The Bismarck tribune., 1934-03-12
Army Mail Planes
Grounded By Order
Will Check Both Personnel and
Equipment In Accordance
With New Plan
WILL REvAMP SCHEDULE
Is Routes Which Previously
We're Operated Will Be
Reduced to About "

SKY was empty OF planes flying the
mails Monday, just three weeks after
the army took over the Job.
The order grounding the planes
made no mention o. the 10 deaths
that have occurred since President
Roosevelt cancelled the private SUBJ
sides and turned the airmails to the
army, but it followed within day Of
the presidents statement that deaths
In flying the mails must STOP"
Major General Benjamin D. Fou-
lois, chief Of the air corps, directed
the order to all airmail zones, calling
upon them to:
Suspend Immediately all carrying
of the airmau until your personnel
and equipment are In position and
ready to initiate the schedules fur
nished you In radiogram."
The order specified that no airmail
flying should be undertaken until
authorized by headquarters Of the air
corps.
The interruption Of service is not
expected to last for more than two or
three days. Major General Foulois
hoped to have . modified "fair-
weather" schedule ready by Wednes-
day.
Begin Again In Mid-Week
The air corps chief believes re-
vised airmail map. with planes and
men to fly It, will be in shape by
midweek. with the 10 routes which
we're being flown until Monday re-
duced to about dozen.
The coast-to-coast backbone" Of
the airmau will be preserved in the
new setup.
Although the army mail pilots were
held to earth, the disasters that have
marked their three weeks experience
in flying the mail remained fuel for
congressional discussion Monday.
An emergency airmail bill, provid-
ing funds for temporary army opera
ton. may get senate vote before
night, although considerable debate Is
In prospect. Some Republicans are
accepting the entire situation as po-
litical and want to debate It.
An amendment prepared by Sena-
tor Vandenburg (Rep., Mich) would
prohibit the use Of the emergency
funds except where pilots have been
trained In blind flying and carry
equipment for such flying. The
amendment Is intended as safeguard
against further loss Of life by army
flicrs Of the mail.
Both house and senate worked Mon
day for legislation along the lines Of
President Roosevelt's request that the
flying Of the mails be returned to pri-
vate companies under = new contract
system that would prevent recurrence
Of such conditions as led to the whole
sale cancellation Of contracts last
month.
Open Hearings on Bills
Postoffice committees Of both house
and senate opened hearings Monday
on bills Incorporating the presidents
ideas.
General Toulois had under prepara-
ton Z plan by which army fliers could
Join with commercial pilots In re-
ceiving training.
The army plans to build its revised
safety" route with the .transcontt-
mental line from Newark. New Jer-
sey, 70 San Francisco Is q main
line" Other routes viii feed into It.
Speculation continued about what
part. Il any. Colonel Charles A. Lind
bergh would play In the government s
airmail plans. After . two-day visit
here, which included several talks
with Secretary Dern. he flew back to
Newark. N. J., with Mrs. Lndbergh
Sunday.
On bit OF discussion, however, was
definitely brought to An end. It was
said authoritatively that the assist
ant sscrstaryships for air In the army
and navy departments, which have
been vacant Since the Hoover admin
istration. would remain untitled.
There had been talk that Lndbergh
might b offered one Of these posts.