at
Of the first lots Of fiiers for training
in the United States aviation training
fields in France.
They went over as privates in Mo-
vember, 1917, and remained in that
rank until the following spring, when
they were commissioned as lieuten-
ants. When they went abroad they
were under the belief that as soon
as they had completed their training
as fiiers they were to have active
service: but. instead, due to the fact
that French makers were unable TO
manufacture the airplanes which they
aircraft production in the United
States had failed to realize the bril-
liant promises made for 1T by Of
ticials of high authority. they were
unable to receive the required train
quently. this large body. of young
men. who at the outset of hostilities
had gone into the war with all the
ardor of American young manhood,
found themselves marking time and
doing camp police duty
CTrs to June their flying time had
bee negligible-not more than eight
Ger hours for either of them. Then
they applied for transfer to other
branches of military service where
they could have actual fighting.
on this request, Col. Bingham later
informed them that they could nave
their choice of entering the ranks
as privates with the A. q. T., or being
returned to the United States with
loss of rank and liability to draft:
these alternatives they received or
ders with a recital that they, having
been honorably discharged from the
service were directed to return to the
United States.
Thus they found themselves, after
eight months of experience. without
training in air service, returned to
this country as civilians. The course
that deprived them Of their commits
sions had been taken without notice
to them and without opportunity Tor
them to be heard, and as far as they
know now, no board ever was con-
yened to pass upon their case. Upon
their return to this country. they
succeeded in placing matters before
Gen. March, who gave 1t his personal
attention. He instituted a review of
the proceedings and as result OF
the investigation has recommended
and that is most tantamount to an
order-that these officers have their
commissions restored to them and
that they be placed on duty In the
aviation service.
THE approaching cold season Is
bringing a test to the quarter
master generals office. Will 1t be able
in the next thirty days or so to change
the armies in the United States from a
clothing Of cotton to one Of wool?
In Europe the troops wear uniforms
Of wool all the year round and now
only require few million sets OF
wooden underclothing for winter wear
all of which are over there and ready
for distribution. In this country the
task is not quite so simple, for the
change must be made in uniforms. and
the problem Of transportation Is COM
pick. There are plenty Of wooler
uniforms. overcoats, underclothin1
and blankets In camps and depots
but their distribution raises another