Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-05-30

the best of the equipment for the future air
force.
Strong opposition to the plan of the govern
ment to sell air service equipment is being
offered by the Aero Club of America Alan
R. Hawley, president of the club would trv
to solve the problem of using aerona auto
equipment, estimated to be worth $SOO,OOO,-
600, by having the government organize an
aerial transport corporation, which should
take over and use for aerial transportation
all alrplanes, motors and equipment not need
ed by the war and navy departments He
would have a corporation formed similar to
the Grain corporation, which was capitalized
at $4,000, 900, all stock being owned by the
government, but which was operated by a
civilian board of directors In this way he
claims, employment would be furnished for
hundreds of discharged army and navy avia-
tors.
According to Mr.. Hawley, such a corpora
ton could utilize the airplanes, motors,
equipment and aerodromes to the best in
terests of the country. It would serve to pro-
mote flying in the commercial field, and
would also arouse interest among civilians
The Aero club has been asked by more than
800 cities in all parts of the country to CO.
operate with them in establishing air lines
to carry passengers, express and mail
The proposed peace program of the air
service calls for approximately $4,000 enlist
ed men and 1900 officers. This number Is
based upon the plan for a standing army OF
900, and will consequently be reduced in
the event the new congress determines upon
smaller force. Recruiting for Il 900 men
has already begun, and the latest returns
show that about 1900 men have been re-
cruited. AS there is no permanent air unit
at the present time, a young man desiring to
get into the aviation force must enlist in the
infantry and then be transferred to aviation
There was so much "shanghaing" during the
war, that scores of young men who are anx-
ious to get into the aviation force are skep-
teal about enlisting in that way. They do
not feel confident that they will ever become
aviators.
In formulating a future aviation program,
the officers of the air service are giving con-
siderable attention to the balloon section.
The United States balloon service played a
more important part in the war than is gen
orally known. At the time of the signing OF
the armistice, there were nearly $4,000 off,
GERS and men in this branch. The American
balloon proved to be the equal if not superior
to any other balloon operating on the war
fronts. AS matter of fact, the United
States was furnishing balloons to England
and France for several months before the
ending of hostilities. In the Argonne drive,
American balloons played leading role in
directing the artillery fire and keeping watch
over the movement of the enemys troops.
There are to be several training fields for
balloonists.
Strangely enough, at the same time that the
government is planning to sell airplanes, it is
also planning to buy some. Owing to the
fact that we were building planes for our
allies during the war as we'll as for ourselves,
the air service now finds itself without an
adequate equipment of service planes: The
great majority of the planes made in this
country, and of which the service now has
more than it needs, were training planes.
There have recently been developed by
American designers and engineers, and manu-
featured by American concerns, a number OF
ships which are equal to, if not superior to
any airpIanes of their types in existence. The
air service is negotiating 10 rthe purchase OF
a number of these ships.