The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1941-06-07

Asia and over the Mediterranean
and the eastern Atlantic are be-
ginning however, to convince an
increasing number of observers
that formidable flying force not
only is at least as essential TO ma
tional defense as are a strong
army and a powerful feet, but
that perhaps it's even more essen
tial than either of the two, II not
more so than the two combined.
Anyway, a bill recently was in
troduced in congress by Repre-
sentative Alfred F. Better, New
York State Democrat, not long
ago an interior department ass
sistant, for creation of separate
cabinet portfolio of air power It's
as yet in the hands Of the repre-
sentatives' committee on the. eX-
ecutive departments expenditures,
but indications are that it will be
stiffly fought for, probably against
pretty vigorous opposition from
surface sources, when it comes up
for consideration by the lawmak-
ers generally.
Most other countries Of consid-
cradle military strength have air
ministries corresponding to our
cabinet departments) already.
Creation Of Britain's flying min
istry, though, didn't long antedate
the outbreak Of hostilities. It had
been fought, as here, by John
Bulls army and navy professionals
not that they didn't want avia-
tors, but they wanted them as
army and navy adjuncts; not as
an independent branch.
Handicapped Britain
There are British purchasing
agents in Washington right now.
who complain bitterly, though
highly confdentially, that parlia-
mentary delay in setting up a
lone-handed aviation office, on the
same footing as London's war
Office and admiralty, was respons-
ible for the disadvantage at which
Herr Hitler caught Britain, in the
air, when World war No. opened
up.
Aviation experts themselves
don't contend that flying has rem
dered armies and navies COM
pletely useless.
That is, it's conceded that ma
ton can't, as yet, anyhow. afford
to rely on flying alone. Neverthe-
less there are authorities who
maintain that planes, in sufficient
numbers, are better blockaders
than surface or submarine craft.
And it's added that it's no certain
ty strong enough air feet can't
put naval power on the fritz, too.
For instance, British airmen are
the boys who sank the Bismarck.
AS one aviation enthusiast re-
marked TO me, Considering how
much stronger John Bull is, af1oat.
than the Nazis are, wouldn't you
have expected that he'd have de-
pended on his surface boats to de-
nolish that levathan? But no.
His airmen did It."
Army groundlings have admit
ted, all along, that aviators, scoot-
ing over an objective, could do a
lot Of damage dropping bombs.
They've reasoned, though, that no
stable force can be landed out Of
the air, to occupy and hold enemy
soil.
Yet, rejoin air advocates, look
how the Nazis did 1t in Norway,
and how they did it more lately
in Crete,
It's replied that parachutist
losses are terrific No matter
they get away with it, insist the
aviation chaps.
At Long Range
Well, they couldn't do it at long
range, argue the groundlings.
Perhaps not now, acquiesce the
aviators. But how about few
years hence, assuming aWations
development, in proportion to its
development today. since the last
World war? You've got to look