Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1919-03-11
PAYNE FIELD Is
REDUCING ALSO,
COMMANDER, ON
TRIP HERE, SAYS
Major Cousins Stops Over on Way to
Arcadia Need for Alarm,
Says Officer

MdJUI Ildlpu L. SOuSluS, COuIuduu-
ing officer at Payne Field, West Point,
Miss, accompanied by Lieut. Foster
<. Strong, stopped over at Sor-her
Field last night ON a flight from Carl
strom Field, Arcadia, Fla. They few
in a N H Hispano-Suiza ship. The
trip, distance of $40 miles, was made
in z hours, they having left Pay
Field at 1890 and arriving here at
$50 One hour and half were spent
at Montgomery, where a landing was
made. They left this morning at 9:35
O'Clock for Arcadia, via Jacksonville
and Ormond, Fla.
Major Cousins informed inquirers
at Souther Field that he had received
orders Sunday to reduce the person.
mel of his field to 60 men, in line
with the order received by Colonel
Dickman, commanding Souther Field,
and the commanders of the other flying
posts throughout the country. This
reduction is effective before April 1.
The natp. al conditions at SoLthei
Field for flying in wet weather in COM
parison with other fields was shown
by the statement of Major Cousins that
on only two days since January 1 had
ships been able to take off and land
on the soil at Payne Field, because of
the soft conditions of the field, and
that large carpet arrangement had
been used in the emergency to keep
the ships from miring down. At
Souther the soil is such that ships may
use the field even during a downpour,
if need me, without trouble.
Discussing the order reducing the
enlisted personnel at Souther Field to
IS men, which order is regarded as
only temporary, pending the recruiting
of new force for the regular army, a
flying officer who has always been a
friends of Souther Field, said today:
"The people of Americus need have
no anxiety about the future of Souther,
now that it has been decided to keep
the field permanently. This action
can be but temporary and when the
re-enlistments are m-de and the reg
ular army increased activity will un-
doubtedly be resumed.
"In the meantime there will be more
flying than ever by those remaining.
Probably of the sixty-five that will
stay large percentage will be given
flying instructions as an inducement
to continue in the service and they
will be of the class that will qualify
as on-commissioned or commissioned
officers. They are about in the same
position as the cadets were and spec
ial attention will be given to them.
"The men remaining are of an ex-
celent class ndustriously and more
OF the student class. Some of them
having graduated from college, they
are bound to learn to fly and much
appreciate the opportunity the govern
ment has given them to learn.
''The air service will continue to
improve, and it is up to the public
to call for it and they will get it. The
situation reminds me of a patent
medicine advertisement that made the
people rich who brought it out. They
simply said, Children cry for it, and
that sold it. So with the air service;
the people generally get what they de-
mand. I hope Georgia will continue
calling &or airships as they are now
doing for good roads"
An officer from the Supply depot
said: "I would not surprise me to
see the depot reduced corresponding
", but quite large force must be
maintained to supply thirteen air sta
tions in different parts of the South.