Evening star., 1923-12-23
SCORES AIR INERTIA.

"The United States, with neither
military or>civil air policy. is expos
ing our great industrial area to
bombing attacks by airplanes taking
off from a hostile fleet beyond our
coast defenses."
This condition of aerial unprepar-
edness was emphasized last night by
Representative Roy G. Fitzgerald of
Ohio, leading advocate in Congress
of aviation development as a most
important. arm of national defense, in
commenting upon the address of the
Duke of Sutherland, undersecretary
OF state for air of Great Britain, at a
dinner in the Shoreham Hotel last
night
In pointing out the vulnerable con-
dition of this country for any nation
which seeks aggression and censur-
ing the Army and Navy for indecision
or inertia and Congress for failure to
act decisively, Representative Fjtz-
gerald speaks with authority, for he
has the confidence of those in this
country best informed regarding ayi-
alton from the viewpoint of national
defense and of commerce.
Strength of British.
The Duke of Sutherland stressed
ahHess OF tne British air
forces, but Representative Fitzgerald
pointed out that Great Britain at
least has military and civil air
policy He also argued that Great
Britain supports her aircraft in
dustry. her military air forces and
civilian aviation by appropriation
and subsidies.
"The United States has no military
AID s compained p1e kepcsssntrsye oar s4ss, FtaSs
area is within the radius Of action
of Present-day bombing airpianes
lauIfShed from a hostile fleet lying
on our coasts. The lack Of a proper
military air policy leaves this area
and the President approved an % act
giving to the Army air service con-
troll of all aerial operations from
sonnel nor facilities adequate for the
defense of our coastal areas have
been provided the Army air service.
Apparently Congress has been be-
wiidered by the Continued request OF
naval aviation for shore stations dot
ting our coasts, and because of the
duplication of the mission assigned
the Army, apparent In such installa-
quately for either service.
Cause OF Situation.
This situation apparently is due
l.
of the War and Navy departments,
who maintain, despite the will Of
Congress, a joint policy which not
only permits but directs operations
by naval aircraft from shore sta
tions. 1t is apparent that Congress
must speak so plainly that our mill
tary services will no longer disregard
their expressed will and when Con-
Eress speaks 1t should authorize and
appropriate for the Army air serv-
ice personnel and money sufficient
to insure the adequate defense of our
coastal areas.
"It is believed that our inertia in
the development of commercial aerial
transportation is due not to the hesi-
fancy or to the lack of enterprise of
Ahe American people, but to the fall
ure of Congress to provide regulatory
laws.
"It may be that the aeronautical
conditions in Great Britain are un-
satisfactory to the Duke of Suther-
land. Representative FITZGERALD.
Even so, Great Britain in those re-
spects. which are necessary for her
sure defense from aerial attack, is in
a position better by far than these
United States. Doubtless, Great Brit
ain has been asleep. She may have
just realised that no longer 10 she an
insular nation, but that any part of
the English Isles lies within the
radius Of action of bombing aircraft
launched 1sona- han can4inAntsl- -aA&Sh-
bOrE,r