The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-08-20
MITCHELL ASKS FOR
LARGER AIR SERVICE
Director Urges Immediate Ac-
ton in Face Of Mexican
Situation.
MORE OFFICERS NEEDED
House Rules Committee Told
Of Benefits of Separate
Organization.
MORE OFFICERS NEEDED

WASHINGTON. Aug. 1s.-The American
air force has been reduced so greatly
since the signing Of the armistice that
II is too small to maintain an expe-
dit!on into Mexico" Brig. Gen. William
Mitchell, director OF military aeronau-
tics, told the House Rules Committee
to-day.
He urged that Congress take imme-
date action. particularly in view of the
Mexican situation to prevent what he
termed ''the complete disintegration" of
air service by lack OF appropriations and
an apparent failure OF high War De-
partment officials to realize the impor-
lance Of aviation as a fighting branch
of the service.
in view of the possibility Of inter-
vention in Mexico" Gen. Mitchell said
ut is imperative that the air service be
kept up to its war time standards of
efficiency
IF we should go to Mexico now we
have the skeletons OF seventeen squad
rons. Twelve hundred officers are not
enough to keep them up; we need twice
as many That number is too small
even to maintain an expedition to Mex
leo.
Every inch of the Mexican border Is
patrolled daily by the air service and
we are sending a large share OF our fiiers
and equipment available there. There
ha-s not been a single invasion across the
border since this patrol started. Bandits
can be more easily run down with an
adequate air force.
Only $50 L. n. Aviators.
From the standpoint Of our future
military policy II Is. certain the air SER
vice should never be smaller than II is
| to-day. We now have only the seven
teen skeleton squadrons and $50 actual
hiers, We have already lost many OF
| our best officers on account of the
| pathetic attitude toward the develop
! ment and maintenance OF aviation.
can safely say that we have been able
to hold on to many of our best fiers
/ to the present time on account OF their
expectation that Congress would put this
branch OF the army on its feet by pro-
vlding for a permanent air service"
Gen. Mitchell made a plea before the
committee for the assignment of 2,2O0
emergency officers to the air service,
with the provision that SIS per cent be
actual fiiers. The bill previously con-
sidered by the House Military Affairs
Committee provided for $4,000 perma-
nent and emergency commissions in the
army, under which 1t was planned 10
allow only 1900 temporary air officers
and increase the number OF medical Of
fcers. The number OF officers allowed
In the army appropriation bill. members
| now feel, was too small
Gen. Mitchell strongly advocated the
combination OF all aerial activities OF
the Government in one service includin &
| the work of the army, navy. post office
and other Government departments. 8
Urges single Service.
Single air services are being MAIN
tanned abroad, and much better results
are being accomplished" Gen. Mitchell,
who has seen service In Europe. said.
| Although reluctant to criticise the Gen
erAl Stan. Gen. Mitchell said he did not
/ believe its plan for the reorganiZat ton
! OF the army gave aviation the impor-
lance II deserved. The plan does not
| put aviation on an equality with infan
| try, artillery or cavalry. but would make
IL an auxiliary wing. thus undermining
morale. he claimed.
The United States. he said. as a mat
ter OF national defence. should consider
what other nations are doing.
1T is to be considered that England
/ and France ale demobii1ing very little
| of their air services" he said. and II
must be remembered that while a novice
| can be taught to shoot a musket in an