New-York tribune., 1919-08-13
Baker, After Strong Press
"re, Makes Public Report
of u. S. Mission Ureino
Control of Aerona,,tics
Secretary Is Against Plan
Nation Warned While Eu-
rope Is Advancing Amer.
lea Is Scrapping Planes

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mediate establishment Of a Department
OF the Air, "co-equal in importance
with the Departments Of War. Navv
and Commerce." under which all aerial
activities Of the United States can be
concentrated, is the chief recommended
ton in the report of the American
AVIATION Mission made public TODAY
by the War Department.
This mission. headed by Assistant
Secretary OF War Benedict Crowe,l
has made a thorough Investigation of
aeronautics in this country, Great
Britain, France and Italy The report
was submitted to Secretary of War
Baker July 10. on the committees re
turn from Europe. II was not made
pubhc until great pressure had been
brought to bear by the aeronautlcal
interests Of the country.
Baker Opposes Plans
In releasing the report for publ
cation, Secretary Baker, in a signed
statement, says: "Thc mission has in
my judgment, gone too far in suggest
ing single centralized air service"
Among the other outstanding feat
, ures contained IN the report are the
following:
|. The recommendation for the estab-
hshmcnt of d National Air College
with currcula covering every phase of
aeronautics.
:. The establishment of commercial
ar routes across the country with a
we" o! developing aerial defence.
3. The establishments. bv the govern
ment. Of ardromes and iandine fields
At strategic points throughout the
country
!; All flying routes and flying fields
to be equipped al public expense with
signalling and communication systems.
.. Ihe establishment of meteoro-
loglcai service to provide accurate and
dependablc weather reports.
=. 10 formulate rules and regua-
'ionS governing aerial navigation
under the Federal government.
! The Insurance of airplanes and
personnel against all hazards and RISKS
at reasonable rates
Aerial Work Dropped
The report also cites many vital
iacts concerning aviation in general
among which are the following.
Ninety per cent of the aerial activity
Of this country at the time Of the
armistlcc has since dissolved and the
remalning 10 per cent is fast disap-
pearlng "No sensible business man
IS justified in keeping money invested
IN the aircraft industry under condi-
tons which have maintained in the
nltcd States since November H. the
report says.
Great Britain through its unified
service under control OF the Air MIN
istry leads the world in aviation and
is fast building up an air supremacy
"a important as her maritime and
naval supremacy.
France and Italy are following her
lead in the establishment of a min
islry of the air.
At the present time Great Britain
maintains liz the experimental depart
mont Of aeronautics alone larger
personnel than the entire aircraft
manufacturers Of this country.
The American Aviation Mission con
sisted of Mr.. Crowell, Howard c.
Coffin, member of the Council of Ma
tional Defence; Captain Henry c.
Muslin, L, S. n; Colonol Ialsey Dun
woody. [. $. A. Air Service; Licuten-
ant Colonel James A. Blair, jr T. 5. A.
general staff; George II. Houston. presi-
dent of the Wright Martin Aoroplane
Company; c. n. Keys. president of the
Curtss Acroplane and Motor Corpora
ton, and s. ;. Bradley. Manufactures rs =
Aircraft Association.
The mission was accorded every
facility for investigation in Europe
and consulted with all the leading
governmental authorities from Marshal
Toch, commander in chief of the Allied
armies, downward.
Baker Explains Views
The statement made by Secretary
Baker in issuing the report for publ
cation follows
In making public the report submit
ted to me by Mr.. Crowell and his asso-
ciates on the American aviation mis-
sion, desire to emphasize the thor
oughness and value OF the studies
made in England, France and Italy with
regard to the Importance OF aircraft
and the essential dependence of the art
for its development upon sympathetic
attitude in the government. Those best
Informed throughout the world are in
accord in believing that this new
agency of transportation has posibil-
BILE to set limits. They are further
agreed that we face period, more or
less brief, in which the prospect Of
commercial return is not sufficiently
sure to justify private enterprise in
developing the airplane industry into
self-sustaininc position.
The importance Of aircraft as mil
ltary arm Is obviously so great that we
must leave nothing undone both to de-
velop the art in its scientific and prac
teal aspects and to provide facilities
for rapid quantity production in the
event Of emergency.
From these considerations it is
clear that the ingenuity and ability Of
American engineers and inventors
must be coordinated and our national
effort freed from wastefulness and
duplication.
Specialists Are Needed
"The mission has. in my judgment,
gone too far in suggesting single CEN
trai zed air service Army and navy
aviators arc specialists IN the arr both
the airDlanes and tire p.ots needed are
of different type from those needed
in civil undertakings. The pilots par
ticularly need TO be ira ned upon dif
ferent theory. Military pilots are
trained TO fight singly or in formation
and to operate in coordination with
other branches of the military service
so that their training must be military
Their own efficiency and that OF the
other branches of the service dependp
upon the most intense and constant as
sociated training, and "a separation OF
the air service from the army or the
navy would rtqulre coordination Of
their activities in time Of war, whereas
effectiveness in IL litary operation rests
upon the concentration and singleness
OF authority. command and purpose.
The point emphasized by the mis-
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