The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-05-21
Divorces Signal Corps From
Operation and Produc-
tion Of Airplanes.
CENTRALIZES CONTROL
BRIG. Gen. kenly to Handle
Craft After Ryan
Makes Them.
EACH SUPREME IN FIELD
Souier Goes Back to Regular
Army WOrk-COffin Board
Made Advisory.
EACH SUPREME IN FIELD
Special Despatch to Tn. srx.

Special Despatch to THg SrS.
wAsHrNoroN. May 2o.-Pres.dent
Wilson'S hrst act under the Overman
tnl which he signed at IL o'clock this
morning. has been to effect a sweeping
reorga ganization by separating all mat
,.rs pertaining to the operation and the
PRODUCTION Of airplanes from the Sig
raj Corps Of the army.
A Presidential order specifically de-
Hn.s the future duties Of Major Gen.
George o. Sduier. chief signal ofncer.
who until to-day has had charge Of all
,ands appropriated by Congress for mill
AIRY aeronautics; Brig Gen. Kenly. d.
rector OF military aeronautics. and John
D, Ryan, director Of aircraft production.
squier Gets His Old job.
Major-Gen. Squier's duties are % de-
Aned that henceforth he will have
charge Of the Signal Corps As II existed
prior 10 the time when military aero
nautics became one Of its offshoots. All
ma vast equipment and personnel iden-
tiled with aircraft work has been re-
moved from the jurisdiction Of the Sig
raj Corps by a stroke OF the pen by the
President.
These vast interests are brought di-
rectly under the charge OF Brig. Gen.
Kenly and Mr.. Ryan. Brig.-0en. Ken,y
is charged with the duty ''of operating
and maintaining or supervising the op-
e-ation and maintenance OF all military
air craft, including balloons and air.
planes, all appliances pertaining to SAID
sireraft and signalling apparatus OF any
kind when installsd on said aircraft. and
Of training officers, enlisted men and
candidates for the aviation service"
The differentiation between the duties
of Brig Gen. Kenly and Mr.. Ryan IL
tha. Gen. Kenly has authority over per-
sonnel and aircraft or aircraft appl'
arces after they are placed at his dispo-
sal, Mr.. Ryan has charge Of placing the
s-craft and appliances at tho disposal
O. Gen. Kenly.
In defining Mr.. Ryan's duties. the
resident says:
"An executive agency to be known as
IN. Bureau of Aircraft Production. IS
hereby established. and said agency
snail exercise full. complete and exc'u-
$50 jurisdiction and control over the
PRODUCTION Of airplanes. airplane engines
and aircraft equipment FOR the use OF
;as army. &c"
Aircraft hoard IL Retained.
Tn. Aircraft Board remains in exist
.7ce in an advisory capacity. But tn's
board i, completely. controlled by Mr.
Eyan. who may utilize it's services ana
advice AS he sees At. but 10 In no way
bound 10 follow its suggestions.
The President, by virtue OF his po~e!
Under the Overman bill. stablizes ana
lcsslizes the work which both Bris.-
ten. Kenly AMI Mr. Ryan will do. IN
II to-day there has been no power oS
watch the President could divert funds
appropriated by Congress for the Sisnai
corps TO expend on aviation OF other
,hannels.
Even after the appointments OF bris'-
zen Kenly and Mr.. Ryan 1t Was not
legally possible to put them In absolute
control Of the work assigned to them.
The law stipulated that Major-Geh.
squisr, or whatever of1icer was head OF
te Signal Corps. be held responsioie "
to country for the expenditure OF 'he
vast sums appropriated for aviation.
Under the old regime there was d'-
'ided authority on matters nerta'h'hs
10 military aeronautics. with the Aircraft
BOARD operating through its military
representatives.. its naval representative
ard its civilian representative. Decisions
we're reached by these three men. VINO
we're called upon to pass on matters
pertaining to aircraft production or air
craft operation.
The change effected to-day does ava!
With this divided authority and den'
nrey makes one man responsible FOR
aircraft production and one man fespon-
sIble for operation OF aircraft when pro-
cuced
That the change will result In speeding
Up the nations aircraft programme. now
getting on its feet, 10 generally believed
here. II Is stated At the War Depart
nent that II will be full steam ahead
now and that work will progress without
feeling the effect OF the investigation
row In progress over charges OF graft
md l~I- l,, AkA 81