Evening star., 1925-10-02

Hawaiian defense, Rodgers said:
Keep what we have and add to 1T"
IF you were In command OF air
forces there how many planes would
you WANT" asked Bingham.
We need - planes of the PNS
type.
Also 80 torpedo planes. I'm not
much struck on this type, but maybe
they will be all right when we get
them.
THE Navy should have Fort Island
We would then have about enough
room for war activities.
Give the Army another place. They
are perfectly willing to go II given
place. which has not been done.
The Army forces should have more
bombing planes
Position Of Flyers.
Departing from his prepared state
ment. Comdr. Rodgers. in short. chop
py sentences, but in picturesque Ian
guaGe. discussed the personnel aitua-
ton In naval aviation. There are a
number Of ayhtors 80 years old who
have enough ability to comma nd big
ger positions and, therefore. deserve
promotion. he said. In the past 1t was
the custom to take an officer outsbf the
ing course. and then put him in a
squadron. where he would be senior In
rank. but with no experience. Our
aviators now have gotten to the age
where they can handle jobs and should
be given rank commensurate with
them.
1t would be better to keep them in
aviation, but take them out one year
in five or six to give them a rest.
Comdr. Rodgers said. They deserve
flying pay, not for flying around in the
they get in the air. We all felt we
would get a rest when We started on
the flight across the OCEAN
"Roses" Hard to Get.
Comdr. Rodgers aviators had told
him roses" were easier to get out.
side than In aviation.
What is a rose" asked Chairman
Morrow?
It's a letter. from the commanding
officer telling what a fine fellow he ia
and that his work had been done very
well, the witness replied.
Senator Bingham of Connecticut
asked why 1t was so difficult to get
roses in aviation?
Because if you do the thing right.
that's what ought to happen. If some
thing fails, that should not happen"
he replied.
Great Publicity Risk.
As commanding officer Of the naval
air station. Pearl Harbor, he said he
recommended one man for rose"
come, that's ALP he added. There
was no criticism of the lack of dec
orations for the men who made the
transatlanti fight. he said. because
opportunity to fly was enough dec
oration." and the spectators applauded.
There is a great publicity risk in
aviation" continued the witness. "If
l had como down on the Hawaiian
trip before Snody Nieut. Allen P.
snody. pilot Of Pms. No. - "a be
ruined in aviation" he said. Take
the position Of Maj. Martin of the
world flight. His position was seri-
ously affected moro than IL he had
not gone on the flight. There was
every reason to believe that Snody
would go along. because his plane was
In better condition. A pipe line broke
and down he comes. I don't say 1t
counts against him, but 1t does not
40 any good. 1t would have been
better II he hadn't started"
Asked Change in Law.
Comdr. Rodgers pleaded for a
change in the law which requires
naval aviator to qualify in every-
thing and limit his knowledge to ship
tactics, navigation and administration.
Aviation officers now, on going up for
examination, must answer questions
about submarines 1t is practically
impossible. he said, for all limo ON.
GERS to know everything, and he rec
commended that they be allowed one
or two specialties.
Comdr. Rodgers appeared in the
hearing room about 10 minutes before
the session opened and was warmly
applauded, He took his place on tho
stand and began reading over his pre-
pared statement. Eight photographers
formed semi-circle in front of him
and when one of the number asked
the onicer to look up please" he said:
Let me alone" and they did HowI
ever. after checking over his state
ment he obligingly posed for the
camera men. He wore the regulation
blue uniform. with gold wings, and
still carried his index finger of the
left hand in bandages.
The board adjourned until Monday
after hearing Comdr. Rodgers
testimony.
Want Conditions CHANGED.
Five other naval aviators. appear
ing at the afternoon session Of the
board yesterday. Endorsed the idea of
separate air corps in the Navy as
expressed by Lieut.. Comdr. r. r.
Paunack and Lieut.. Comdr. H. T.
Bartlett, who told the board at the
morning session Of the widespread de-
sire to have conditions changed.