Evening star., 1934-07-23
EARLY ACTION DUE
ON AIR SUPREMACY
President and Dern to Con.
fer on Baker Report
on Planes.
BY the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
President Roosevelt is expected to
take definite action to carry out some
Of the recommendations contained in
the Baker Aviation Committee report
soon after he returns to Washington.
Stephen T. Early, a secretary to the
President, told newspapermen today
the President would confer with Sec
retary Dern soon after the War De-
partment head returned to Washing
ton from his Panama inspection trip.
The President is due back in WASH
ington from his Hawaiian trip on
August 10, and Dern is scheduled to
return few days later.
Copies to Lawmakers.
Copies of the report, which recon-
mends a big addition to the Army
plane squadrons, will be sent to all
members of Congress for their study
before the next session.
Action by Congress to correct some
of the errors found in the present
Army Air Corps set-up and to provide
greater liberality in appropriations is
anticipated by officials early in the
next session.
In War Units Scope.
Many of the recommendations de-
signed to increase the Army Air
Corps efficiency are within the scope
Of the War Departments authority,
but others, including the recommen-
dation for purchase of an additional
l 900 planes and increase in the fly
ing personnel, need congressional ac-
ton. This proposed increase would
place the Air Corps strength at 2,320
planes.
The report was made by the
committee headed by Newton D.
Baker, former Secretary of War.
The next great war" it warned, ''is
likely to begin with engagements be-
tween opposing aircraft, either sea-
based or land-based, and early aerial
supremacy is quite likely to be an i'm
portant factor
An adequate aircraft industry is
essential to national defense. The
Army's air forces must be ready at all
times for war service"
The board opposed a unified air
force as a serious error" and uneco-
nonical; blamed Congress for not sup
plying more funds TO the Army Air
Corps; praised "the young officers who
carried the air mail but implied crit
icism Of their equipment and training
Doolittle Dissents.
James Doolittle. famous flyer, filed
majority report urging a unified air
force.
The report is expected to be of as
siStance TO President RooSevelt'S Avia-
ton COMMITTEES. This board, headed
by Clark Howell, is embarking on an
exhaustive survey Of American avia-
ton in general.
The following outstanding observa-
tions and recommendations we're
made.
/. The United States leads the world
in commercial and naval aviation, but
Army flying. chiefly because of in
sufficient funds. lags behind. Congress
should be held chiefly responsible for
the Army Air Corps condition and
should appropriate the funds neces-
Sary to provide 1000 new planes,
chiefly fighting types. to give the Army
minimum peace time air armada OF
2,320 planes. The enlisted personnel
of the entire Army should be brought
up to authorized strength and at least
$50 officers added TO the air force.
?, The present organization. based
on separate Army and Navy forces,
has given the United States high
efficiency in national defense and
should be retained. Other schemes
and plans for reorganization. includ-
ing the proposed unified air force,
would be dangerous experimentation.
Would Encourage Industry.
g. An adequate aircraft industry is
essential TO national defense and
should be fostered and financially en-
c0uraged. To insure maintenance OF
sufficient plane manufacturing plants,
the Government should not compete
with private industry by building
planes in Government plants, and the
Department Of Commerce should fur
/, ther encourage the airplane export
business
1. The Arrny's transportation Of the
airmail, during the emergency brought
about by President Roosevelt's can
collation. of airmail contracts, was an
invaluable experience for the AT
Corps Defects In equipment az
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