Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1925-05-17

gagged in a comprehensive study OF
the aviation problem, upon its sub
mission to Secretary of War Weeks.
In discussing this subject with the
press. che President indicated that IN
the development of aviation he
thought a similar course of inStruc.
ton could be prescribed for the Mill
tary Academy as that laid down for
the Naval Academy, but before max
ing public his views on this subject he
Will carefully digest not only the gen.
eral staff study, but the recommends.
tions made by the Secretary of War.
Three principal points are being
considered by the general staff in
its tsudy of the question for the
land forces. They are: 1. What
should be done at the Military Acad-
envy. ?. The plan of development TO
be followed in the Regular Army; and
3. The best plan for developing an
adequate reserve air force. The chief
consideration of the general board of
the Navy in its study of the subject
was developing aviation for the fleet,
which, in event of war, would be COM
paratively small as to the require
ments for the Army.
Plans now being considered by the
general staff. it is understood. call for
the development OF non-commissioned
officers as flyers as well as those of the
commissioned personnel. A number
of memorandums submitted to the
general staff on this subject have con-
tanned this identical suggestion, and it
would cause no surprise If 1t was one
of the recommendations contained in
the general staff's study of the subject.
Definite decision has not yet been
made as to how far the general staff
will go in its recommendations for an
aviation course at the Military Acad-
envy, but it has been decided to add a
number of subjects which will come
under the head of aeronautics, to the
Military Academy curriculum. 1t is
pointed out that in the Navy the only
bar to eventually qualifying all junior
officers as either pilots or observers
after their final qualifying courses at
the naval air training stations will be
physical disqualification.
War clouds hang low over the hori.
zon of the naval staff title controversy,
opened anew by an opinion of the
outgoing judge advocate general of
the Navy in which this officer ques-
toned the legality of the present mill
tary titles of the staff. Part of the
opposition to the equalization bill in
the Navy Department, it is stated,
was in agreement to support this bill,
providing acceptance was made by the
staff of the same titles which are held
by staff officers in the British Navy.
1t is understood, however, that a COM
nittee of staff officers rejected the
proposal
AS this is being written no memo
randum, it is stated, has been sub
mitted to the Secretary of the Navy
by the staff officers, as there appear
to be differences of opinion among Of
ficers of the staff as well as those of
the line There are some staff Off
GERS who care not for military titles
and who have indicated that they
would accept the change proposed by
the line in the event an equalization
bill was enacted into law by Con-
gresS. On the other hand, other staff
officers regard this suggestion in the
opinion as most humiliating and would
prefer to have the equalization bill de-
feated.
Knowing that his approval of the
opinion would have considerable
weight with Congress, the Secretary
of the Navy is going over the papers
in the case with extreme care, and up
TO this writing it is not known what
course of action he will take. In the
event that the Secretary gives his ap-
proval, 1t is pointed out that this will
force legislative action. The admis-
sion was made by Chairman Butler of
who was in Washington few days
ago, that if any recommendations were
submitted, his committee would be