Evening star., 1928-12-01
AIR CORPS PRAISED
AS BEST IN WORLD.
System Lauded in War Sec.
retary's Report-Marked
Progress Shown.


training system second to none in the
world," Secretary of War Dwight r.
Davis in his annual report submitted to
the President, today points with gratifl-
cation to the development of the Ma
tion's air defenses since the inaugura-
ton OF the flve-year expansion program
in July, 1927.
While boCn tiie commissioned and en-
listed strengths of the All Corps are
somewhat below that authorized for the
first increment of the five-year program,
Secretary Davis said that aircraft con-
struction has been going through a
period of Standardization and that i'm
provement In existing lines might b.
anticipated in the future rather than
changes in equipment. The numerical
decrease in equipment, he said, had
been Offset by increase in quality.
Pursuit, observation, training and
cargo types of airplanes have attained
a standardized position" the report
states; attack and bombardment types,
however, require further development.
Activities Increased.
"The number of aircraft-hours flown
has increased from $50, ,319 in 1925 to
182,903 in 1928 This increase may be
used as an index Of the enlarged ac-
tavities of the Afr Corps"
Pointing out that the Air Corps has
been considerably handicapped by the
necessity of using up large wartime
stock of Liberty engines, for reasons of
strictest economy, the Secretary of War
declares 1T is planned. however, to dis
continue the procurement of planes
equipped with Liberty engines.
Final determination of the strength
- 40 ~ If ftaa A,-,aa
solution of the promotion question
and completion of the housing program
will give the United States, in the opin-
ion Of the Secretary, "a permanent mil
itary establishment unequaled in mo-
rsle and in professional effectiveness of
o high ratio to Its small numbers"
All Elements Progress.
The aim of a stabilization of policy
during the last four years, Mr.. Davis
told the President, has resulted in un-
interrupted internal progress, with graf
flying results. All elements of the
Army have progressed markedly. Prog
reSS has not been confined to the dis
tfnctly military activities of the War
Department, but has been quite general
in all the varied non-military projects.
With an aggregate of 1915 commits
stoned, warrant officer and enlisted
strength, exclusive Of the Philippine
Scouts, at the close of the year, Mr..
Davis said the strength of the overseas
garriSons could not be depleted to pro-
vide increment for augmentation of the
Air Corps. If further reductions are
necessary--and one probably will be
during this year-they must continue to
be made In the personnel branches
within the United States.
ut is with grave concern" Mr. Davis
said, that the War Department con-
templates further reductions In branches
which within the United States total
but 66, los soldiers for an area of 3,000,-
600 square miles and a population of
over 120,00o,000
There has been a distinct elevation
of the standards of units and individ-
uals," he said. Many hundreds of off,
GERS Of the permanent establishment
have completed courses In the splendid
system OF service schools. More maneu-
vers Of varied type and extent have
been held. Many have been conducted
IN conjunction with the Navy: practi-
cally all have combined the use of air
and ground troops"
Outsts nding Points.
Outstanding points in Mr.. Davis re-
port were:
"The essential material need of the
Army, from the viewpoint of possible
participation IN war, is the develop
ment and improvement of weapons
and nateriel-a continuous effort to
assure, should emergency so demand,
the availability for production of ma
ter1cl Of types Of laSt-minute develop
ment and the existence of jigs, gauges
and dies essential for the speedy manu-
faeture Of such types. The War De-
partment has been unrelaxing In its
efforts toward this end.
In each branch of the Army boards
OF officers have under continuous in
vestigation every potential means for
the increased effectiveness of units and
of materiel. Improvements in types
have been well-nigh innumerable; the
Army keeps well in the van on all
modern development.
Action toward adequate housing of
the personnel Of the Regular Army has
resulted in a gradual but very salts
factory progress.
Subsistence Increased.
Increasing the subsistence allowance
of enlisted men has been recognized
throughout the Army as one of the
outstanding moves of the last decade
for the maintenance Of a high state of
morale.
THE National Guard has attained
the highest plane of military effective
ness in the peace-time history of this
element of our national defense forces.
The National Guard now is more highly
organized, more completely equipped
and more thoroughly trained than at
any period in the past. Its standards
have never been higher"
The aggregate strength on June 80,
1928, was 161 ,221, as compared with
177,42S on the same date four years
ago. Expansion has been slight, but
internal development has been steady
and well rounded.
AS result, the report points out, the
National Guard today stands as a well
balanced, well equipped and basically
well trained force, capable of meeting
any demands made upon 1t. Further
more" the Secretary adds, lit is pre-
pared to take its place in the front
line Of defense in any minor emer-
gency- We have every confidence in
its future"
Attend Basic Schools.
One of the most important factors
In the upbuilding of the National
Guard, he says, is the fact that during
the last four years l,49o officers and
5l4 enlisted men of the Guard have
attended the basic and advanced
schools Of the Regular Army's educa-
tional system.
The popular success of the citizens
military training camps has far ex-
ceeded the fundeSt expectations Of those
broad-viSioned leaders who were so ur-
gent In their demands that the national
defense act give full legal recognition
to this project for the physical better
uent and military instruction of Amer
iea's youth.
The subject of motorization has been
studied from all angles with view to
greater mobility OF troops The organi-
zation Of an experimental mechanical
force was instituted during the year
It has undergone a period of intensive
experimentation from which may be