The sun., 1919-08-13
URGES Big AIRCRAFT
PROGRAMME IN U. S.
Benedict Cromwell Tells What
Other Nations Are Doing
in Plea to Baker.
GENERALIZATION NEEDED
Report Of Mission Recommends
New Department and a
Secretary of Air.
Special DespafcA 70 TIE Sun.

Spectot Deep0tch 10 THE Sun.
WASHINGTON, Aug. IA national
air service. operating under a~Cabinet
officer to be known as Secretary for Air,
Is recommended to the War Department
by Benedict Crowell, the Assistant Sec
rotary of War, and the American Avia-
ton Mission, of which he was head.
Secretary Baker made public the report
of the mission to-day, together with a
statement opposing a centralized air SER
vice.
The report of Mr.. Crowell Is based on
exhaustive first hand information OBJ
tanned by months OF study in Europe
and by complete and thorough investi-
cation of the subject in Great Britain,
Italy and France. Mr.. Crowell was di-
rected to make the investigation by Mr..
Baker, and It is an open secret that at
the outset the Assistant Secretary was
strongly inclined to share the War De-
partment's prejudice against the cen
tralized air service idea. But facts have
convinced Mr.. Crowell of the necessity
to follow the new plan, and his report
teens with important information which
he and his associates on the mission
gained by exhaustive investigation.
The recommendations Of Mr.. Crowell
support the aviation bill introduced in
the Senate by Senator New (Ind.), who
has been pressing the centralized air ser
vice idea. Both Secretary. OF War
Baker and Secretary Daniels have OPP
| posed the plan, and service opinion in
both the army and the navy has been
| against It. A special investigating COM
mittee of the House is now wrestling
with this among other problems concern
ing the War Department, and 1t is ex-
| pected the recommendations of Mr..
Crowell will have great weight.
Made Exhaustive study.
After Indicating the methods followed
by the mission in making its investiga-
ton and showing that every important
official from Marshal Foch down had
been interviewed or the subject, Mr..
| Crowell says:
I'm all countries visited, and IN the
| minds of all persons met in conference,
appears an extraordinary similarity in
| condition and In conclusions drawn from
the experiences of the five difficult years
| OF mistake and achievement in the prose-
| cution of the war. Perhaps no stronger
or more simple presentation of the re-
/ gard in which the future Of aviation is
held in allied countries can be given
than by a quotation from two letters OF
NJ. Clemenceau. copies of which were OBJ
tanned in France:
THE first is addressed to the Presi.
dent of the United States. urging upor
him the immediate consideration of mat
tiers aeronautical and in connection with
the Peace Congress. The second is ad.
dressed to the President of the Republic
Of France, submitting the draft of 9
decree creating a separate department
Of aeronautlcs, placed temporarily un'
der the Ministry OF War, an interme'
! dia6e step possible without Legislation
and looking to the early creation of ar
independent Ministry of the Air:
February 16, 1919.
ITO the President Of the Republic o.
the United States:
"'MR. PRESIDENT have the honor e
acknowledge the receipt of you answer
of February I to my letter of Januar!
"a. I enclose herewith copies Of thu
letters which / have received from Lore
Miner II from Mons. Orlando, as wei
as my replies.
Tam pleased to note that you agree
in principle with my proposition to ere
ate an aviation committee for after thu
war. l take the liberty OF insisting or
the necessity of creating this committee
without delay, in order to be able L
utilize 1t as an advisory organ for thu
peace conference. Indeed. the clause!
for aerial protection seem TO me to hav,
at least an Importance equal TO tn
clauses for military and naval protec
ton and 1t is OF the greatest interest Il
have a study made by competent per
sonalities of the measures to TAX,
against the eventual constitution OF 1
German military fleet. l cannot insis
too strongly on the lmperious necessit!
of this study, on account of the prox
unity of Germany to London, Brussels
Paris and Rome.
Likewise l adhere entirely to tn,
British proposition. which seems to m,
practical and effective. and 1 request yo,
likewise to give it attention. In case /
seems acceptable TO you. 1 wish yo,
would let me know II you could dele
gate two representatives to the mex
meeting Of the new lnterallied commit
tee, which will take place on Thursday
March 6. at 10 o'clock. at the Director,
of Aeronautics, 260 Boulevard Stoer
main.
please accept, Mr.. President, the as
surance Of my highest consideration, sc
(Signed) "'CLEMENcEAU.'"
Urges Action In France.
Following this Mr.. Crowell gives tn
report OF the French Republic, date,
June 6, 1919:
"MR. PRESIDENT: II has deyel