The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1942-08-17


changing conditions too rapidly for
the president. with his many other
duties. 10 keep up with, minute by
minute.
The main argument against
consolidation has been that the
Army and Navy air arms cannot
be merged very handily. Their func-
tons differ essentially. Each needs
a group Of its own particular kind
OF SPECIALISTS 10 run 1t efficiently.
Both these sets of specialists
were prompt 10 recognize aviation's
value 10 their respective services.
Flying was more or less in its in
fancy during the last war. Still, II
was utilized BY surface leadershlps,
ashore and ahoat. up to the limit
OF what they could get out of II in
its then state OF development.
Upon the present conflicts out
break they grabbed az it alike. in
its improved form, for all 1t was
worth. They likewise made further
improvements and arc still making
them To what an extent they VIII
have transformed earthly and
heavenly transportation. by the
time this strife is over, there's y"
telling
Double Air Arm
The war department proceeds on
the assumption that planes are IN
cluded among Army weapons. The
navy department takes Il for
granted that they are among the
fleets weapons. They are not Jeal-
Gus OF one another The Navy is
welcome 20 as many bombers as II
can get. for all the Army cares.
And vice versa
The point Is. though, that the
Army Classics its flyers as Army
nviatory ard the Navy speaks Of
its contingent as Navy avtators
But a few months ago 1t began
10 be talked that our aviation is as
important If not more 50 - as
either our Army or Navy that " Il
more than mere couple OF land
and sea adlUncts that Il Is entltled
IN a cabinet rating Of It's own
Army and Navy professionals.
with their aviation suoordinates
naturally excepted. generally dis
sent from this reasoning They are
strong for aviation. but they MAN.
tain that II Is essentially either an
Army or Navy subdivision and
ought 10 be kept so. TO get from II
its best possible results.
These Army and Navy earth
hngs then agree
That aircraft is enormously
useful. but not as an independent
set-up. only subject TO Army and
Navy authority
NV II those terrestrial-mlrded
old Army md Navy men had fore.
seen the upspringing Of school OF
thought which regards aviation as
an Independent unit-not only as
entitled to cabinet departmental
status. but a department Of every
thing military'-the average pup
unqualihedly wagging the twin
Army and Navy tails
Senator Seeks Air Unit
That that idea expresses univer-
sal public sentiment 10 date | don't
guarantee. but Senator Josh Lee Of
Oklahoma declares II does and he
said so on the senate floor
That is. Lee did not demand the
war and navy departments abo-
Luon. but he did demand an avia-
ton departments creation and the
Army's and Nays subordinauon
to il
This" Lee proclaimed. is an
air war and Army and Navy are
awations auxiliaries,"
Josh was called to account on the
ground that he is no expert
Pooh" he answered in effect,
"the average citizen is much bet
ter Judge Of the whole picture than
some alleged expert. concentrating
on q few details
Senator Lee perhaps is some
thing Of an extremist
He has been chairman Of sem
ate subcommittee named 10 inves-
tigate avat!on's potentialities for
civilian promotion Of America s
military resources Possibly he