The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-10-24

OF them now by using benzol for low alti-
tudes and gasolene for higher attitudes.
Much of this material is valuable, but its
value is of a potential nature and will de-
pend what use can be made of Il in
building new machines suitable for the newer
flying demands demonstrated by expert
mentation here and abroad
1t is recognized that the pursuit one
scatter plane is the requisite of a well bal
anced air fleet. They are the fighting planes
which must lead in all future military and
naval operations. The American service is
without them, although LIDS E-5s-fast
pursuit planes-have been purchased from
Great Britain and 100 all American pursuit
planes have been ordered. They are expert
mental in character.
The authorized personnel consists of 16. 600
men and 1900 officers. There are actually
in the service to-day approximately 1850
men and 1000 officers
General Staff Checks Growth.
There is a vigorous debate on between the
general staff and the younger officers who
make up the air service. The general staff.
apparently. has not awakened to the value
OF the air service and is disincined to allow
the young child to grow too rapidly.
The younger men who actually make I'D
the air service are practically a unit in urg-
ing that a separate department of aeronau-
tics be established, which will bring about
coordination in the various branches of the
service, similar TO the plan which has been
adopted in Great Britain
They point out that the navy has an air
service of its own, the Post Office Depart
ment is building up separate service. while
there is no relationship between the govern
mental branch of the service and the pri-
vately owned commercial airship companies.
All OF these subsidiary organizations, the
-
the same relationship to the army as the
merchant marine has TO the navy The pos
tai and commercial services especially should
be building up personnel, training fiers and
furnishing ships for an emergency.
Seeking Coordination.
Army men claim the sea plane has out
lived its usefulness Their argument is that
the sea plane is built to preserve the life of
the fiiers after the plane has become a cas-
ualty. They insist this should not be taken
into consideration. Navy use of airpanes,
they insist, is no different from army use.
They are eyes and advance lighting units.
Great Britain already has built more than
one naval vessel to carry planes which fly
off and land on the deck OF the vessel, en-
abling them 10 take part in any naval bat
tie in which the fleet might become en-
RACED.
so rapidly that coordination Of commercial
flyers and commercial machines with the
Government becomes n matter of great mo-
ment. in their opinion They believe this
can be done only through the establishment
OF n separate air service which can work out
its own salvation.
IL requires. however. but a glance 10 sec
that little OF this rapid development Is taking
place on this side OF the Atlantic. Already
England Is linked TO tho Continent by air
lines operated on regular schedules the capt.
tails Of Europe are similarly connected and
routes have been established TO Africa. Great
Britain furthermore has drafted definite
plans for spreading n network Of airplanes
over every part OF the vast empire.
Meanwhile America can boast only OF an
aerial mail service which leaves much to be
desired. some experimentation in forest air
patrol work airplane committing by n little
group OF New Workers. and the promoting
Of few passenger and freight carrying en-
terprises which are In their merost infancy.
SO much for Americas development of avi-
alton since the arrnistice. What she accom-
plished I'm this line while the war was in
progress has been told largely in the reports
Of the Hughes inv estigation.
Two corporations have just announced the
most ambitious aerial enterprise so far
undertaken in America One of these. the
Aeromarine West Indies Airway Inc, is 10
inaugurate passenger and freight carrying