New-York tribune., 1919-12-06
Military Committee Favors
Co.ordinating Army, Navy
and Postoffice Services
Under New Cabinet Head
Baker and Daniels Protest
Cen. Mitchell Says Aerial
Strength Now Isn't Fit
to. Deal With Mexico
New York Tribune
W0shinQton Bureau

WdShingtOn Buredu
WASHINGTON, Dec. 5.-Despite the
vigorous protests made by Secretaries
Baker and Daniels, the Senate Military
Committee to-day ordered a favorable
vote on the bill providing for the es-
tablishment of an independent depart
ment cf aeronautics. the chief of which
would become a Cabinet member with
& salary of $4,000 a year.
The committee vote was 8 to Q the
adverse votes being those of Senator'S
Hitchcock of Nebraska, and Fletcher,
Of Florida, both Democrats. They
based their opposition on the ground
that a separate aeronautical depart
ment would increase costs of operation,
comrlicate and possibly hamper the
government machinery
Provision is made in the bill for a
coordination of all the air forces of the
government, including the army, navy
and postoffice services, under unified
control. The chief would be appointed
by the President with the approval of
the Senate, and would be responsible
for the development of both CONNER
cial and military aviation. Inde-
pendent combatant units. trained in
this manner, might be attached tenn
porarily to the army or navy in time
Of war or for maneuvers.
Not Enough for Mexican Service
Brigadier General William Mitchell,
director of military aeronautics, testi-
fed before the House Military Com
mittee to-day, and pointed out that the
failure of Congress to see the need
for keeping abreast of the world in
the development Of aviation has
brought the United States army avia-
lion service so near dissolution that in
? conflict with Mexico the nation
might find itself dependent on England
and France for its air fighting forces.
General Mitchell said that of the
trained aviators, who were in the SER
vice little more than year ago only
965 fliers remain, and that the equip
ment OF the army, declared a year ago
to be the best in the world. is now
virtually obsolete. In addition to its
failure to give funds General Mitchell
also blamed Congress for not creating
joint department of aviation to en-
brace all government activities in this
line
General Mitchell said he had heard
several months ago that there were
then twenty-four German airplanes
with German pilots in Chihuahua and
that the Mexican government was en-
deavoring to import more planes from
Germany and France.
Cavera1 ouostiorS fo;lnd 4o chow, +Lo+
General Mitchell had any accurate
knowledge of German machines across
the border. He was asked by Repre-
sentative La Guardia, o New York
about the trip to Europe Of Candido
Aguilar, special representative here of
the CarranZa government, and the re-
ports that AGuilar attempted to pur-
chase airplanes in Italy and Belgium.
an effort the Italian government
blocked, and that was prevented in
Belgium by the United States govern
ment
Il have heard that" said General
Mitchell.
Says ssO,o0O,O0o Is Needed
General Mitchell emphasized the need
tor coordination of the governments
aviation activities which might lead
to the United States becoming an
equal with other great nations in this
field.
"I believe to do this" said General
Mitchell, 1856, 100000 will be needed
this year and probably not less than
soo,ooO,OOO each year thereafter. Co.
ordination under one head of army,
navy, postal and commercial aviation
IS absolutely necessary to its success
ful development. Undo~ the present
system, each branch of the government
maintains separate training schools,
buys separately and conducts indepen-
IDENTIFY. those experiments which re-
qulre large expenditure, but are neces-
sary to the progress of aviation.
Lack of concrete policy with re-
,spect to the air service has been a
big factor in the disntegration of the
service. 1t will take a year and
aalf under favorable circumstances to
build the air service up to the strength
That country like the United States
requires"