Evening star., 1923-10-02
JUS. TAGGING MA|R,
+ SAYS GEN. PATRICK
Other Nations Taking Place
Wright Brothers Gave Us,
He Tells Congress.
By the Associated Press.

BY tne Assoc1ated Pfess.
ST. LOUIS, Mo, October 2.-The
United States is far behind in avia-
ton progress, Maj. Gen. Mason NJ.
Patrick, chief of the. Army air serv-
ice, declared in an address at the an
nual banquet last night of the Ma
tional Aero Congress, which Is being
held here in conjunction with the in
ternational air races.
America was once first in the air,
when two of her gifted sons, the Wright
brothers, taught the world to fly" he
said. But now we are woefully be-
hind, and other nations are taking the
place in the development and prog
ress Of aviation that we should have
and rightfulIy, deserve"
Asks More Money.
The general made an earnest plea
for support from Congress for in
creased appropriations which would
enable the air service to keep reason
ably abreast Of foreign powers in
aviation.
Dwight Davis, assistant secretary
OF war and personal representative
America is in imminent peril through
the deterioration of it's air force He
revealed that through diminishing
support from Congress since the
world war armfstfce air service equip
ment and personnel have so decreased
that by 1925 the Army will be 1,400
airplanes deficient even for the
skeleton organization at present au-
thorfzed by Congress. The nature of
the industry is SUCH. he said, that it
oil 70 trI%
months for the construction of the
necessary aircraft needed by America
In event war were declared and an
enemy power should attempt an in
vasion.
OppOSes Legion Proposal.
Referring to the American Legion's s
proposal for Limitation of air arma-
chief of the naval bureau of aero
nautics, declared that such a proposal
would hamper the development of a
vehicle useful to civilization. He said
that the matter was considered by
both the Army and Navy at the Hnni-
tation of arms conference at wash
ington and IL was decided that If IL
were carried out IL would sound the
death knell for American aviation.
Admiral Moffett predicted that avi-
In three days instead of five, the time
now required by ocean liners, and
that China would be reached in from
three to four days. America, he added
mas great opportunity in the devel-
opment OF such craft as the FRI be-
cause her tests are far reaching and
Will have a tremendous effect on
future transportation.
Air Mail to BE Increased.
Paul Henderson. second assistant
postmaster general, in charge of the
air mail service, announced that early
next spring the Post Office Department
would fnaugurate day and night fly
ing between New York and San Fran
cisco. He said that the department
coast to coast in twenty-seyen hours
on the westward journey and thirty
hours coming east. the difference in
time being the result of the prevailing
westerly winds.
Howard E. Coffin Of Detroit. who
was reelected, president Of the Ma
tional Aeronautical Association. paid
that aviation still Is in its infancy.
Mr. Coffin previously had an
nounced that he would not be a can
didate to succeed himself, and, ac-
cording to members Of the nominal
ing, committee, W. Frank Carter of
st. Louis had been offered the presi-
dency OF the organization. Mr.. Car
ter, however, declined the nominal
tion on the grounds that his age and
other interests prohibited his accept
ing! A lively fight ensued which de-
vefoped Into a deadlock for the NOM
ination batween T. p. Attersou, Day
ton; Elmer A. Sperry, New York, and
B. H Mulvihill OF Pittsburgh. Mr.
Coffin was prevailed upon to accept
the nomination to break the dead
lock and was elected unanimously.