Evening star., 1925-05-19

New romance for the Navy and a
very important practical step toward
modern efficiency are recognized by
the country in Secretary Wilbur's
order that all graduates of Annapolis
shall qualify In aviation.
The action is welcomed by the Sa-
vannah Morning News as recognizing
officially that aviation is as basic in
sea warfare as navigation. "Airmen
are no longer mere scouts" remarks
the News. They are flying artillery,
E.fying machine gunners, flying bomb
ers. 1t must be recognized that avia-
ton is an important auxiliary arm and
will increase in such Importance as the
years pass"
The Presidents approval Of the idea
for both service academies is COM
mended by the Kansas City Post,
which regrets the delay in reaching
this decision. considering how thor
oughly the World War demonstrated
the Importance of the airplane," says
the Post, ''the layman will immedi-
ately wonder why extensive training
in the science Of flying was not intro
duced into the two academies at least
five years ago"
The new appeal of the service i'm
notes that ito a life on the ocean wave
is given a new element of romance to
replace that which measurably paled
through the substitution of modern
steel fortresses for the gallant old
battle frigates." The Bulletin con-
tinues: What would Clark Russell,
Capt. Marryat and Oliver Optic think
of it all? One may fancy the shade of
Gilbert humming thoughtfully for his
IL aIx ,fv.oJ CIT tolr 20 %L@
never go to sea, and you may be the
ruler of Uncle Sans Navee. ;"
Doubtless the new order will make
entrance into Annapolis more at
tractive than ever to the youths of the
country" says the Springfield Union.
1.-THE mechanics and the theory of an
airplane are bound, sooner or later, to
prove fascinating to young America. {"
Youth in material things as we'll as
in personnel is the essence of the
change, according to the New York
Evening Post. "As the younger off.
GERS of the Navy take the places of
the old fellows" predicts the Post,
1.-The opposition to the airplane will
take it's place on the retired list, with
those who have outlived the newer
defenses."
X x X
"In the meantime" warns the Pc
oria Journal, "our shortage of planes
continues to involve in controversy at
home and ridicule abroad 1t is de.
sirable that every man who wears the
uniform of the Navy shall be known
as a sailor and a flyer, but it is i'm
portant that he shall have something
to fly" The Nashville Banner sug.
gests that 'it sounds as though~ the
powers that be in the Navy might
have somewhat extensive plans for
amplifying and making more nearly
adequate the aviation end of their
outfit"
An increasing number of young
men must learn air navigation, not
only for the Navy, but for commercial
service, declares the Lansing State
Journal. The Importance Of the step
in view of conditions both in the
Pacific and in Europe is emphasized
by the Rock Island Argus. 1--WE shall
certainly possess the largest commits.
stoned force of qualified flyers to be
yielded anywhere in the seven seas, :"
is the view of the Worcester Tele-
gram. Certainly, in the opinion of the
Morgantown New Dominion, it should
aid toward making the United States
the leader"
Gen. Mttchs1ls soltribution to this