Evening star., 1924-08-17
BY ROBERT j. BROWN, Jr,

nH have indeed concentrated the
wv work of century into clcle
/ i of the sun. Less than two
centuries ago the ordinances
Of certain European cities prohibited
street lights on the principle that dark
ness had been orgained by a divine
power and must not be desecrated.
Years ago in our own country severe
punishment was inflicted where persons
who dared to express an unusual
Thought were convicted of witch
craft, and at a still later date some
laughed at the steamboat and others
3:crcd at the first steam locomotive.
The rapid development of the science
of aeronautics has to a certain extent
stilled the jeers of the skeptics, and
now one hesitates to place limitations
on the future progress in this field of
endeavor..
The vision of speeding through
space at the rate Of over 266
miles an hour. with forest, plain
sea and mountain racing by in Ia
leidoscopic view on continued voy-
age through the air; out Of sight of
land only four times and then less
than two hours each time; covering
10000 miles and passing over % ma
tions of the globe and making COM
plete circumnavigation of the world
I'm less than five days will in the not
1ar-distant future became raeality.
Although continuous flying over SO
many miles is at present beyond the
human endurance of one man, it still
lies within the realm of possibility
that the world can be encircled with
in five days, bearing in mind the fact
that airplanes have already made
more than 266 miles an hour and
have rcfueled in the air while in flight.
1t remains only for a world airway with
the people of our country the impor-
1ance of aviation in national defense.
extent, apparently due to the division
and consequent natural inclination of
of our Nation.
Such an achievement requires ex-
ploration and pioneer work, and this
is being undertaken by the afrplanes
"f the Army Air Service which are
now swinging out over the North At
lantic Ocean and the last long mile
of an air voyage around the world
and rapidly bringing to a close one
of the most hazardous and thrilling
exploits in history, replete with dam
gers and hardships never before en-
rountered by man.
r :: :: ::
THE Army Air Service has conduct
ed an uphill fight to bring before
the people of our country the import
ance of aviation in national defense.
Although military and naval defense
policies are now laid down, there is
still total lack of policy for air
defense in our country. This is par
ticularly true of New England, which
has not a single combat unit of the
small air force now authorized for
the United States. This is, to some
extent, apparently due to the diviSio
of the responsibility for aerial de-
fense between the Army and Navy,
and consequent natural inclination Of
these two services to think along
lines in which they have been for
merly trained. and overlook the inn
portance of air power in the defense
of our nation.
Then there is also the natural re-
action which normally occurs during
retrenchment following every great
war. Burdened with taxes caused by
war expenditures, the citizens OF the
Republic are quite naturally demand
ing that the expenses of armaments
be reduced to a minimum, and conse-
quentiy our Legislators, knowing this
attitude, and finding few active sup
porterS of air-defenSe policy In the
military and naval services, have
taken no decided action to regulate,
control or build up aeronautics, either
commercially or in the services.
Other great nations, with longer
and moro bitter experience in the
World War, are active in building up
the dir uSlGHSe oI tuelT respective
countries and in establishing a def
mite policy of air defense in their re-
spective nations.
Tagging behind the other great
powers of the globe our Army Air
Service finds itself today, with it's
small annual appropriations for the
procurement and operation Of aircraft.
practically demobilized. In spite of
this fact the demands for the use Of
Army airplanes and the assistance of
Air Service personnel in carrying out
peace-time projects is daily increas-
ing.
The Army has always been a FORE
runner of progress; it explored our
great Northwest territory; it estab-
lished outposts of civilization during
the settlement of our country; it
guarded the trails for the covered
wagon; it established railroads and
built highways and assisted and pro-
tected the early settlers and pioneers
during the westward growth of our
Nation.
Following out this progressive policy
in spite of the small appropriation for
Government aircraft and the failure
of commercial aeronautics to develop
and support our aircraft industry.
American ingenuity and invention
have contrived, through the direct
efforts of the Army Air Service, to
place the United States foremost
among the nations of the world in
development and progress in the sci
ence of aviation.
The Army Air Service has brought
to America practically all the i'm
portant aeronautical records of the
world. Today this country holds 81
world records for airplane perform
snce. Three of these 81 are held by
the Navy; the % others by the Air
Service of the Army. !.
These include speed records for
various distances, duration and dis
tance records. The altitude record.
until recently held by the Army, is
now held by France. These three rec
ords held by the Navy are for high
speed and were, until 1923. held by
the Army. There is no doubt that
the combat planes developed by the
United States Army are the fastest
and most efficient combat airplanes
of the world, but unfortunately very
few of these can be purchased each
year with the small amount of money
made available by Congress, and as a
result our aircraft industry, depend
ing as 1t is for it's existence on Gov
ernment support, is gradually van
ishing.
MAJ. GEN MASON NJ. PATRICK,
4vA chief Of Air Service of the
United States Army. is fully alive to
the possibilities and Importance of
this new arm of national defense,
which has developed SO rapidly dur
ing the past few years. Practically
all the world records held by the
Army Air Service have been brought
to the United States during Gen. Pat
rfck's tenure Of office. Many prof.
Gets, including bombing maneuvers