The Bozeman courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1919-1954, 1923-10-10
AIR SERVICE
MUST BE KEPT Up
ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF WAR
SAYS OUR AIR EQUIPMENT
BELOW SAFETY POINT

Washington, Oct. 9-"Mars is not
a follower of DR.. Coue," declares As
sistant Secretary of War Dwight
Davis, who sounds a warning to the
Nation On the danger of permitting
our Air Service to become impotent as
a vital branch of national defense.
What are we, as a Nation, doing to
safeguard ourselves against these
dangers that menace us?" asks Mr..
Davis, after reviewing what is being
done by European nations in develop
ing tremendous engines of war for
operation in the air. And he answers
by declaring, "Alas, pitifully little.
We have reduced our Army Air Ser
vice below the safety point for ma
tional defense until it's actual strength
today is only 915 officers and about
5000 men. We have failed to pro-
vide even this meager force with ade-
quate equipment for training, much
less for combat needs"
Mr.. Davis presents a few figures to
show the serious condition confronting
our Army Air Service. These figures
show the number of planes needed
solely for training and include new
planes to be delivered each year, but
do not include any planes for val re-
serve Or for combat. In 1922, as a
result of the large number of planes
on hand after the armistice, we had a
surplus of all types of 2,125 planes; in
1923, this surplus was reduced to TAG;
in 1924, we will have a shortage of
planes, needed solely for training, of
265. In 1925, if the appropriations are
not increased, our shortage will be
S61, and in 1926, the shortage will be
Laps. I'VE are literally starving to
death this vital branch of our national
defense" declares Mr.. Davis, but
"even more serious than this is the
fact that our airplane industry is
also starving to death. The threaten
ed extinction of the aeroplane indus
try is a national peril and must be
averted. 1t is our national policy to
use existing commercial facilities tC
the greatest possible extent, rather
than to maintain large military estab.
lishments in time of peace. 1t is vital
therefore, that both the Government
and private citizens do everything thai
can be legitimately done to encourag,
the development of the commercial
aircraft industry in this country. Al
aircraft industry, established on {
sound commercial basis, could, in time
of emergency be rapidly converted tt
the needs of national Defense"
That other countries are thorough
ly awake to the necessity of aircraft
development is evidenced by the fac
that Great Britain has an air servicC
personnel of $1,000 officers and men
while her appropriations for aviation
purposes last year amounted to abou'
$55, 700 1000. Recently she has pro
vided for a considerable increase il
air force an dshe is doing all she cal
to encourage commercial aerial trans
portation. France has the stronges
force of any country. She has 11,40I
planes in commission and twice a
many in reserve, and her air service
appropriations last year amounted t.
247,000, 900 francs. Italy, under tn
new Prime Minister, has allotte,
100000, 900 Ira to increase the al
force and not less than 1000 of tn
most modern airplanes will be in com
mission soon.
Who does not remember the ghast
ly situation which arose when we en-
tered the war and when we were pro
missed 10000 planes at the front b
July, 1918? Not one showed up. T
meet its requirements for a war pro
gram today the War Department
would need IL months for training
planes, 9 months for observation, 1
months for attack, II months fo
? bombing, and 18 months for pursui
. planes. The American Legion ha
petitioned for an international cor
ference to limit airplane construction
This, of course, would be applicabl
only to military planes. Should tn
conference be called, and should
accomplish its purpose, we would sti
D be obliged by every consideration c
e national safety to develop q CONNER
: cial aircraft industry.