The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-11-30
INFANTRY EST1
 ARMY'SBACKB0l SAYS .PERSHENC
Generals Report Asks Greatest Increase In
 Air Service
(By Associated Press. )

made do not altogether warrant con- clusions that either seacoast defenses or battleship protection can be dis pended with, General John J. Pershing finds in his last annual report as Chief of Staff of the army, made public to- day at the War Department.
 Summing up both actual experience with ariplane bombing results in the world war and subsequent bombing tests against capital ships, the former com mander of the American Expeditionary Forces said: .. 70.
 "Of course, some damage was done | by aircraft bombing, and 1t would doubt less he somewhat greater in another war. but until 1t becomes vastly more probable than at present demonstrated. | then it cannot be said that we are in position to abandon past experience in warfare"
 General Pershing declares, however, that the most vital present need of the army is an increase in the air service and gradual development of its person. nel and equipment. Especially because of it's ability to observe enemy move ment, he declared, the air service is essential to armies in the field, although the infantry is still "the backbone of the attack and the role of other arms is to help 1t reach the enemy" j, Progress Discussed
 Discussing the army air progress, the report said:
 "Our experience in the World war as to airplane production and the train. ing of personnel should be continuously borne in mind by all who appreciate the role of aviation in modern warfare. Early in 1917, it will be recalled, an Appropriation of $800, ,000, 900 was hasti- ly made with what seemed to be an ef- tort to overcome previous inexcusable neglect to make provision even for ex- perimental investigation, to say nothing of preparation for manufacture of air planes. The voice of criticism for pre- vious inaction was apparently stilled, for the time being, by the loudly heralded purposes to send 50,000 airplanes to tho western front, declaration that later brought many an embarrassing moment to those of us abroad who knew how baseless and boastful such claims were:
 1t is a matter of record that even the type of plane to be put in produc- tion was not decided upon until several months after we entered the war, and that no American plane was flown in battle until August, 1918, and only some coo planes had been sent to the front before the Armistice. Service Essential
 "The Air Service has become an essential aid to armies in the field, es- pecially because of it's ability to ob- serve and obtain valuable information as to the immediate enemy battlefront. It is now possible for observers to di- rect the fire of our artillery from the air."
 "Entirusists often forget the obli- gations of military aviation to other troops, and sometimes credit that serv- ice with ability to achieve results in war that have not received practical demonstration. Take, for example, the bombing tests last year in Chesapeake Bay. The maneuvrer showed that under the most favorable circumstances bombs of destructive size could be dropped exercises, the vessel was at anchor in aviation, nor was there any anti-air- craft used against the bombing planes.
 Conclusions, from such trials, that aviation can take the place of either seacoast or battle fleet protection do not seem to be altogether warranted. Improvements in the accuracy of anti aircraft artillery appear to Be keeping pace with Improvements in aviation. Our own experiments against airplanes show that to avoid the danger of de- struction they must fly at such height as to eliminate the probability of accu- rate firing, and this would especially apply to bombing planes whih have a limit as to altitude.
 This brings up claims as to poison gases, and how whole populations can be wiped out, according to some theor- ists, by dropping gas bombs.
 We are therefore logically forced back to the conclusion that armies must still fight our battles-and to win must overcome the opposing forces. The infantry still remains the backbone of the attack and the role of other arms Is to help it reach the enemy. All must work in cooperation to that end
 The air service on land should re- main an auxiliary arm in our service, available as now for independent use in mass or otherwise wherever necessary, but always under the orders of the Conmmahder-in- Chief of the armies. Our air service should be developed every reasonable extent both as to personnel and material.
 Improve Condition
 AS one step to improve ary air sery- ice conditions, General Pershing recom- mended the training of larger propor- ton" Of non-commissioned pilots.
 Second among the army's needs, Gen. TIo bringing overseas garrisons to prescribed strength, To carry out effectively the army's mission in peace times, he said. the strength of the regular army should be maintained at 18,0OO officers and 15Oy000 men.
 Reviewing the postwar development of the National Guard, General Persb- ing found the service to be Thriving" but recommended that the aggregate strength of the guard be fixed at 200 0OO in the active units instead fo 2h0- OOO as at present. The other 50. GOO would be composed of deferred units" he said.
 Taking up the organized reserves General Psrshing commented at length on results of the September Defense rest, but pointed out that the task Of giving adequate training to reserve officers, who constitute the backbone Of the system, was filled with diff culties. u'ili-
 The report called attention to tbs promotion blockade in the resuAsr, army particularly in the grade of captain ana urged that provision for nelective promotion of captains affecting 10 per cent or so of the list be asked AF con