The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1925-09-21
Present Report


The departments policy for tn,
organization and development Of the
air service. he said, was set forth il,
the Lassitcr board report. copy
Of which would be furnished the
board.
The acting secretary. however. had
these broad recommendations to lay
before the board at this time:
|. THE research and development
Of advanced types Of aircraft which
as shown BY the flying records. has
been wisely. efficiently and cconomi-
cally conducted by the air service,
should be continued, and, when funds
permit, expanded.
:. .Additional personnel and ma
tcrial should be made available for
the air service when government
finances permit. bat not at the cx-
pcnsc of other vital needs of the de-
partmcnt
3. A larger reserve Of flyers
should be built up when funds per
init.
Eliminate Duplication
4. Amy duplication of army and
navy service installation. if any still
exist, should be eliminated.
>. "An additional ,brigadicr gem
crui should be authorized by con-
gress to head the supply section of
the air service and to develop the
Industrial preparedness plans.
g. Restrictions on the method Of
government purchases of airplanes
should temporarily be relaxed, under
proper safeguards.
7. "A clear dclineation Of the
missions Of the army and navy in
coast defense should be adopted.
s. "The permanent housing bill
introduced by the war department in
the last congress should be passed
in order that the intolerable living
conditions now existing in many
posts may improve.
Q. "A bureau Of civil air naviga-
tion should be established under
the department of commerce.
Hit Unified Defense
AS to the proposal for the estab-
lishment Of separate department
of aeronautics to provide for a uni
fled army and navy air service. the
acting secretary called attention to
the previously expressed views of
Secretary Weeks as presenting the
attitude Of the department ON that
question, explaining that the sccre-
tary was prevented by illness from
appearing before the board Mr..
Davis quoted from Mr.. Weeks tes-
timony before congressional COM
mittce in opposition to the proposal.
In that testimony Mr.. Weeks de-
clared the 'present organization un-
der the national defense act provid-
ing for an air service as an inte-
gral part Of the army is sound and
should not be altered.'
START PROBE
Washington, Sept. 2l.--(P)
much investigated air defense of the
Nation was started on another long
probe today, with the Presidents
special air board ipheriting all the
controversial background of accusa-
tiOn and criticism in starting out to
find the facts.
The boards first witness was act
ing Secretary Of War Davis, who
first urged the boards creation af
ter the controversy over aircraft mat
ters had been stirred to new heat
by the recent charges of Col. Will
liam A. Mitchell, former assistant
army air chief. 1t was Col. Mitchell
who furnished the chief impetus for
the long investigation conducted by
Il committee of the house at the last
Congress. The hearings will be op-
en- to the public.
Davis On Stand
In calling Acting Secretary Davis,
it was the desire of the board to re-
ceive broad picture of the situation
as regards ths Army Air Service in
laying the ground work for its in
quiry into all phases Of American
aviation. Similarly the board has
called Secretary Wilbur to discuss
Naval aviation tomorrow.
Secretary Davis let it be known he
was prepared to present to the board
picture in broad outline of the
Army Air Service situation and that,
for details and developments on the
more technical side, he would re-
fer the board to qualified military
authorities whom he had selected to
accompany him to the hearing room.
These officers included Major Cen
eral Patrick, chief of the Army Air
service; Major General John l..
Hines, Chief Of staff, and Brig. Cen
eral Hugh A. Drum, assistant chief
of staff.
Prior to the start of the present
inquiry the debate over aircraft
has, with ebb and flow, been in pro-
gress since the close of the World
War.