Evening star., 1934-10-03
WEST0vER LIKELY
ARMY'S AIR CHIEF
Reorganization of Corps
Announced Yesterday.
FouIoiS Silent.
BY the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
Brig. Gen. Oscar Westover was
mentioned today as a possible choice
to lead the Army's air fighters, under
the direct command of Gen. Douglas
Macarthur, chief of the general staff
Westover's name figured prom
inently in the aftermath of drastic
reorganization, in which the office Of
chief of the Air Corps, now held by
Mai. Gen. Benjamin D. Foulois, was
shorn of much of its power.
Gen. Foulois has been the target
for attacks by congressional critics
who demanded that he be summary
dismissed. But it was said that the
reorganization, announced late yes
terday. was under consideration be-
fore the storm of controversy began
to beat about Foulois' head.
Mote: Announcement of this con-
templated reorganization was made
in The Star last january
Swifter MObilizing Aim.
The aim of the shake-up is de-
scribed as swifter mobilization of the
aerial battlers in time of war Be
sides transferring the command OF the
Air Corps from Foulois to Macarthur,
the orders nodded 900 combat planes
into a new fighting unit. to be called
the General Headquarters Air Force
Stationed at flying fields all across
the country, it would be ready to dash
quickly to any part Of the country's
sky frontier. The officer in charge OF
this force. under Gen. Macarthur, Will
be stationed at Langley Field, Va.
Foulois' only comment on the re-
organization was:
This follows the contemplated plan.
l have no comment to make"
The reorganization, which is in line
with ideas of the Army General Stan
and the Newton D. Baker Investigat-
ing Committee, leaves Foulois respon-
sible for procuring planes and sup
plies and training new personnel.
Removal Demanded.
"A
mittee demanded that Foulois be re-
moved. 1t accused him of ineffi-
cheney in directing the Army's flying
of the airmail and criticized him on
the ground that planes were bought
by negotiated contract, rather than
competitive bidding.
Secretary Dern, on whom the de-
mand was made, declined to act until
the committee reopened the case to
give Foulois a full and complete hear
ing" He said Foulois had not been
accorded his constitutional rights.
The squadrons added to the new air
unit are stationed at Langley Field,
March Field, Riverside, Calf; Hamil-
ton Field, San Rafael, Calf; Rock
well Field. San Diego. Calf; Fort
Crockett. Galveston, Tex; Barksdale
Field, Shreveport, La; Selfridge Field,
Mich, and Scott Field, Belleville, Ill
Placing the air force under the chief
of staff also is in line with the general
staf's desire to keep the Army Air
Corps separate unit and not amalga-
mated with the Navy and other air
units in unified air force.
Heads Training, Procurement.
Air Corps schools and depots, in
Guiding the training center at Ran
dolph Field, Tex, and the procure
ment center at Wright Field, Ohio,
will remain under jurisdiction of the
chief of Air Corps, making him re-
sponsible for procurement OF all new
planes and training of all personnel.
Brig. Gen. William Mitchell, once
assistant chief of the Air Corps, was
testifying before the Presidents Pol
.cyMaking Aviation Commission when
the War Department changes were
announced. Long an advocate of a
unified air force, he said, Its bunk, "
when asked by reporters about tie
shift
He said, too, that all members of
the Baker board, except Karl T.
Compton, scientist, and Maj. James H.
Doolittle, flyer, "are controlled by the
ground people,