The Monmouth inquirer., 1926-07-15

the government to turn rne afr mali
over to private interests. 1.-THE time
is at hand when the government can
step out of the air mail business and
let private interests gradually take
over the service he said. Il don't
think that the handling of mail alone
will pay on air lines. The successful
lines must be prepared to carry not
only mail but high-class express, and
eventually passengers. That will come
when the American public has been
trained to realize that airways have
business possibilities"
1t is readily granted both here and
abroad that In its air mail service the
United States ranks first. But, ac-
cording to a review made recently by
the New York Trust company, in pas
senger and freight service Europe is
far ahead of the United States. Ayia-
ton lines, most Of them privately
owned with government subsidies, are
an established part of the transporta-
ton service on the Continent.
This review further states that in
France, now maintaining the strong
est military air service with the
largest number of planes, the opera
ton of the thirteen commercial lines
has been consolidated into five heavily
subsidized companies. Punctuality is
rated as high as 80 per cent, with the
same degree of safety as on the rail-
roads. Efforts are being made to es-
tablish connections between Paris and
the main capitals of the world, and to
organize a Mediterranean aerial sys-
TEN connecting France with the Near
East and South America.
The German lines, although not as
fully developed, have shown less def
cit than the French and. are less de-
pendent upon government subsidy, ac-
cording to the review. Their activity
has been concentrated into three great
trunk lines, the Europe System being
the most powerful. This system
controls most of the strategic air
routes in middle Europe. comprising
airplane service in Germany, Austria.
Switzerland, Denmark, Sweden, Dan
zig, Latvia, Esthonia, Finland and
Russia.
In the development of commercial
aviation abroad Turkey fills novel
chapter. When, late in 1925, the en-
thusiasm over aviation became nations
wide committee composed of depu-
ties, army officers and professional
men made a house-to-house canvass
seeking a contribution from each fam
lily according to the income. Balls and
fetes We're given to swell the fund for
the establishment of a passenger,
commercial and mail service between
Constantinople and Angora.
Thus commercial aviation is pro-
crossing all over the world In Eng
land a new organization became eff
fective in April, 1924, when the exist
ing companies were consolidated into
the Imperial Air Transport company
Ltd, which has monopoly of COM
mercial areonautical operations. In
Mexico, the governor of the state Of
Tabasco last year requested permits
sion to establish hydroplane service
between villahermosa, capital of the
state, and Puerto Mexico and Vera
Cruz. Air service between the United
States and Cuba, via Key West and
Havana, was resumed last year. In
Canada commercial aviation, accord
ing to reports, is progressing at an
amazing rate. Plans to link Europe
with South American countries have
repeatedly been considered, both in
Paris and Berlin.
Down at the other end of the world
in Cape Town, the first South African
air mail fight was completed success
fully in February, 1925, when airmen
flew the 900 miles between Cape Town
and Durham in eleven hours.