Evening star., 1925-12-08

sive policy in accordance with our
ideals of equality. The provision for
more suitable housing, to be paid for
out Of funds derived from the sale OF
excess lands, pending before the last
Congress. ought to be brought forward
and passed. Reasonable requirements
ought to be made to maintain a sufn
cient ammunition reserve.
The Navy has the full treaty ton
mage Of capital ships. Work is going
forward in undermining the older ones
building aircraft carriers, additional
fleet submarines and fast scout cruis
ers, but we are carefully avoiding
anything that might be construed as
competition in armaments with
other nations. The joint Army and
Navy maneuvers at Hawaii. followed
by the cruise of full battle fleet to
Australia and New Zealand, were sue
cessfully carried out. These demon
strations revealed a most satisfac
tory condition of the ships and the
men engaged.
Relation Of Aircraft to Warships.
Last year at my suggestion the Gen
eral Board Of the Navy made an in
vestfgatfon and report on the rela
ton of aircraft to warships. AS a re
suit, authorizations and appropria
ttons were made for more scout cruis
ers and fleet submarines and for com
pleting aircraft carriers and equippins
them with necessary planes. Addi
tional training in aviation was begun
at the Military and Naval academies
A method of coordination and coop
Grafton Of the Army and Navy and
the principal aircraft builders Is be
ing perfected. AT the suggestion OF
the Secretaries of War and Navy, ]
appointed a special board to make a
further study of the problem of air.
craft.
The report of the Air Board ought
to be reassurinig to the country, graft
flying to the service and satisfactory
to the Congress. 1t is thoroughly
complete aand represents the mature
thought Of the best talent in the
country. No radical change in organi
cation Of the service seems necessary
The departments of War, Navy and
Commerce should each be provided
with an additional assistant secre
tary, not necessarily with statutory
duties, but who would be available
under the direction of the Secretary
to give especial attention to air navi
cation. We must have an air strength
worthy of America. Provision should
bC LUZ t"o duultiOldI DIlPdultl
generals for the Army Air Service
Temporary rank corresponding to
their duties should be awarded to &C.
tive flying officers in both Army and
Navy.
Aviation Held of Importance.
Aviation is of great Importance both
for national defense and commercial
development. We ought to proceed
in its improvement by the necessary
experiment and investigation. Our
country Is not behind in this art. 1t
has made records for speed and for
the excellence of its planes. 1t ought
to go on maintaining it's manufactur.
ing plants capable of rapid produc.
ton, giving national assistance to the
laying out of airWays, equipping it.
self with moderate number of planes
and keeping an air force trained to the
highest efficiency.
While l am thorough believer in
national defense and entirely commit
ted to the policy of adequate prepara
ton, l am just as thoroughly opposed
TO instigating or participating in a
policy of competitive armaments. Nor
does preparation mean a policy of
militariZing. Our people and indus
tries are SolicitouS for the cause OF
our country, and have great respect
for the Army and Navy and for the
uniform worn by the men who stand
ready at all times for our protection
to encounter the dangers and perils
necessary to military service, but a