The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-03-14
U. 5. AIR SERVICE
AT CRITICAL STAGE
War Department Must Decide
on Vast Organization in
Few Days.
NO PROGRAMME OFFERED
British Make Tremendous
Strides, While Americans
Stand Paralyzed.
Special Despatch 10 TIE sus.


WASHINGTON, March lathe situa.
tion with respect to the American air
service is fast reaching point where the
Government must decide II Il is coins
TO let its entire air programme virtu.
ally collapse. The question of whether
the United States is or Is not going to
continue developing aeronautics by CAPT
talizing war experience for peace usages
Is now squarely up to the War Depart
inent and must be decided one way OF
the other within the next few days.
There are two distinct currents OF
opinion In army circles as to what
should be done. On the one hand 1t is
contended that the United States should
regard all that has been learned in aero
nautics as one of the few assets of the
war and should follow now the example
OF Great Britain and France and trans.
form military aeronautics to develop
ment OF the air service for civil and com.
nercial pursuits. On the other hand is
the view that the air service should be
simply relegated to its proper place In
the army organization, placed under the
chief OF Staff and maintained as n sec
ondary branch like the cavalry. On all
sides this question Is heard What are
the War Departments plans?
appearing.
Investigation shows that the War De-
partment. TO the amazement of SOME. has
formulated no plan whatever in regard 70
the future of the air service in the
transitory period from war to peace
Peace has come in the midst of the
gigantic preparations to build UP the air
service and scarcely any one in authority
seems to have given any thought as to
low TO meet the situation. This, more than
anything else. Is responsible for the fast
appearing chaos and uncertainty in this
branch of the service featured by re-
moval of officers here ana there and
conflicting statements as ~ what tns
Government proposes.
Unlike the European Governments. the
United States Government overlooked the
necessity of dealing with the situation
and now that 1t is here demanding at
tention the tendency Is to declare bank
ruptcy. scrap or store the machines, LEI
tne trained fliers and mechanics go and
consider past work done as simply part
oi the profit and loss OF war making.
In striking contrast to this policy or
lack Of policy Is the systematic, far
seeing proceeding of the British Govern
ment with regard to the same problem.
As long ago as May 22, 1917. the British
Government called attention to the fact
that systematic provision must be made
IN advance for utilizing in peace the air
service being built up by war. A commit
tee including leading business men in all
branches OF British industry and science,
was then appointed to consider these
actors:
l. The steps which should be taken
with view to the development and
regulation after the war of aviation
Tor civil and commercial purposes
from a domestic. an Imperial and an
international standpoint
. The extent to which 1t will be
possible to utilize for the above pur-
poses the trained personnel and the
aircraft which the conclusion of peace
may leave as surplus to the require
ments OF the naval and military air
services OF the United Kingdom and
overseas dominions