Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1919-03-20
SOUTHER FIELD
ON SAME BASIS
PERKINS FINDS
People Of Americus Have Nothing to
Fear, is Message If High
Officer


same footing as the other fifteen flying
fields in America which the govern
ment has purchased and placed on the
permanent list" was the statement
made this morning by Joseph Perkins,
secretary manager of the Chamber of
Commerce, on his return from Wash
ington, where he went last week in
the interests of the retention of Sou
ther Field as an active post.
Zone of the first things l discover
ed" said Mr.. Perkins, was that the
published statement that there would
be only two active flying fields in the
country was without foundation. 1
talked with numerous officials of the
air service, and this was the SUBJ
stance of my information; Aviation
training is now going on at five fields
This training will be completed in ev-
cry one of these fields by May l, after
which time they will all be reduced to
90 men, just as Souther and the
other fields have been ordered reduced.
All of the fields will remain in that
status until a definite air program is
worked out and decided upon. The air
service is now in the transition period,
the men enlisted for the period of the
war being relieved and regular army
men being awaited.
II was assured that the people of
Americus have nothing to fear about
the future of Souther Field. l talked
at considerable length with Col. Mil
ton E. Davis, new executive officer of
the service, who is very friendly to
Americus and regards Souther Field
very highly. He told me that Souther
had not been included in the original
list of fourteen fields which was
adopted by the department for pur-
chase, and that when this was discov-
cred friends of Americus both in and
out of the department got busy,
through Congressman Crisp, with the
result now known to all.
"Col. Davis pointed out that Souther,
because of its location, would be re-
tanned of necessity as an active post,
being directly on the line of trans-con-
tinental flying, both to the west and
to the South The presence of the sup
ply depot here was also mentioned by
Colonel Davis as further considera-
ton in favor of Americus."
Mr. Perkins stated that he was n
formed by Colonel Davis that the
merging of the commands of Southera
Field and the Aviation General Supply
Depot while already ordered, but not
yet put into effect, was decided upon
to eliminate duplication. 1t was indi-
Gated that the work at the warehouse
hereafter would be done almost en-
tirely by civilian labor.
Mr.. Perkins found the air service
really in state of intense turmoil,
due to reorganization order issued
Monday. the day he spent with the va
rious officials. General Memoran-
( dunn No. 81" made its appearance while
he was there, throwing CONSERVATION
into the service. One great surprise
it contained by the designation of Bri-
gadier General VIM. Mitchell, who
commanded the air service of the
First U. S. army in France, and is the
only "brigadier general flyer" in the
u S. army, to be third assistant exec
utive officer and placed under major.
This new executive force is made up as
follows, according to the memoran-
dunn:
Executive staff: Executive officer,
Col. Milton e. Davis; first assistant
executive officer, Col. VIM. E. Gill
more; second assistant executive Off
Ger, Major Horace M Hickam; third
assistant executive officer, Brig. Gen.
William Mitchell; fourth assistant ex-
executive officer, Lieut.-Col. VIM. E,
Pearson"
! Colonel Gilmore has been chief of
the supply division of the air service,