Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-02-08


opposing the air policies OF President
Coolidge and are employing disloyal
methods in carrying forward the
agitation for separate air corps.
To establish the facts two separate
inquiries have been ordered by the
Secretary One phase has been
placed in the hands OF Maj. Gen. Eli
y. Helmick, Inspector general of the
Army. Another has been intruSted
. 10 Mai. Gen Mason NJ. Patrick, chief
of the Air Service.
Action Waits Full Data.
Whether disciplinary action will be
taken by the War Secretary depends
upon the nature and completeness of
The information collected. 1t is con-
coded to be within the realm of posi-
bilities that a general Shakeup OF Air
Service personnel, including court
martial proceedings similar to those
which preceded the exit Of Col. Nit
chen from the Army will follow.
While Mr.. Davis and other depart
r7ent officials decline to disclose the
evidence which led TO the decision for
a sweeping lveStigatlon, 1t is known
that the War Secretary has in his
ments believed by some departmental
authorities to have been mimeograph-
ed and distributed through Air Sery-
ice headquarters. These called upon
recipients. believed TO be Air Service
officers on duty with National Guard
and reserve orga mutations throughout
the country, to get busy In their
support Of the Air Corps bill.
Reported activities of air officers
In furnishing Congressman with pre-
pared statements intended for distri-
button through their offices at the
Capitol and supporting other legiSla-
tive proposals for alteration of the
Presidents air policy also will be care
fully inquired into by the Investigate
ors.
Coolidge Backs Board.
It is we'll understood by all Army
officers that President Coolidge con-
ours In the conclusions Of his Air
. Board, which recommended against
the separate air service advocated by
Mitchell, and proposed instead that air
personnel be placed under q special as
Sistant secretary of War. and remain
IN integral part Of the Army.
Nevertheless Gen. Patrick recently
vent before a House committee and
renewed his advocacy of a separate
corps. A bill embodying his recon-
nendations was introduced immediate
l. afterward, and now is before the
House.
one of the anonymous circulars now
IN Secretary Davis possession, and
represented as having been distributed
srom Air Service headquarters, de
ClareS there must be more educational
work in Congress. and urges recipients
Uf the circular to get busy" with SEN
atorS and Representatives in the in
tereSt of a separate air corps.
War Department officials are con.
sidering this language In the light OF
the declaration of President Coolidge
i, when he approved the Mitchell court
martial findings.
Holds Discipline Vital.
The theory of government" said
the President, implies that every of
fetal SO long as he retains office shall
comport himself with respect toward
his superiors. This is especially true
of those of the military service. Unless
This rule is applied there can be nc
discipline in the Army and Navy
without which these two forces would
of defense, but would become actually
~ menace to society. Discipline is the
whole basis of military training"
The circular urging educational
work" for a separate Air Corps has
attached to 1t summary of Gen.
= patrick'S recent testimony, in which
he held that the Air Board recon-
mendationS do not go far enough.
1T Is the general opinion" said the
circular, that the military affairs
committee of the House of Represen-
tatives looks with favor upon a reor.
ganiZation of the Air Service along
the same general lines rs the Marine
Corps is now orga nized under the Sec
retary of the Navy. This idea was
presented to them by Gen. Patrick
when he appeared before them as a
witness on January 26 and q Of this
year.
There is no doubt but that If the
military committee reports favorably
upon such a reorga nization to the
House it VIII have a decided effect
upon that body when the bill comes
TO vote. For the past year much
work has been done in an endeavor
10 educate Congress along general
aviation lines and impress upon them
the actual power Of an air force.
Explains Own Purpose.
1--WE have tried to put across the
idea of reorganization. in which the
Air Service can be developed and op.
Grated SO that 1t will be able to give
its maximum efficiency and effective
ness.
This educational work is as much
yours as 1t Is ours, and now Is the
psychological moment for you to get
busy. There is more interest in avi
alton throughout the United States
now than we can hope to attain again
Tor many years TO come. so that there
will never he a better opportunity
Than right now to try and get recog
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