The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1919-07-23
(sY DAVID LAWRENCE

Washington, July 23.-(Copyrighted
1919 for Chattanooga News)-Ameri-
cas- air service Is literally going to
pieces. Plans for the defense of The
United States and its possessions by
air are being abandoned because there
are not enough pilots and experienced
flyers to handle service squadrons. De-
Tense of the Mexican border which has
been in progress for the last fortnight
and Is half complete cannot go forward.
Airplane companies are going out OF
business and Japan is asking the Unit
ed States to sell her large quantities
of Liberty motors manufactured for use
in France, but-not used.
These facts may startle the average
reader-such things, he will say, cannot
be going on in Washington after all the
hullabaloo raised about aircraft during
the war. Yet these statements can be
verified at the air service OF the United
States army today. They probably VIII
come out some day in the course OF
congressional inquires-after the DAM
age is done--but as usual when one
branch of the government is democratic
and another is republican the interest
of the public gets a severe jolt. Con-
gress, dominated by the republicans, has
cut down the size of the army and the
money available for its use. The war
department, managed by the demo-
Gratis. is quietly following out the pro-
gram set by congressional appropria-
tons and neither President Wilson nor
Secretary Baker is raising voice in
protest Neither side is accepting re-
sponsibility for what is happening put
the big fact is that the air service on
which the American people have been
relying for coast defense and border
patrol is shortly to be brought almost
to the same status which it had before
the European war began in 1914.
CONGRESS Started Ball Rolling.
Congress started the ball rolling by
cutting down appropriations for the
army. The war department finding
itself without funds to keep commas
stoned officers has now ordered that be-
fore September so next, all officers
holding commissions will be discharged
and that the peace time army be CONF
manded only by officers in the regular
army. Unfortunately the air service
was one of the smallest branches OF the
army before the war and the order
hits the aerial establishment harder
than any other.
Under the new requirements only 250
officers are allotted to the air service.
These must be regular army men, IL SO
happens that out of that $50, only ABOUT
one fourth actually have had flying eX-
perience. The great bulk OF Americas
great flying corps of thousands OF pilots
came from CIVIL NE icSCiNiii6' eShHPN'
airy commissions.
The permanent officers, however. will
be responsible for the aerial defense OF
the United States and outlying possess
sions. 1t is estimated that there /
would be officers enough only for three |
if the whole number could !
be assigned to this duty.
Air Defense Plan Abandoned.
So the air service must practically |
abandon its defenses in Hawaii and the |
| 'hilippines and must forego its plans |
for the defense of the Mexican border |
1t had been planned after the recent |
hearings before congress that seven |
service sQuadrons be modified Tor uuty |
on the Mexican border Brig. Gen. Wll-
liam +. Mitchell, who commanded the
American air forces on the western
front made a hurried trip through
Texas and mapped out system OF de-
rensive operations. Seven squadrons
we're to be equipped and nine airdomes
Quilt at convenient stations between
Yuma and Brownsville stretching across
The entire international line. -Four OF
these airdomes were 80 be used for pa
.rol work and three for bombardment
,urposes. About 40 airplanes were to
,e used including 100 bombing ma
hines. 49,,
This work had been half completed
when the war departments order was
ssued Now it is doubtful whether
here are enough officers available 10
nan a single squadron Originally, II
will be remembered, he war depart
nent informed congress that total OF
6 sauadrons or $50 officers and $4,000
nen were needed for the protection OF
he United States in the air. Only one
,alf of that number of enlisted men
re now available, but they are useless
Without officers-experienced pilots.
Senator News Resolution
What is the solution? Some members
# congress like Senator Harry New
f Indiana, republican. think it must
lie in an Independent air service.
otherwise If kept together with the
rmy and navy aeronautics will suffer
he usual neglect which befalls auXil-
lry branches of the. army and navy.
t is urged also that separate COM
1ittees on aeronautics be created IN
he senate and house of representa-
ives.
Not only are there military necessi-
les involved in concentrating all the
ircraft under a single department of
he government, but the whole question
safeguarding the lives of civilians
flights of inexperienced pilots
J involved. Similarly the United
tates must cooperate with foreign
overnments in setting up landing fields
,r international flights.
Again, separate air service would
Ike charge of aerial development over
cas-. England is today planning a mail
ervice north and south through the
,ntin emit of Africa from Cairo to
apetown. Drigibles have already
-ossed the Atlantic Army aviators
IL me 1t is feasible to establish mail
by air between North
nd South America and across the
acific to Hawaii. Guam, the Philip
mes. Japan and China.
Involves Public Interest.
Many projects for transcontinental
wing are before the air service. Mail
rvice between New York and San
by air is PREDICTED within
lort time. Civilian and military
,ases OF aeronautics were just begin
ng to become an absorbing study for
e daring aviators returned from over
as. BY a single war department or
r and by a single cut in appropria-
1ns by congress. all these ambitious
ojects were suddenly dashed to pieces
ID the air service itself reduced to a
ere fragment. More than 1000 planes.
900 motors and 1000 balloons of all
pes must be cared for. The worl;
8 hitherto been done by temporary
Ulcers. Some of the 20 permanent Of
ers must now he assigned to that
ty. The experienced flyers must 20
ok to civil life-they will soon lose
e knack Of flying. Funds are not
ailable to recruit and train new