Evening star., 1919-04-06
AIR SERVICE MAY
Be INDEPENDENT
Bill Failed in Congress at
Last Session, But Action
Soon Is Advocated.
NAVY OPPOSES PRoJEC!

Among the more important bills
that were caught in the jam and fall.
ed of passage during the last Con-
gress was one providing for the sepa-
ration of the air service from the
Army and Navy and it's establishment
of distinct department and fighting
branch.
The enactment of this Senate bill.
it's advocates say. would mean that
the United States had profited by it's
war experiences and that this country
stood ready to set the pace in the
future development of military and
commercial aeronautirs. 1t would
also mean that the air as-well as the
land and the sea was to be well taken
care of in the promotion OF the ma
tion's fighting machinery.
Next Session May Act.
1t is now believed by those advo-
ice from the Army and Navy that this
Senate bill will receive favorable
| treatment at the next session Of Con
gress. They have reason, to believe
that the Senate military affairs com
mittee will push it through to success.
They realize, though. that this will be
accomplished only after serious
struggle 1t is. no secret that the Navy
| is opposed to the plan and that the
Army is only 1ukewarm toward the
idea. The general staff of the Army
! and the higher officials of the service
have made known their opposition to
the plan
However, those Army officers favor
ing. the plan are most enthusiastic in
| their advocacy of it as the real
means of promoting greater efficiency
IN the general military service and
the development of the fighting forces
n c try 1l,y
unanimous in contending that the war
| forces of the United States must now
be considered and maintained under
| three distinct divisions-those of the
| land, of the sea and of the air.
They point out that the air forces
VIII operate against all hostile air,
| land and sea forces and at the same
time cooperate with their own land
and sea forces. They explain that by
means of this plan the air forces can
more readily be used for purposes of
| combat. reconnaissance. patrol, con-
voy, transport and liaison..
To Compete SUCCESSFULLY.
| 1t is evident, they say, that without
| adequate air fleet the land and sea
! forces of a nation will be easily defeat
cd by a strong enemy with adequate
well organized air forces. Therefore,
| to be able to compete successfully in
the air fighting of the future, these
| officers argue, the national government
| must assume and maintain supervision
! and control of the air, both for civil
and military purposes that for pur-
] pose of training and instruction of Off
GERS and other personnel of the air
| service an academy similar to West
Point and Annapolis should be estab-
| llshed that there. should be crea ted an
! air department similar to that of the
present War Department or of the Navy
! Department, and that the air depart
ment should be charged with the duty
|, of transportation of mail and parcel
post. and all meteorological and aero
logical work be assigned to this depart
ment. 1t is also proposed to bring all
aerial or wireless telegraph and tele-
phone operation under the supervision
| and control Of this department ,r
The advocates. Of the air DEPART
ment plan also point out that Great
Britain realized the Importance of
making a distinct fighting branch Of
her air service. and. according to re-
ports. the efficiency of the latter was
! wonderfully increased in the world
war. France followed suit during
the latter part of the war. but a
| short time before the cessation of
hostilities changed back to the: old
condition OF things.
t Despite existing differences of
opinion regarding the separation. of
the air service, there is general spec
ulatfon as to the lack of a general
pr1pgrdm Tor the deVe{Opment OF the
| Am erican air service. All agree that
| a we'll defined program looking to
1 nava I, military and commercial needs,
| is ma cessary at this time
1t as realized by all war experts
that ma army or navy, no matter what
its size or training. can be of much
use without a formidable air service.
l. Dete1Tn fned to remain in the fore
front of aerial development. and to
| insure its present enviable position,
Great Britain is planning carefully
for the future, it is reported Large
iappropriatiA MS are promised Scien-
tific investiA ations for the improve
ment of all types of machines are be-
ing conducted The air ministry es-
| tablished during the war to meet the
emergencies oG the time, rs to be con-
tinued as a permanent part of the
government.
While in the. Knitted States the gov
!ernments aviatiAn program is deemed
| to be indefinite, pS>culiarly enough, the
Navy Department at present is show
| ing unusual intere st in the develop
ment of aviation. 1t is known that
the navy Is. most enthusiastic over
! aviation and that a. is likewise es-
pecally jealous of ana attempt to cre-
ate a central authority over all avia-
| tion as is proposed in the bill for an
| air department.
Dhl TIhA0Dr lLI0kIVCAI MAD