New-York tribune., 1918-11-19
Air Service Cadets
May Get Discharge
At Once, if Desired
Given Option of Quitting
Service or Completing
Training Courses

WASHINGTON, Nov. 1S.-All cadet
aviators now in training in the United
States will be given the option of i'm
mediate discharge without commissions
or of completing their training. In
structions to this effect we're sent to-
day to all aviation fields and camps by
Major General Henley, chief of the d.
vision of military aeronautics.
Demobilization Of the army air SER
vice presents a separate problem. on
which War Department officials now
are at work.
Secretary Baker is known to regard
the air service as the field of military
enterprise in which the greatest devel-
opments are to be expected. For that
reason the army programme to be laid
before Congress probably will show
recommendations for continuing the
aviation branches on scale dispropor-
tionate to the other arms of the SER
vice.
To Retain Aircraft Experts
1t is certain that plans now being
formulated will make provision for re-
tanning in permanent military estab-
lishments officers and men who have
displayed marked ability in the opera
tion, production and equipment Of air
planes, balloons and other aircraft
The monopoly of the government ex-
tends to every branch Of aircraft pro-
traordinary programme laid out it was
necessary to build from the ground up
to create virtually every facility re-
quired, even to the growing of castor
beans to furnish the lubricating oil
required.
The only exceptions are the auto
mobile factories, which we're turned
from building engines for motor cars
to the production of Liberty motors and
other aircraft engines.
For these plants the transition back
to peace-time industry is natural, and
many have complete plans for after
tne-Wdf COnNltlOio OH WHlCn tnCy arc
at work.
Plants Future Not Clear
There exists, however, no market ex-
ccpt the government for aircraft that
can possibly engage any part Of the
other plants now devoted wholly to
that production, and the future of these
plants is not yet clear.
Outstanding contracts for military
/ planes of various types are understood
to total between 25,O0O and 10000. II
is regarded as likely that virtually ali
of these will be cancelled. Many of
the orders already have been decreased
if not definitely withdrawn.
1t was said to-day that there was
no need to equip heavily with any of
the types now in production for mill
tary use, as improved machines OF
greater speed, endurance and manoeu.
wiring power were developed, even. while
every energy was being strained tc
reach quantity production here of the
De Havilands and Handley- Page de.
sign. 1t is to the. new types that chief
attention will be given by the govern.
ment, as the existing supply of present
types probably is more than ample AS
reserve.
In addition to the manufacturing
monopoly, which includes the assem-.
bling of scientific data of the utmost
value on the whole question of al,
fight, the government has complete
monopoly over the training facilitie:
for fiiers. 1t owns some thirty-two ny-
ing fields, fully equipped, and has built
up preliminary courses in colleges anc
universities i'll all parts of the country
The home aviation schools are fittet
to turn out 1000 men a month, rated a.
reserve military aviators, and there
now are tn this country more thar
through that school system or are near
ing completion OF their training. There
arc tens of thousands of airplane me
chanlcs and 5000 aviators in France
half of whom are fully qualified mill
tary pilots.
In the opinion Of many officials, The
/ future of air navigation in the Unitec
States rests largely with these mcr
trained to by by the government. Hav
ing had taste of air work, it is believed
that the majority Of these men Away.
VIII yearn to continue flying, anc
through them great stimulus will be
given to the development of tho air
craft industry by private enterprises.
For the time being, however, the
army and navy services, supplemented
by the aerial postal service, viii be the
only outlet for the product of such an
industry 1t may be necessary for the
army to follow the navy practice and
take over some one OF the great plants
where machines for both the army and
the postal service can be turned ont
until a normal manufacturing industry
has been developed