Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1919-07-25
BAKER TO TRY
TO SAVE DYING
AERIAL BRANCH

| WAOhlNG1 Jun july Z0-Fully re-
alizing that the American Air Ser
vice is destined to crumble away un-
less prompt measures are taken to
prevent it, Secretary of War Baker
has decided to attempt to save it.
He has announced that he shortly
will transmit to congress an urgent
appeal on behalf of army aviation,
and will submit data showing to what
extent the service had been crippled
and how it would be impossible to get
a fresh start without needed appro-
priations.
This is the first move Mr.. Baker
has taken to aid the air service, he
having taken the position heretofore
that the republicans of the house
were to blame-which they are-and
the crime against the nation lay on
their hands. The fact that it coin
cides with the return of Assistant Sec
rotary of War Crowell from Europe
led to reports that Mr.. Crowell
brought back data showing how for
eign powers were devoting concen-
trated efforts to build up aviation,
while the United States was letting
its air service calmly go to the scrap
heap.
The desire of Gen. March, chief of
staff, to subordinate aviation to the
rank of subsidiary army enter
prise generally is held responsible
here for much of the failure of the
war department to act.
Efforts will be made to check the
rapid disintergration of the army air
service Secretary of War Baker pro-
missed the House committee at
hearing this week.
Committee members pointed out to
the Secretary of Chief of Staff
that the general army order provid-
ing for the discharge of all National
Army and Reserve officers was large
ly responsible for what several army
officers have recently termed the
"junking of the air service"
Mr.. Baker promised that efforts
would be made to induce many of the
army fiiers who are nearly all Nation
al Army or emergency officers to ac-
cept commissions in the regular es-
tablishment so that the present per-
sonnet would not be disorganized.
Representative Anthony of Kan
sas, suggested that since there was
no provision for large number of
regular officers in the air service the
fliers be commissioned in the infan-
try branch of the service in which
there are 1000 vacancies and later
transferred by authority of Congress,
which he promised void be forthcom-
ing
'That seems to be a very poor
solution of the question, doesn't it,"
Mr.. Baker asked, turning to hief of
Staff March.
Eyes" replied March.
/ 81 had not thought of that plan,
but l will see that it is carried out"
Mr.. Baker added.
! lit SECRETARY anu Sl4IG1 VI Quail
were called before the committee to
answer charges made in several pa
pers that the Republican economy
program would sidrupt the army or
ganiation particularly as it related
to the air service, the regular peace
time army and the caring for the
large amount of war material that
the department has on hand.
Mr.. Baker stated that he believ-
ed tht Congress should have APP
propriated for larger army that
the average of $4,000 men carried
in the bill recently passed.
''Do you mean that you want
larger peace time army than this bill
contemplated" asked Representa-
! tive Sanford.
eyes," replied Mr.. Baker, 81 be-
lieve the army should be kept larg-
er than the reduced number that
this bill makes necessary, which will
be less than 100000 at the largest,
because of the present unsettled con-
dition of world affairs"
'Is not disarmament contemplated
in the League of Nations?" Mr.. San
! ford asked.
"To an extent, yes, but we should
not disrupt the army organization
until the League of Nations is def
nitely settled"