Evening star., 1925-03-27

As / have said in ending the last in
stallment, some one in authority should
tackle our aviation problem as whole.
Army and Navy aviation are going their
separate ways without much thought OF
coordination for defense in case of a
sudden attack by air. No one except
a few enthusiasts in the Post Office
Department is doing anything for com
mercial flying. And civilian aviation.
as all the European governments rec
ognized long ago, has prime impor-
tance in defensive scheme.
When the Spanish armada ap-
preached the shores of England the
British merchant shippers were mobil-
lied for defense; 1t was their skilful
seamanship. rather than that of the
regular navy, which beat King Phil
lips men. The airplane is probably just
about as advanced in specialized de-
velopment as was the fighting ship of
Elizabeth's day. A strong and healthy
civilian airplane business would pro-
vide constant reserve OF expert pro-
fessional Pilots. To mobilize them and
instruct them in army maneuvers would
be only matter of weeks whereas to
| train new material TO anything like the
same standard Of efficiency would take
years.
A fourishing airplane industry would
| workmen, tuned up to begin intensive
work in case of an emergency. Per-
haps most vitally of ALL il would assure
reserve OF good engines. Even now
adays an airplane can be built about a
| motor in less than month; but engine
building takes time.
scope of United Service.
All this Is the logic in Gen. Mitchell 6
| proposal for a united air force. IL
would be organized a separate de-
partment of the Government, its head
| a secretary with a seat in the cabinet.
1t would have the oversight OF COM
mercial aviation, the control of mall
| flying and forest fire patrol flying. II
| would farm out" personnel and planes
| to the Army and Navy as needed II
| would maneuver our air forces as a
whole. 1t would determine the types
| Of machines, let the contracts, main
! tain the Government. repair works and
| factories. The objections on the part
of the Regular Army and Navy-they
are logical, tool have stated as
went along.
| Probably, when the matter come:
| mp before the new Congress, we shall
| compromise. A milder alternative
| plan finds some favor in the Air Serv-
| ice and even among old-line officers
| Organize both Army and Navy avi-
| alton on the plan of the Marine Corps
| The Army Air Corps, for example
| would have its own staff, its own sys'
| tenn of training, its own commanding
| general responsible to the Secretary
| Of War, and the same for the Navy
so the aviators, while free to worl
out their problems In their own way
would be attached permanently tC
| one senior arm or the other. They
1 nnnld cd fa al IN hA n,
| ties of Army and Navy fighting. Thi:
| would remove one valid objection tt
| the united air force.
| Finally, the Mitchell plant i:
| really an adaptation of the British
| plan-involves drastic change IL
| our whole scheme of organization
for war. We need, says Mitchell, {
| supreme head over the whole bust
| ness-a secretary of national de
tense. Under him the secretaries o,
! Navy, Army and Aviation would b,
mere subordinates.
British Moving Along.
Theoretically. we have such an of
! fetal in the person of the President
! Practically, we have not. He eoulC
| COO ordinate the entire scheme. TIL.
| British, while they have not gone 81
| far, have at least created their Coun
| Gil of National Defense. This bod,
| possesses large powers. 1t can de
| eide in crisis whether the Army, tn
/ Navy, or the air force shall be th'
| dominant arm
This settles at once that question
| of precedent which may paralyZe ac
! ton in case of sudden emergency
/ Failing a secretary of national de
| tense, military experts in Congress
are considering a plan to create ou1
own council of national defense. con
sisting of the Secretaries of War
| Navy, State and Treasury-and. o
! course, the President.
| In case Congress let's things slid
or in case IL reorganizes the Air Serv
| ice on the Marine Corps plan. some
thing must be done about commercia