Evening star., 1925-10-12

he was ready to concede that enough
planes and spares are not available
fully to take care Of (the Air Serv
ices plans" but in view of the mil
lions spent he said, il is not TOO
much to expect more than is in eNi-
dence in tangible results"
Says War Always Seen.
Why, the demands" he continued.
"of some of these bureau people who
come before US would bankrupt the
Government. The Army and Navy
are the least concerned where the
money is coming from. They always
see war on the horizon and want
to be ready at the drop Of a hat to
go after or meet the other fellow
IT don't condemn them for that, bu1
do condemn them when Congress
has appropriated all that the country
can afford for trying to blame Con
gress when they find themselves il
difficulty because they have not
wisely applied the money placed al
their dispo sal.
Assailing the experimental policy OF
the two air services as having de
veloped almost if not quite nothing.
Mr.. Madden cited statements before
the House appropriations committee
by both Maj. Gen. Patrick and Real.
Admiral William A. Moffett, naval air
chief, as TO the result of that policy.
Quoting Admiral Moffett as having
told the committee that the Nays
experimental expenditures have re
suited in placing it "on a parity. II
not in advance, of other nations. III
SO far as types Of aircraft are con
cerned" Mr.. Madden declared he
could find no evidence of it.
He cited statement of Gen. Patrick
that larger scale production by the
Army without the experimental worI
would have been money throw.
away on obsolete and inefhcient
planes. with the observation:
II fear this so-called research WORK
has been mostly wasted.
Stating that he favored confinlng
activities of the two air services 10
practice flying for war training, MI.
Madden declared:
THE purpose OF either Army OF
Navy during peace time Is to prepare
for war The joyriding cruise
around the world, jumps across the
North Pole, etc, serve no purpose IN
this training. The air services should
confine their flying to flying definitely
established as q training for war.
Mr. Madden said his proposal con
templated establishing an aircraft
procurement office for the two serV-
ices. in charge of civilian, with au-
thority to deal witE manufacturers
ION a liberal basis" and under GER
tain liberal restrictions to purchase
without competitive bidding.
Comparing American air. approprla-
tions with those of other nations. he
gave these figures for the fiscal year
1924:
Great Britain, sS3.42i,3S4: France,
s65, ,261,619. and Japan, SO, 100000.
"Our $4,000, 900 average" he added.
| docs not suffer by comparison"
Among other things, he advocated
the training of more enlisted men as
pilots.
Board Maps Plans.
The Air Board has mapped out the
remainder of its inquiry to take In par
ticularly commercial and legislative
angles of the aircraft situation, with
the aim of completing the taking OF
testimony this week.
The board desires to have all nee
essary information in hand as early
as possible In order to give opportu
nifty for thorough study in drawing up
its report before Congress convenes.
as desired by President Coolidge.
Barring the opening of new fields Of
controversy in the remaining testi-
mony, it hopes to adhere 10 the pro
gram of concluding hearings this
week.
Witnesses scheduled for early hear
ing are Rear Admiral William S.
Sims. retired, and Postmaster General
New. the latter being recalled for fur
ther questioning on the Air Mail Serv-
ice.
Particular interest attached to Ad-
miral Sims appearance because OF
his assertion before the House air
craft committee last Winter that the
afrplane carrier had displaced the
battIeship in first rank Of importance
in the Navy. Under orders Of the
Navy Department, Rear Admiral
Robert Z. Coontz. until recently in
command of the United States fleet
also has come to Washington to hold
himself in readiness to testify should
the board desire to hear him.
The board also has allotted part Of
its remaining time to hearing aircraft
manufacturers and representatives Of