Evening star., 1943-08-13
Army Is Seeking
improvement in
Airmai| Service
Some Part of Planes
Taken by Military
May Be Returned

Airmail volume has more than
doubled in the last year, even
though half the commercial trans
ports were taken by the Army for
military purposes, it was learned to-
day as the War and Postoffice De-
partments sought ways to return
more planes to civilian air lines.
A system of priorities is being
studied, with the Army maintaining
that abandonment of air service on
short runs having fast train sched-
ules would bring about improve
ment on transcontinental routes.
Two Factors Cited.
AS military authorities nourished
the hope that, by the end of this
year, it could return to air lines
additional transports amounting to
10 or Is per cent of the number now
In airmail service, two factors were
outstanding:
l. Purchasers of airmail stamps
are paying premium, IN numerous
instances, for speedy service they
don't get.
2. Families of some 1000 900 serv-
lcemen outside the continental
United States use air MAIL largely.
10 speed letters to loved ones, a
condition which has aggravated the
overall air-mail problem.
Post Office Takes Blame.
Its own military needs, the Armv
maintains, have prevented the re-
lease of more than nine TRANSPORTS
since a larger number were pressed
into military service. The Post
ONCE Department, on the other
hand, is said to feel that it will
bear the brunt of criticism over
breakdown in service which has
caused air mail and air express to
be rerouted over slower transporta-
ton routes.
While emphasizing the situation
is one they did not create and cam
not control, Post Office officials say
few complaints have been received
Tor charging premiums for service
not rendered. They also point out
That from 5 to per cent of air mail
was diverted to other transporta-
ton channels even in normal times
due to bad flying weather.
Admitting that cases of serious
delays have been encountered and
that the situation needs improve
ment, the Post Office spokesman in
sisted that most airmail is being
delivered on time.
No effort has been made to dis
courage purchase of airmail stamps,
such as posting notices in post
offices calling attention to the over
load already being handled by a re-
duced air transport and urging use
OF other forms of transportation
where the utmost speed isn't
essential, it was conceded.
The public feels, we believe. that
for its Scent airmail stamp it is
getting the best possible service
under the stress of war conditions. )"
the Post Office spokesman con-
tinued.
A system of priorities would be
difficult to maintain, it was said.
Airmail emanating from war indus
tries and troop concentration points
and Government war agencies
should receive priority over per-
sonal or business letters, it was
agreed. Executives could appeal to
their employees not to use airmail
unless necessary, it was pointed
out.
Production Is Vital Factor.
From the Army's point of view,
the speed with which increased
plane production is achieved is the
determining factor in returning to
commercial air lines equipment
needed for civilian airmail
Discussing priorities, an Army
official said:
We have suggested that airmail
routes between short points having
adequate train transportation, such
as Washington and New York,
might be dropped in order to con-
centrate on the long hauls from
coast to coast, where the time in
volved is an important factor. The
key routes are known. We know
and the Post Office Department
knows where the bottlenecks exist"
The same official made it plain
that transports returned to air lines
probably would be in groups of two
to three, not as many as 10 at a
time. He added, however, that the
addition of three planes to a key
route would make a tremendous diff
ference.
Some planes will be returned to
air lines within few weeks, and a
larger number by the end of this
year, he said.
The Army has a special interest in
promoting the morale of its troops.
at home and abroad, through prompt
delivery of mail, it was pointed out
by this official He indicated it
would be more reasonable to aban-
don or curtail airmail over short
distances than to ask parents and
relatives of servicemen to send mail
to them via slower channels.
DELAYED Sunshine