Evening star., 1941-06-18
Separate Air Force
Proposal Heads for
Storm in Congress
Biggest Fight Expected
Since Resignation Of
Gen. Billy Mitchell
By BEN HI. PEARSE.


A controversy such as has not been
heard in Congress since the resigna-
ton Is years ago of the late Brig
Gen. Billy" Mitchell, former chief
of the Army Air Corps, appeared in
prospect today over the bill intro
duced by Senator McCarran, Demo-
crat, of Nevada, to give the Ma
tons air forces equal status with
the Army and Navy.
While the bill is almost certain to
be opposed by many administration
supporters, it is expected to gain
support from others and perhaps be
given hearings before the Senate
Military Affairs Committee at the
conclusion of hearings now under
way on the War Department bill to
take over private property deemed
necessary under the national emer-
gency.
Reports that the War Department
was planning a compromise in the
form of a reorganization of the
Air Corps which would grant
greater autonomy drew no denial
from the Department this morning
all questions receiving the same
reply, mo comment"
Five Measures Pending.
The bill introduced by Senator
McCarran yesterday, however, is
only one of five now pending, two
in the Senate and three in the
House, where one or more measures
with the same purpose has been
introduced at every session since
the World War.
Because of the development of air
forces abroad into major arm since
the invasion Of Poland by Germany
in September, 1889, the McCarran
bill Is expected TO receive greater
consideration than others have in
the past, and hearings would thresh
out q controversy which has been
given increasing attention in the
last 18 months.
Senator McCarran. in demanding
hearings on his bill. is known to op-
pose any compromise, claiming that
only by establishing a separate de-
partment of air with a secretary
being given voice at the President S
cabinet table can the Air Corps be
developed into the type of force
needed for adequate national de-
fense.
Arguments usually advanced by
War and Navy Department officials
heretofore have been based largely
on the recommendation of the Nor
row Board of 1925 and the Baker
Board eight years later, both set ul
to investigate the advisability of q
separate air force.
See No Reason for Change.
Official of both Army and Navy
Departments, in commenting las
March on a bill by Senator Clark
Democrat, of Missouri, proposing q
separate air force and a single de.
partment Of national defense with
Subsecretaries of War, Navy anC
Air, cited the Morrow and Bake
Boards recommendations agains
such a step and added that nothin,
in the European war indicated an.
important reason for causing |
change of opinion"
At that time Senator Clark. who's
bill is now awaiting disposition b!
the Naval Affairs Committee, re-
called that the Baker Board, in ad'
dition to opposing a separate ali
force also recommended a goal o.
1920 airplanes of all types by 1910 ,
recommendation which has Ions
since been forgotten.
Under Senator McCarran's bill
specific provision is made for units
of the proposed air force being at
tached to both the Army and Navy
for specific purposes, the units sc
assigned to be under the particular
land or sea commander to which
they are attached. He also pro-
vides for units of either the Army
or Navy being assigned to the pro-
posed air force whenever necessary
to be under the jurisdiction of the
air force commander for specific
operations.