The sun., 1919-03-13

ton. confronts the inventors and de-
signers whose patient genius made pos
sible the achievement of mechanical
flight and its recent marvellous develop
ment," he said recently. Liquidation
and idleness confront the s10o,000,000
industry and the hundreds OF thousands
of men who labored against tremendous
obstacles to provide America with the
decisive weapon Of the war.
other Nations Arc Awake.
while America hesitates other pro-
gressive nations of the world are going
ahead. Great Britain. France, Italy and
japan, our late associates, are fully
alive to the possibilities. Hardly a day
passes but some intimation comes OF the
air plans abroad. Lord Weir, British
Air Minister. has announced plans in
which cooperation Is the keynote, and in
which, according to the dispatches. 1t is
pointed out that the State must be the
pioneer
DR.. Anles also stated that the manu-
facturers periodically accepted without
protest the cancellation OF Government
contracts amounting to s200,000,000
when the armistice made fighting planes
unnecessary.
Against the disposition on the part
OF some to overlook the possibilities of
tho future they offer the statement that
the present generation-the present
leaders--cannot afford to become so
engrossed with tho problems of recon-
structing an old world as to be blind to
the new. There are some who lack
vision, but 1t is n characteristic of the
American people to look far ahead once
they become conscious of the truth.
And this is all that Is asked-the devel-
opment OF a public consciousness which
shall consider aerial navigation on its
merits, pay heed to the preparations
which other nations-late friend and
foe alike---are making, and then evolve
a constructive programme designed TO
utilize the material left over from the
war. 1t II of fundamental Importance
for the Government to cooperate with
designers and contractors in making
America supreme in the air in peace
time"
The publised intention of Secretary
Baker of the War Department to dis
mantle most OF the nations air service
and hand over to one or two manufac
turers the bulk of the airplanes, engines
and material collected at junk prices has
filled the airmen, both fiiers and manu-
facturers. with resentment.
Wide Distribution Asked.
They feel that this material. II 1t is to
be sold should BIO widely distributed, 80
that all airplane makers might be able
to secure some for research work---for
experiments which would benefit the
whole industry. II It Is to be held by
the Government, the motors should be
stored in oil, so that they will be good
a year or two hence for use in develop
ing a reserve air service, and the other
material should also be carefully be put
away instead OF being piled in ware
houses
There is decided sentiment also In
favor OF a Department of the Ara
single head for the military. naval. Post
| Office and other airplanes used by the
Government. as is the case in Great
Britain.
a bill IS being prepared by Representa-
tive F. II. La Guarda, who served as
Major in the Air Service during the war,
| which provides for such a department
and also for landing fields and other
necessities of the coming aerial age.
The question of landing fields about
the big cities of the East is knotty
one, it is admitted, for 80 far municipal
and State Governments have remained
absolutely quiescent, despite the fact
that IL New York is to be great air
port OF the future II must have landing
fields as 1t now has docks Two kinds
or neIds are needed. permanent fields,
and along the principal air routes emer-
gency fields. The former should be a
mile square and the latter a quarter OF
mile long and possibly an eighth OF
mile wide. stretching in the direction
/ Of the prevailing winds. to prevent the
necessity for landing cross-wind.
/ At the present time. when any visitor
desires TO come to New York he must
land at Mineola. twenty miles from the
/ city. and spend we'll nigh as much time
getting from there to New York as he
spent In the air on the way from Wash
| ington. This will be a great drawback
in the future. and aerial experts declare
! New York must rectify II soon IL il
wishes to be as supreme an air port as
/ II is now sea port.