The sun., 1919-03-13
Bureau Chiefs Said to Have
Demanded Subjugation
of Filters.
ROW REACHED CABINET
Baker, Daniels and Burleson
Favored Plan-Why Kenly
Was Shelved.
SpeciaI Despatoh to TIE suN.

of Military Aeronautics, his reduction
TO q Colonel of Artillery and the deter
.Snination to reduce the air service OF
tho army to a small minimum of fiiers
and mechanics occurred only after a
bitter fight inside the army organiza-
,tion, THE Sun was informed to-day.
1t was broadly limited that a situa-
ton was brought about making 1t
plain to the Secretary of War that the
plans for a real peace time air service
would have to be ditched or the resig-
nation OF at least one high officer OF
tho General Staff would be rendered.
! The whole fight centred about the
desire of some of the air service OFF,
GERS, including Col. Kenny, to insure
the development OF aircraft in the
United States and the determination
of military bureau chiefs in the War
Department to relegate the laboriously
built UP air service to the status of a
mere bureau, so that of the expected
army of little over a half million the
air service would be but O small frac-
.tion, as has always been the case with
cavalry and some other branches.
Debated by Cabinet.
, According to the information reaching
THE SUN the matter was even threshed
out in the Cabinet, with the Secretary
of War standing by the General Stan
plan to make the air service bureau
of the War Department and nothing
more, carrying with 1t the certainty of
wrecking the personnel of trained fiiers
and trained aeronautcal mechanics as
well as making it necessary to dispose
OF or store away the great bulk OF the
aircraft material accumulated during the
war at enormous cost.
The plan was conceived, according to
THE SUMS informant, by Gen. March
as a means of insuring tho continued
control of the military establishment by
the Chief of Staff. nominally represent
tnR the General Staff, Corps 1t was
supported by Secretaries Baker Daniels
and Burleson because it involved re-
tanning aviation branches In the War.
Navy and Post Office departments and
1t involved the removal 'of Major-Gen
kenly because the latter had testified
before the Senate Military Committee In
favor OF separate department or an
independent bureau for the handling Of
aircraft problems q.
Gen. Kenly had been warned that II
he sought to urge a real peace aircraft
establishment he would feel the wrath
of the Chief OF staff; Kenly took the
position that he would have to tell the
of suffering thereby.
The attitude of the Chief Of STAFF to-
ward military aeronautics has demon
allied the personnel completely, accord
ing to statements Of officers. Under War
Department orders aviation comman-
ders now are directed to discharge all
enlisted men who desire discharge and
all officers who do not apply for COM
missions in the regular military estab-
lishment.
Furthermore the General Staff plan
involves the elimination OF all right OF
selection for the highly technical en-
listed grades in the air service all re-
cruits are to come through infantry
sources and be trained for their work
after their enlistment
The effect of this order is two fold.
In the first place, in view of the hos
tility of the General STAFF. thousands of
highly trained mechanics who otherwise
would be willing to remain in the air
craft work are insisting upon relea sc
pilot officers who appreciate how vitality
important trained mechanics are to the
man who flies have no disposition to
remain in the flying game at undue risk
OF life and limb.
VIII Hurt Industry.
Men in Washington and elsewhere
; who have worked throughout the war
period to improve aircraft production
assert that the action OF Secretary Ba-
ker and Gen, March, If permitted to
stand. will sound the doom of progress
, in aircraft production and the leave the
United States again hopelessly behind
other nations.
Despite statements OF Mr. Creel's ex-
Committee of Information army hiers
say this country is two years behind
Great Britain, which according to an Of
fetal announcement of the British Gov
, eminent. plans to so ahead upon the
same basis as during the war. maintain
ing its air forces independent of the mill
tary and naval establishments. The fol-
lowing announcement was pointed to to-
day in refutal of the report being cir
. culated by friends OF the chief of stan
that Great Britain is going back to the
pre-war status as far as its air service
is concerned:
, THE secretary to the Air Ministry is
authorized to state that the status of
the Ministry is in no way changed. It
remains a completely separate and indie
pendent Ministry, the sole connection
with the War Office being thaL-One Ss"-
rotary of State controls both depart
ments. The Royal Air Force also re-
mains separate and independent force,
its relations with the navy and army
continuing unaltered.
To Continue Work.
THE Air Ministry is proceeding in
general accordance with the recommen-
datiops of the civil aerial transport COM
mittee 10 carry into effect legislation
and international agreements required
TO enable civil aviation to be recon-
lnenGed soon as possible. To provide
for the needs Of civil aviation as we'll as
for the needs Of the Royal Air Force re-
organization OF the Air Ministry Is neces-
sary and that reorganization is being
prepared.
Meanwhile the following arrange
ments will be made. The orders in
council constituting the Air Council will
be amended 10 as TO provide that the
parliamentary Under Secretary of State
Major-Gen. Seeley, G b., c. NJ. c., D. S.
o., who is eX-officio vice-presldent OF ths
Air Council, will be charged with re-
sponsibillty TO the Secretary Of State
for all the business of the Air Council
under the general direction OF the Sec
rotary OF State.
''The responsibility hitherto placed on
the parliamentary Under Secretary of
State for the finance. contracts and lands
business NJ the Royal Air Force will be
transferred 10 the Marquis Of London
derry, who will be appointed an add
tional member of the Air Council, and
at the request OF Lord Curzon will
represent the Air Ministry In the House
OF Lords"