Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-08-19
ITALY BECOMING
AIR CONSCIOUS
Aviation Resources Are Al
ready Second Only to
Those of France.
BY CARROLL BINDER.

italy" is one Of the cardinal principles
In the fascist creed
This nation Of 10000 600 already ha!
military aviation resources second n
Europe only 70 those Of France. II i:
Il eXcelled onlv by Germany and France
in the development Of its civil aviation
4 That impressive record does not satisfy
4 Premier AfuSsolinl and his fellow
IsscistS They wish Italy to make
greater strides in the use Of the air
foT both civil and military purposes
NuSScllni himself envlSageS "A day when
*Ttalian airpianeS will darken the sun
Il and deafen the inhabitants Of the
earth with ths sound Of their motors.
An American observer Of the italian
campaign 10 make Italy unconscious
Is reminded Of methods similar to a
Fec Cross relief campaign, a Liberty
lean drive and army recruiting With
touch Of an old-fashione6 religious
Revival Through these varied appeals
the faSclsts en6eavor to drive home
&c italians the importance of aviation.
tbs glory Of being an aviator or the
relative Of an aviator and the patriot
Ism Of cheerfully aiding Italy to have
e1crs and better planes The govern
nsent meanwhile demonstrates Its own
esrreStneSs by granting its ministry Of
aviation presided over by II Duce) an
annual budget Of s5S,oooooo
Selling the Nation an Idea.
With perfect knowledge Of the Italian
ensntality the sponsors Of the air pro-
k1sr1 fan national pride by furthering
tFery undertaking which promises to
arouse enthusiasm in the achievement
q Italian planes and Italian birdmen.
Every Italian journal devotes COL
en1nS 10 spectacular achievements by
italian aviators The birdmen are
popular heroes whose activity is ia
k1lisr TO their fellow eountrvmen.
kviators are held up to youth as the
heal heroes and aviation as the ideal
tereer. Pray that your son will be-
tome an aviator and that your dsugh-
teT may be chosen in marriage By
IN aviator. said Secretary Balbo OF the
Dir ministry 10 a meeting of parents.
NTtaly is rediscovering her chevaliers
81 ether days" said Balbo in another
iervent discourse in the italian cham
eer They are her blue-clad aviators"
Every member of parliament is sup
pissed TO qualify as an aviator.
Naturally, there is no dearth of pi-
hts N Italy I spent a Gay recently
A. the Royal Aeronautical School in a
klng Of the mammoth Bourbon palace
u Caserta. not far from Naples. Three
hundred alert young Italians are taking
three-year course in aviation in this
italian Versailles" The academy is
tnly five years old. but already its pres
sge is such that there is eager compe-
nFicn for admission. and parents are
tLling to pay tuition fees which are
fairly steep for Italian standards
Young as 1t is, this school has ira
hitions as set as those of West Point
and Its curriculum is as stiff as that
ot older Italian military schools l
Fas present at the AIR baptism of a
hsw class Of the academy. II was
an inspiring ceremony, bound to in
eulcate an esprit de corps in the avn
ttion wing OF the Italian services
Fhicn must be priceless from the
standpoint Of morale. Seasoned air
men such as De Pinedo embraced the
Foung cadets and becanas the spon-
sors Of their air careers" The in
structors in nearly ali branches of
Ftu6y are themselves aviators and the
Elrectcr Of the school is famous war
aviator
In the several Italian schools of
aviation there are zoo student aviators
-Four hundred pilots were graduated
i-cm these schools In 1927. The pu-
pills Of the civil schools of aviation few
$4,000 hours and 3.10T 900 miles last
ga AAE ia lGN6A dLNA-
tents among students was only Ia1
per cent according TO Secretary Balbo
The Aero Club tries TO enlist every
nsn, woman and child in Italy in the
ealsa Of aviation. It's most recent
kEort n this direction was q popular
subscription for the wings Of Italy"
Only small contributions we're accepted
from school children. trade unions, the
fascist militia, fascist party members
and private individuals A check for
hearty nalf million dollars raised In
this fashion was recently presented to
Premier MussoIini BY the president Of
ncney over 10 Secretary Balbo for the
construction Of military airplanes
Eaeh Italian region must provide one
forced landing place entirely at It's own
expense. Already there are a number
q excellent fields. but the government
csElres q hundred in addition 10 the
existing network. Club centers pro-
Yiced with small airplanes =.
Wants 1000 Planes.
Italy" said Secretary Balbo in an
c1hc1al report 10 the chamber "can
count or 1900 planes. OF which 1000
are ready for immediate Use in war
france admits having $40 ready for
action and 4,0o0 reserve planes Eng
lsnc has IT'S in active service and 500
N reserve. while Jugoslavia has 400
planes IN active service and $50 in re-
serve. Ttaly's air budget, he said. is
S55 600 900. but there are hopes of aug
n1entlng that sum. France. Secretary
Baloo believes from his study Of her
somewhat obscure budgetary figures
spends over S67 900 900 in aviation
activities d various sorts at home and
1r the colonies England, with fewer
pianek ne believes spends SOS. 600 600
CT aviation. Jugoslavias air budget
according 70 Eslbo Is about 81. 500 600
italy enYlssges a great future for
civil aviation and hopes greatly II i'm
prove ner present facilities. the under
secretary for aviation told the Chamber
In order % give herself the fullest
degree 81 air defense and keep mare
with her nelghDor-' expenditures Sec
TstarE bzloo told the chamber. italy
shoulc have 1850 planes and an annual
puget for aviation Of $3.50 900 600
That u beyond tne dreams Of present.
Gay uaiy, however the 2-year-old
minister conceded. The goal for The
nsaf future therefore Is 1000 fighting
planes and 300 Or 500 scouting planes
Tor me army and the navy. with that
slr tcrcs and ar air conscious nation
ne believes Italy can face the world
WIN eqQsnlmliy-snd be prepared r.
assume me offensive in the even. Of
war Ins next war saws Esi5o yllJ
pe K the air and II viii be Won by
ne naflpn which is best IN offensive
tRn'lng