Evening star., 1925-12-14
AVIATION SITUATION
CALLED ALARMING
Lampert Committee Favors
One Defense Department
in Its Report.

The declaration that IAN alarming
situation" exists in the Army and
Navy Air Services. due to shortage of
flying personnel and equipment and
due further to a failure on the part
of these services duly to appreciate"
the importance of air power, was made
in the report of the Lampert aircraft
committee, announced last night. The
report, which was unanimous, charged
the Army and Navy are and have
been very conservative. if not back
ward. in recognizing the great i'm
portance of air power"
Aircraft, the committee said, "would
be the first resort of our country in
case Of war emergency" adding that
sit is one of the most essential arms
of our military defense. Aircraft has
introduced an element of mobility in
military operations that compels a re-
vision of all military plans of pre-air-
craft days. 1t has lessened the rela-
tive Importance of the battleship, but
has not eliminated the necessity of it,
The airplane becomes the necessary
auxiliary and defender of the battle
ship
Reid'S Recommendation.
Although the report, recommen ending
creation of a single department OF
national defense" and expenditure of
100000 900 annually on aviation, was
concurred in by all members. Repre-
sentative Frank r. Reid of Illinois,
Col. William Mitchell's court-martial
defense counsel, filed a supplemental
brief advocating establishment of
department of air pending the crea-
ton of a defense department.
The department proposed by the
committee, Mr.. Reid said. was a step
looking toward giving aviation CO.
equal status with land and sea arma-
ments, as details of the department
would be assigned, naturally, to as
sistants. one for the Army. one for
the Navy and one for the air"
The special committee, before which
Col. Mitchell first attacked existing
air policies, was created after Repre-
sentative Nelson, Republican, Wis
consin, in a speech in the House.
urged investigation of the relations
existing between the Government and
the aviation industry. In this con-
nection it found no evidence of
corruption
Disagrees With Air Board.
The report showed the House COM
mittee in disa agreement with the Pres
ident's Air Board in several impor-
tant particulars. The latter opposed
creation of a department of national
defense, favoring, instead establish
ment of additional aviation secretary
ships in the War. Navy and Com
merce Departments.
The two groups were agreed, how
ever, on a number of points in a gen.
eral way, particularly with respect to
increased representation for aviation
in the directing agencies of the War
and Navy Departments, elimination
of Government competition with COM
mercial aircraft manufacture, as
sistance to commercial aviation, and
the taking of steps to remove pay
and promotion difficulties complain
ed of in the Air Services.
The House committees report
which recommended reation of
Bureau of Air Navigation in the Com
merce Department to regulate and
encourage commercial aviation. said,
the essential relation of the aircraft
industry to the national defense"
was generally recognized and its i'm
portance was 'undeniable.'
The work of the Air Mail Service
was found to be assisting materially
to bring into being commercial avia-
ton" the use Of Governors Island,
New York, and Grant Park. Chicago,
Continued on Page 4, Column 81