Evening star., 1943-04-30
BY LAWRENCE PERRY.


NEW YORK, April 30.-In the
field of international air transport
the n-American Always System
is not only the largest and most
important American organization,
but as present constituted, it is not
matched by any foreign company.
Experience of the British-and all
nations-with its several small air
transport systems was, as already
has been pointed out, so unsatis-
factory as to cause them to be
merged into a single system. the
British Overseas Airways Corp.
Therefore, in the light of that ex-
perience, it is felt that division OF
our overseas air system into smaller
units would meet with the same
lack of success.
Meanwhile, as 1t stands. Pan
American has a record of valuable
service. On one occasion, the Brit
ish government requested the
United States Government to pro-
vide air service over a section of
Africa in order that lease lend sup
plies and aircraft be provided for
British and Russian troops in the
Middle East.
Route Has No Value.
This job was turned over to the
american company. which full
filled it at cost of millions of dol
la1s provided by the United States
Government. Thereupon, so it is
alleged, feeling arose among Brit
ish air interests that we had ef-
fected commercial penetration of
Africa, thus taking advantage of
war conditions
But, in the opinion of commercial
air operators here, the route had
no value or significance, aside from
military use. since, in terms of COM
mercial practicality, it began no.
where and ended nowhere. At any
rate, holding that it was poor pol
Icy for civilian company to oper-
ate within range of hostilities, AT
rlca was made a combat area and
the air service turned over to the
United States Army. At the same
time, however, the British COM
pany, it is asserted, continued to
operate over this route. 1t also
operates the commercial route from
Lagos to Leopoldville on the west
coast Of Africa, which the Ameri-
can company established
RAF System Failed.
II is not regarded by experienced
American air transport authorities
that the results of Army control of
air transport in England has estab-
Hshed an impressive precedent of
success. They point out that, when
war broke out in Europe, British
military air authorities wanted
transport service of their own. They
took over from the civilian system
planes, pilots and other personnel.
But results prove unsatisfactory in
terms Of an effective organization.
So the British Overseas company
was called upon to bulWark the
RATS transport system. Because
OF army requisition Of Overseas KEY
men, this company, too. had found
itself deprived of a workable organ
t'o opASAi- llC 1CSllI WIS IIldI ITle
army still did not have an adequate
transport system. and essential
communications also suffered.
so the army. stopping just short
OF complete militarization, reversed
itself. 1t turned equipment and per-
sonnel back to the British Overseas
company, gave it new planes and
Raj pilots. In other words, the
army recognized the value of a uni
fed operating system.
While this was going on, however,
the British called upon the United
States for transport craft and equip
ment. Our Government levied
upon American Air Lines to meet
the request-just as at an earlier
date the British Army had levied
upon the British system.
released Through North American