The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-06-26
j. S. UNPREPARED
FOR TROUBLE ON
MEXICAN BORDER
Lawrence Shows Past Mis-
take of Not FereSeeing
Need of AirpIane Service
Has Been Repeated.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.
(The News scImitar's Special Core.
~a6nndahkA

CThe News solmitar's Special Core.
~sPondeht)
WASHINGTON, June 26.-The United
States is not able in the event OF an
emergency on the Mexican border 10
put into action at once an air service
comparable to that which Gen. PershlnR
mad when he first undertook the pur-
suit OF Villa. Unpreparedness was a
Dig issue that year and the Demo-
efauc ADMINISTRATION was severely eriti-
eihed Tor failing TO make larger Ap-
preparations for the national defense.
Today the Republican party is in con
troll OF congress, and on the very day
mat the war department is irving
hastily to collect flyers and machines
TO protect the Mexican border the COM
mittees Of congress cut down available
sums for the future.
inquiry at the war department de-
velops the fact that II the United States
and Mexico should have trouble tomor-
row an air service would be absolutely
essential In detecting the rowing bands
south OF the Rio Grande which might
suddenly raid the long international
boundary and do injury to American
citizens. An air service would be neces-
sary TO proceed In advance of such
military ~detachments ms might enter
Mexican territory. Yet the wal depart
ment today has In process Of o~rganiza-
ton six ~squadrons OF airplanes and not
one OF them Is fit for active service.
They have been organized on paper.
Part OF the blame falls upon the
Democratic administration for falling
to check the dlslntegratlon of the air
service, but in answer to this army
officers say they hWVe been unable to
keep the best flyers America had be-
cause no prospect OF a permanent air
service was held out to them as an
incentive. Furthermore, after two years
or effort TO get airplane factories built
IN the United States and an industry
developed, the failure OF congress to
adopt a permanent policy has caused
several OF the companies to go out OF
jobs In other trades. All the benefit
of the war is in danger of being lost
so far as air service is concerned.
Sought Big Funds.
Secretaries Baker and Daniels, in re-
Spouse to the urgent recommendation
Of their aviation officers, asked con-
gress to appropriate $s5, 900, 900 and S45,-
100000, respectively, But the house
military affairs committee cut down
the army's appropriation, for instance,
Practically all the fighting planes in
the United States today are obsolete.
The latest type we're built abroad be-
cause OF the distance and time involved
in shipment, To get new planes requires
a stimulus to the airplane industry.
Manufacturers are giving up hope of
conducting the airplane business until
congress comes to the rescue. They are
making adjustments and seeking TO
convert their plants to other uses. 1t
II estimated that action by congress
appropriating a certain sum for air
plano development each year will cause
some of the firms to stay in the bust
ness and keep America abreast Of Eu-
ropean air service,
England has just appropriated $3.50
100000 and France much more than
that; Indeed, the European countries
are beginning to realize that air squad
rons may be worth more In defensive
operations than large army units,
Americas aviation personnel on the
western front was conceded to be one
OF the finest. The cream OF the air
service has gone back to civil life. Only
about 500 capable flyers remain today
out OF the $500 first class pilots Amer
lea had when the armistice was signed.
More are r~esignlng every day. The only
way they can be kept Ia by the or
ganization OF an air service similar to
that In Great Britain and France.
In those countries an independent es-
Establishment has been organized devoted
to air combat. II is equal In rank to
the army and navy, just as the land
and water have their war service in
dependent Of each other, = 70 do the
~ wv AtANhN NV NJ - " p I
branch OF warfare and can be con-
Quoted successfully only by persons
who make aerial warfare a lifetime &C.
eupati0n and scientific study,
Politics TO Blame.
poiiticx.is at the bottom OF the mill
tary difficulties OF the United States
now, just as II was in 1914 The Dem
ocrats opposed large appropriations then
because they were making a bid for
paci'ist support In the West and Middle
West
" the Republicans are trying to
teA. political advantage by cutting
down appropriations so that the people
may be Impressed by their economy In
contrast 10 the alleged extravaganza
Of the Democrats. In their desire for
was reduced IN the house committee
and raised In the senate to 400, 600 men,
which Ia 100, 600 below that requested
by the var department, Similarly the
senate has increased the appropriation
for aircraft from Si5, 900, 900, which the
house fixed. TO $50, Qp0, 900. The senate
subcommittee had raised II TO SIS ,0oO,-
600, but the fun military affairs COM
mittee wouldn't permit II, So the sen
questionable whether the sum will not
be further reduced when the joint rom
ference committee OF the senate and
house get together, Thus II may be
seen that, despite their arguments about
national defense and their solioitude for
military and naval preparedness, both
the Democrats and Republicans have
been guided by political considerations
10 handling the army and the navy,
and the process Ia stlll going on.
Copyright. 1919, by the New York Eve
ming Post, Inc