Evening star., 1925-02-28

BON ba rdment.. NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. 1O2
pursuit. ...-.... lsO
Allack. '...''-.-
"Of these planes S29 are now in
commission and 1853 are in storage.
OF those in storage 140 have been
built since the war, and the remainder,
entirely observation and training
types, are war stock. Comparing
these planes with similar types in
other nations, the chief of Air Serv-
ice states:
1T is a fact that pursuit and bonn
bardment planes in use by the Air
Service were approximately the equal
of similar types employed by any
other nation in the world. The OH
planes, observation and Photographic.
were possibly surpassed but to no
great degree, by those used for sim
lar purposes by other nations
IF the statement that Army lead
ers are conservative Is meant to in
dicate an attitude the opposite OF
radicalism, the charge of conserva-
tism might be sustained, but that
does not mean that they are not pro-
gressive. The charge that the devel-
opment of the Air Service has been
neglected is disproved by compari-
son of the personnel and funds now
devoted to the Air Service with those
icies affecting the Air Service the
chief OF Air Service is always given
an opportunity to express his views,
and he is regarded as the air expert
Of the department, his views almost
invariably being approved.
"As regards the charge that officers
having intimate knowledge OF the
Air Service affairs are excluded from
participation in the determination of
p rnliplR0 f2CtS
are as follows:
There are at present six officers
of the Air Service eligible for detail
on the War Department general stan.
Two-the chief and assistant chief-
are not available because OF their
present positions.
Defends Present System.
Il have already expressed my posi-
tion as to the establishment of
department OF aeronautics.
believe that the present organization
under the national defense act, pro-
ytding for an air service as an inte-
grail part of the Army, is sound ana
should not be- altered"
Rear Admiral William S. Sims, COM
manding the American naval FORCES IN
European waters during the war ana
a storm center in the Navy through
ont his career, took a determined
stand for some of the policies ad-
vocated by Gen. Mitchell at the after
noon session of the committee yes
terday.
II think Mitchell has done an
enormous benefit to this country, de-
clared the admiral.
do you agree with him that a
2OO0-pound bomb can sink any pat
tleship afoat?" asked Representative
COnnectlCOt.
"I do" replied the admiral
DO YOU believe the statement OF
Gen Mitchell that the Philippines
could be taken in two weeks?' asked
Mr.. OSullivan.
II quite agree with him." said the
admiral "The situation In the Pacihc
is very unfortunate. Guam is not de-
Tended to resist determined assault,
and If it were held by the enemy our
fleet could not go by il TO fight for
the Philippines. We couldn't support
the Philippines if they wanted to take
it."
Aviation to the Navy, said the ad-
miral, has been like red flag TO
bull" Admiral Moffett, chief of the
Bureau of Aeronautics, "a very able
man, who has been offered huge sums
TO go into private life as an admin
istrator, has done a good stunt in de-
veloping aviation" he said.
Representative Reid. Republican,
Illinois, asked If it would do any good
to take the general board up In air
planes for two hours a day. think
we would lose them all" replied the
admiral.
Would it be helpful to have an
aviator on the general board?' asked
Mr.. Reid.
with a gang like that. doubt 1t.
The admiral however, won round
Of applause from the spectators when
he got the best of an argument with
REPRESENTATIVE Reid. who has quite
a reputation for breaking down the
testimony of confident witnesses. Mr..
Reid asked how the Navy General
Board could determine air policies
when its members are not flyers.
The same way your committee,
without an aviator in your member
ship and without practical knoWledge
of aircraft, can formulate air policies.
except that you are an Impartial
Judge and they are not