The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1919-04-09
49, sss5s 49, !. = -
$4,000 men FOR
AIR SERVICE WORK
Government Plans to Retain
That Number After
War
FLYING BRANCH
HAS BIG FUTURE
Many Big Aeroplane Contracts Have
Been Cancelled Since Signing of
Armistice-Hope to Have Air serv-
ice Made Separate from Army.

=
WASHINGTON, April 9.-Among the
various problems that are arising from
the necessities Of demobiIizations, one OF
the most important is that concerned
with aviation, chiefly because, unlike
many other branches of military service, |
it has future the scope and character
of which it is difficult to foretell
Because the United States was late get
ting into the war, and late in developing /
its air service, it is all the more difficult |
now to make the connection with civil
life. Some part of the equipment and
personnel must be kept for the army and
navy. Some encouragement, it is felt,
should be given by the government tol
the adaptation of aviation to commercial
conditions. he-demobilization of the
air service announced by the war depart
ment on Saturday goes beyond the recon-
mendation OF the experts, and it gives no
clue as to how the air service Of peace
days is to be helped by what has been
done in the army.
The government plan of rehabilitation
provides for retention of $4,000 men.
hardly half of what has been expected
for peace basis A large amount OF
the aeroplane material on hand is to be
sold, and but little information is given
as to the details Of continuing the work
in the development of better machines or
in the provision of adequate landing
fields and other matters OF Importance
If aviation is 10 be developed as a great
( industry in this country
Ii is announced by the war department
that production OF Liberty aeroplane en-
eines for the army reached a total of
BOATS final deliveries in the week ending
March u. Contracts for additional aero
plane engines and spare parts TO the val
nc OF s266,97l,11l have been Cancelled
: making the total of air service material
: contracts cancelled mp to March %, $780,
i 100000. Appropriations for the air ser
: vice of the army were reduced d pei
: cent Tor the tiseal year l9ls-l9. from an
: original total of. s9i4 .304.15S to Sis. 304,
: 7JS, and total appropriations for the ser
: vice after making reductions are given a
a Sl,097 ,3o4, Us. OF which Is per cent la,
: been expended up to March Is. Approx
e imately s3I0,000.0o0 is expected to b
e saved by the liquidation OF suspende,
t contracts
One OF the many important bills tina
3 failed of enrichment at the last congress
d provides for the separation OF the al
: service from the army aud navy. It
d expected by those interested in the goo
a OF the air service that this bin will b
# acted on fayorably at the next sessio
e OF congress, although the secretary OF tn
navy does not favor It. being greatly ii
a terested in the development Of aviatio
'e as a branch of the navy. and the setrt
4 taiy of war is not enthusiastic The me
1t who favor it are those who believe tina
m the forces OF the country must be mail
n tanned in three divisions, those OF IL
10 land, sea, and air The air fleet, tie
d. point ont, must be developed as a stror
~ independent branch of the service. iu,
&c as is the army and navy; that thei
Of should be separate air service depar
ment with cabinet minister at the hea
n and that the air service should be pr
to NOTED by the government both for ely
at and military purposes.