The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-03-30
US. AIR SERVICE
FLIES BACKWARD
British Expert Discusses Seem
ing Chaos in Present Amer
lean Policy.
SEES NO GUIDING HAND
Reduction Of General Kenly
Regarded as Significant
of Lapse.
Bpscidl Gable Despatch to Tue Sun from tM
London Times Service.
Copyright. 1919: oil rights reserved.

BsscidI Gable Despatch to Tue suS from fAs
London Times Service.
Copyright. 1919; oil rights reserved
LONDON, March 29.-Under the head
ing American Army Flying a Retro
grade Stepback to the General STAFF"
the Times prints the following from Its
aeronauticnl correspondent:
"Since the United States entered the
war her army air service has been
through many vicissitudes until finally
the recent decision removing Major
Gen. Kenly from the position OF Direc-
tor of Military Aeronautics and revert
ing him to his former rank OF Colonel
OF Artillery, with the Simultaneous re-
duction Of the permanent air stations
TO two or three, has placed this most
important service In q very subordinate
position.
1T is unthinkable that a great coun-
try like the United States will allow
this state OF affairs to continue, but
tho various phases through which the
air service has passed during the war
may serve as an example OF the evils
OF indecis!on and lack OF a definite,
continuous policy. When America en-
tered the war her military air service
was a branch OF the Signal Corps. with
the natural result that there were prac-
ticaIly no senior officers available with
any knowledge Of military aviation.
= Not ProatsnE by Experiences.
This lack Of knowledge was not real
ICED or admitted by the authorities, and
In spite of the fact that the various
mistakes made by allied Governments
since the commencement OF the war
gave the United States opportunity for
profting by others experience. unfor-
tunately she did not do 30 IN the frst
instance. A large number OF obsolete
types of machines were ordered for
training purposes Much work was done
which was In reality unproductive from
the service point of view. such as in
stitution OF establishments and organi-
cations which we're unsuitable for field
service. Added to this, continual
changes In command were made In
France
ut was difficult to obtain continuity
OF working between headquarters In
Washington and the air services of the
American E2peditionary Force. Most
mistakes which occurred at the drst IN
stance arose from an extreme keenness
to place large air service In France at
the earliest possible moment. but the
initial result was not by any means
happy one. Early in 1918 It was real
ired by the American authorities at
Washington that their military air ser
vice would not function unless drastic
changes were made. The result was
that Brig. Gen. Kenly. who had been
In charge of the first group of fliers
sent to France in connection with Amer
lean aviation. was brought back to
Washington, promoted to be Mator-Gen-
erA and appointed director Of military
aeronautics. and the air service was
formed into a separate branch apart
from the Signal Corps.
Baked in Development.
Soon after a civil Assistant Secretary
OF War to deal entirely with aviation
was appointed to assist the War secre-
tary, under him being the chief of the
production department and the director
of military aeronautics. This showed
America had learned from mistakes Of
others. and II appeared she was grad
ually tending toward a unified air SER
vice, which experience has shown was
absolutely essential in this country.
Gen Ksn'y, who had profted much by
his experie pcc In France, Is a far sighted
man, with plenty of imagination. He
faced the situation firmly and there was
every indicau ton in October. 1918. that
America was on the road toward build
ing up a military air service second to
none in the world. The keenness of her
pilot pupils and other ranks OF the per-
sonnet was beyond question. and In her
air stations in the United States and
here they were straining every nerve to
bring themselves up to date with Eu-
ropean conditions and to At themselves
10 take their part on the western front.
Large numbers OF prospective pilots and
mechanics were sent over to France and
England to complete their training.
Definite decisions already had been
arrived al as to types OF machines to be
manufactured In the United States, and
these machines were beginning to come
out in large quantities. During the
whole of this period, when Gen. Kenly
and his staff were straining every nerve
10 insure an efficient air. service. the
General Star, both In France and Wash
ington, seemed rather less than sympa-
thetic. In fact, the same type OF OBJ
structicn was occurring in the American
Army that was experienced within in the
initial stages of the Royal Flying Corps
development.
whole Service saEs.
This obstruction was probably due
more to lack OF imagination and reali-
zstion OF the capa bIlities of the air arm
than to any other reason. but It was
obstruction.
In spite of ali difficulties, however,
q definite programme had been laid down
by Gen. Kenly. and air squadrons were
quickly taking their places In the line
Just prior to the signing OF the armis-
tice. although there were several vital
questions awaiting decision. Unfortu-
nately, directly after the armistlce was
signed the authorities virtually stopped
ia he