Evening star., 1922-02-26
BY BEN M'KELWAY.


COUTH America promises to be-
. come the field for a rapid
iA growth in the use of the air
plane for commercial trans
! portation as the result of keen COM
petition between manufacturers OF
aeronautfcal equipment In the United
States and Europe to make aviation
a part of the Latin American pro-
gram of development. Virtually
every government in South America
has shown sympathetic interest in
the modern uses of the airplane and
by generous appropriations they are
encouraging every effort to make its
commercial adaptability practical.
1t is interesting to note that at
time when the United States with its
vast resources and tremendous op-
portunity for the development of
commercial aviation, is considering
dispensing with its aerial mail serv-
ice, Latin American countries are 60
ing steadily forward with the estab-
liahment CT airlines for the trans
purtation of freight. mail and pas
sengers. And those who have
studied the situation at first hand in
Latin America today report woeful
lack of characteristic Yankee enter
prise in the face of a rapi:.y in
creasing European competition in
putting afrplanes on the market Re-
porting recently on the arrival of
French, Italian and British aviation
missions in Argentina, which held
public demonstrations of their ma
chimes. an American government Of
f1cial states that outside the aero
nautical accomplishments gained by
the demonstrations. they make ex-
cellent commercial propaganda in
mpressing the natives as to the pro-
gressivenesS of the nations repre-
sented. and it has become a common
question in the minds and prints of
the people. Where are the Ameri-
can planes?"
Americans are not unrepresented
on the field. for American planes
have been sold to Latin American
governments. and American aviators
have made favorable impressions In
their demonstrations But in the
greater undertakings toward estab-
fishing large aviation projects, ii
would seem that European competi-
tion-British, Italian and French
particularly-is winning out. Nearly
every commercial report cabled from
South America to the Department of
Commerce here shows the applica-
tion Of some foreign concern for
right to establish an aerial transpor-
tation line; or the consideration by
some Latin American government of
a European bid to furnish govern
ment aeronautical equipment Rarely
is found mention of American avIa-
tion activity.
In study of what Latin American
republics are doing in aviation Bra
I'll and Argentina stand out par
ticularly as showing marked pro-
greSSiveneSS.
For some time now Brazil has been
entertaining a project advanced by a
British concern for the establish
ment of an airline system connect
ing the principal cities of the country,
ited amount of freight would be
carried. Brazil is a large country
and it is big undertaking. but one
which promises success. The gov.
ernment itself is planning to connect
Rio de Janeiro and Porto Allegro by
two systems. one to follow the coast.
equipped with hydroplanes, another
to pass inland through the most i'm
portant political, industrial and COM
mercial .centers. airplanes being used.
The ministry of marine of Brazil has
d
sum during 1922 for aviation, and
European manufacturers are dou-
bling their efforts to sell their prod
ucts.
The state of Sac Paulo, Brazil. re-
Gently purchased nine American
planes to be used with it's state
police force. Brazil now maintaines
a large school Of military aviation in
Rio de Jeneiro, where French in
structors are retained. In addition
to this school, a British company
maintains a civil school for the ia
struction of civilian pilots.
Italian capitalists have reached an
ernment for the establishment of an
aerial mail and passenger service be-
tween Buenos Aires and Montevideo.
Caproni planes will be used and If
the line is successful it will be ex-
tended to other Argentine cities. The
Britain is to operate an airline for
mail and passenger service between
Buenos Aires and Pernambuco, the
machines to fly by day and stop by
night at points where passengers
viii pu, h up at nr,ties hotels Owned Rat ana
ish, Italian and French aviation
missions recently visited Argentina,
displaying and demonstrating diff
ferent types of commercial and mill
tary airplanes. Great. Britain has
kept up interest in aviation by ad-
vertising q projected "blimp" flight
from London to Buenos Aires.
Argentina has two aviation schools
for the army and navy. A special
budget for aviation development was