Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1926-02-26
NEWS REVIEW OF
CURRENT EVENTS
Congress Fairly Liberal in
Appropriations for the
National Defense.
BY EDWARD W. PlcKARD

BY EDWARD w. PicKARD
I Unless congress changes its mind,
~ the army and navy. and especial
ly the air services, are to be well pro-
vided for In the appropriation meas
ures. Last week the senate passed
the naval supply bill carrying in round
figures 1921 100000. this total includ-
Ing S26,000000 for aircraft and naval
aviation. The same day the War de-
partment appropriation bill went
through the house. This measure car
ries 1888. 100000. of which s15.256.000
is to be expended for aviation Incl
deatally, this house bill provides for a
lump sum appropriation of SJ0.000.000
for rivers and harbors work.
These two measures are intended to
carry the army and navy only
through the next fiscal year which be-
gins July l. but the house committee
on nayal affairs recommended the
adoption of a iIve-year naval aircraft
building program which calls for the
construction of 1000 new planes at a
cost OF $s5.0O0,000. Administration
leaders We're confident this would be
passed during this session. Rear Ad-
miraI Moffatts plan called for the ex-
| penditure Of $250,000,0O0 in FIVE
years, hut the more conservative pro-
gram was all the committee cared to
| recommend In view of President
Coolldge's position on economy.
The committee proposes the con-
struction Of 235 airplanes at cost Of
s12, ,2s5, 900 in the fiscal year 1927 in
addition to rs planes at a cost Of S3,-
100000 under other legislation In
addition the committee proposes the
construction of two rigid airships
costing $S,0OO0OO to be begun prior
to July /, 1927, and an experimental
metal-clad airshlp costing 100000.
The pending naval appropriation
bill contemplates the expenditure Of
not more than 100000 on new air.
craft In the fiscal year 1927. Under
| the program recommended the re-
| quirement for 1927 would be between
| s13O00.0OO and s20,O0OO00. Repre-
sentative French, In charge of naval
| appropriations, said that the addition
| al amount Of from $4,O00,0O0 to SILL
| 100000 would not be appropriated for
1927 unless the budget bureau should
recommend it. This puts the realiza-
tion of the naval aircraft construction
program up to the Executive.
Il
INSPECTOR GENERAL HELM
4 LICK'S investigation, ordered by
Secretary Of War Davis, disclosed
| that two officers Of the army air serv-
ice had been guilty of objectionable
activities In attempting to influence
air service legislation" Maj. Henry
II. Arnold. information officer in the
Office Of Major General Patrick, chief
of the air service, was declared the
more culpable and in addition TO being
| reprimanded he will be transferred by
| General Patrick to a station less
| pleasant than Washington. Mai. Her
| bert A. Dargue, chief of the war plans
| division of the service. escapes with
a reprimand The seyerer discipline
is imposed on Major Arnold because
he has been long conspicuous in the
| propaganda for separate air service.
He is described by many officers as
having been 'the eyes Of Colonel
| Mitchell" In the air service during
the months which intervened between
/ Mltchell's removal from the post of
assistant chief Of air service and the
close of his court-martial.
The intimations that the inquiry
! would involve General Patrick were
shown to be unfounded when he was
permitted to assist in 1t and to an
nounce its findings
! rTWO Of the army's most eminent
i aviators. both of them members Of
the round-the-worId flight, have an
nounced that they are about to resign
from the army In order to attempt to
fly over the North pole this summer.
They are Lieut.. Leigh Wade and Lieut..
&. H. Ogden. and they will be first
aud second In command Of the expe-
dition. respectively. They and their
easn..totas orn honfrad hv "a oroatn NJ