CONTROVERSY OVER U.S. AIR SERVICE

Manawatu Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 2313, 4 December 1925, Page 7

CONTROVERSY OVER U.S. AIR SERVICE

MiichelFs Charges Declared Unfounded BUT ■ AERONAUTICS TO HAVE MORE ATTENTION [By Electric Cable —Copyright.] [Aust. and N.Z. Cauie Association. j (Received Thursday B.XO p.m.) WASHINGTON December 2. The President’s Aircraft isoard’s report, which has been issueu, does noi settle the aircraft controversy, which will undoubtedly receive Congressional attention. The report declares Col iViitcheU’s more sensational charges are uulounded and rejects his major recommendations, particularly for a combined air force, but intimates that the charges of neglect in flu Army and Navy air forces are justified. The report proposes an improvement of conditions by the .appointment of new assistant Ministers to tlie Army and Navy, under whom the Am services will bo placed. It also suggests the infiltration of the general staffs and . Navy high commands with Air officers and other technical reforms and says the American Air force is sufficient for the country’s needs and that the nation is in no danger of air attacks while the Navy holds the sea. It gives the comparative service of the a -ropJane strengths of the nations as United States 1423, Britain 1953, France 0542 (of which five thousand are reserves) Italy' 1500 Japan 1300, and points < ui that aJi countries are burdened with nearly a similar proportion of obsolete pre-armistice planes.