Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-01

use Of aviation against U-boat bases
was entirely a naval matter. The orig
inaI allotment Of Liberty engines to the
Navy was confirmed, but the output was
not as great as expected, and the allies
and our Army were far short OF the
number of engines required.
While naval airplane operations
against submarines would have been OF
value in the long run, airplanes pos
sessed no advantages over destroyers
and were certainly of no immediate aid
in meeting the crisis that confronted
us on the western front, and that was
the most important consideration.
Our aviators had begun TO appear
over the front lines, where they were
badly needed to reinforce the French,
who were as short of flyers as they
were of mechanies. We had already fur
nisned 4,2OO mechanics and had, agreed
TO send q sttll greater number, espe-
cially to assist In the manufacture OF
planes. While on April we had only
one air squadron in action-my old
squadron of the Mexican punitive ex-
pedition.-the number May is had in
creased TO eight, and these were all
equipped with French airplanes.
The usefulness of our Air Service
during this period could hardly be
overestimated. as previously the enemy
seemed to have the superiority when
ever he cared to use it. That its i'm
portance was duly recognized Is shown
| by q letter June IL from Gen. Foch
in which he said that the results OBJ
tanned by the direct use in battle Of
allied pursuit and bombardment avia-
ton in the recent offensiyes had been
without precedent.
Had II Air Squadrons.
Foch also suggested that still greater
concentration of aviation would be an
essential factor in future operations. It
was, therefore, desirable that all avail
able air forces under our control be
prepared for active service, not only to
aid allied endeavor at the moment, but
10 qualify our aviators for early service
with our own armies. When the Ger
man offensive began July is the num-
Der of our squadrons had increased to
81, out of total Of so we had ex-
| pected to have at the frcnt by. this
time.
My diary at this point notes q con-
| ference with Gen. Bethel on the semi
monthly accumulation Of court-martial
cases.
In q new Army like ours, If discipline
we're lacking, the most essential factor
to its efficiency would be missing. The
Army was composed of men represent
ing every walk of life, from the edu-
Gated professional and business men to
those Of the various trades and cali
rings, and practically all we're without
any military experience whatever.
In the beginning our Army lacked
the discipline that comes with train
| ing. The vast majority of both officers
and men were unAccustomed to the re-
straints imposed and unfamiliar with
| the rules and regulations necessary to
4 insure good conduct and attention to
duty. There existed, however, in gen.
eral, distinctly patriotic attitude of
mind which made for self-discipline.
| Yet even after considerable military
training men were found in every COM
mand who, because of faulty bringing
up or waywardness, could not be taught
to realize the moral obligations of 10y
atty and obedience to constituted au-
! thority. 1t was from this class that
usually came the offenders, relatively
small in number, who gave the most
trouble.
Minor delinquencies due to neglect or
inexperience were handled by local
commanders, but where moral turpi-
| tude and defiance of authority we're in
evidence trials by courts-martial were
necessary. Such courts were ordered by
division commanders and officers OF
1 that relative rank who were also em-
| powered in general to approve or dis
approve the findings of the courts. 1t
was only those cases in which the pen
atty imposed was life imprisonment or
death that came to me for action and
recommendation before being forwarded
| to the President. At intervals of per-
haps week or two the accumulated
1 cases were brought befc~e me by the
! Judge advocate for decision.
Tomorrow: Pershing again finds Tar
| dieu attempting to go over his head
and confronts him with his action.
| Copyright. 1891. in all countries by the
| North American Newspape. Alliance. World
| rights reserved, including the Scandinavian.
| Reproduction in whole or IN part prohibited)