The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1934-08-10
National Topics Interpreted

Misunderstanding Europe stews
and wonders what eventually Is COM
ing out of the Aus
Austria Causes trian trouble, there
u. S. Worry is many fur
rowed brow In
Washington these days concerning our
own nations status in case the need
for a sturdy national defense arises.
The worries of our own government
are not lessened by the weaknesses
which Newton D. Baker, former secre-
tary Of war, and his committee of ex-
perts reported they had observed in
our military air service. But from
what I can learn, there is some satis-
faction among those charged with re-
sponsibility of government because the
vulnerable spots were pointed out be.
fore we are called upon to resort to
that branch Of our national defense.
Having knowledge Of the exact stu
alton surely should be of some help.
The Baker board, as it has come to
be known, was the fifteenth in six
teen years that has given study to
our air force. It apparently went
straight to the core of the trouble and
said the chief problem, In effect, was
a hit or miss policy with respect to air
development. Since congress Is the
policy-making body Of our nation, it
must accept the responsibility, but my
own research and acquaintance with
matters relating to the appropriation
of funds for the government leads me
to believe that the budget bureau has
been none too wise in determining ex-
penditures for recommendation to con-
gress-
Recommendations by the Baker
board call first for establishment of
military air force Of more than 1920
planes, a force second to none in the
world. An air force of young men is
advised, corps of highly trained men
who know how to handle their planes
that, in event of attacks, the air serv-
ice will not find itself sacrificing good
blood such as occurred in the compar-
atively safe business of transporting
the mails. The board said the gov
eminent should encourage an air in
dustry in the United States to provide
an adequate resource for the nation.
If that is done, the report pointed
out, there is reserve strength devel-
oped that provides for revenue in
peace and strength in war.
1 have little confidence that con-
gress is going to pay much attention to
the Baker boards conclusions. 1t sell
dom has paid any attention to such
expert advice. President Roosevelt
asked the board to go to the bottom
of the problem, however, and it has
done so. At least the country is in
formed, and If its representatives in
the house or the senate do not per-
form in a way that will correct the
condition, then we all will know where
to place the blame.
For example, the report proposes
that there be adequate and continuing
appropriations for expansion of the
air service of the army. In that rec
ommendation the board struck a key
note. 1t said continuing" appropria-
lions were necessary, and anyone can
see such a view is correct because
otherwise big sum is appropriated
one year and wasted work results
when the brothers who hold the purse
strings say in the next year that they
are not going to allow any more such
expenditures 1t is exactly as though
one started to build house and after
the walls were up, the money ran out
and no roof could be put on. The
structure remains incomplete, no good
to anyone.
This question Of appropriations has
been the bone of contention all along.
/ do not mean to say that the brains"
of the War department always have
been capable of guiding the program
effectively, but if congress had pur-
sued a sound policy, policy that at
least was consistent, am assured by
many competent authorities the army
air service would not be where it is
today.
The Baker board, like most of it's
predecessors, declined to support the
much agitated proposal for an air
service detached from the army and
navy. Only one member of the board,
James Doolittle, the well known
flyer, held that view. The board as
a whole thought the air service ought
to be an integral part of the military
or naval branches of the service and
there is every evidence that this is
one section Of the recommendation
that will be accepted by congress with
out argument. The board saw many
difficulties possible under a separate
air service, the chief of whidh is the
lack Of coordination In defense, as
well as in attack, in event of war.
But while the Baker report offers
numerous technical improvements for
consideration and advocates changes
here and there in methods of develop
ing the air service, those folks in
Washington who have witnessed the
fate of the earlier surveys hold little