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Show Army Air Service Is "Most Critical" THE situation In the anny air Bervlce is "most critical" with its war surplus of equipment "rapidly disappearing" and war-time aeronautical industry "facing extinction," ltepresentatlve-Elect J. Mayhew Walnwrlght, Hepubltotn, of New York, former assistant secretary of war, declures In a partial report to Secretary Weeks on turning turn-ing over his office to his successor, Dwight F. Davis. Under the national defense act, the assistant secretary Is charged with responsibility for planning plan-ning Industrial mobilization of the nation na-tion for war. ' The outstanding conclusion of Mr. Wainwrlght's two-year study of the industrial situation was a reeom-niendntlon reeom-niendntlon for a continuing aircraft appropriation over five years at $25,-WO.OrtO $25,-WO.OrtO a year, $15,(100,000 to be for procurement of reserve planes and $10,000,000 annually for current operations. opera-tions. 1 Keferring to tho present situation of the air service, Mr. Walnwrlght siiid: "What there Is left of It is rapidly disappearing, due to deterioration nnd to the losses while in actual use. Its war-time manufactured equipment has been practically used up. The amounts of money appropriated for new aircraft are so small that within two years It will have on hand less than one-half the number of aircraft necessary for its normal peace-time work. "There will be no aircraft to equip and expand the air sen-Ice in time of emergency, no reserve on hand and It will be impossible in less than a year to expand the remnant of the aircraft Industry which may be left or to create cre-ate it anew so this material can be manufactured in sufficient quantity for use In such an emergency, "The situotlon is not only serioos, but is actually alarming. As an economic eco-nomic measure and likewise In the in-teretit in-teretit of national preparedness, the aeronautical industry In this country should be maintained In such condition con-dition that It can supply our peacetime peace-time needs and be prepared to expand adequately to meet a war-time demand." de-mand." Mr. Walnwrlght said the air service should be large enough to meet instantly in-stantly "any air force which an enemy might bring against us." The role which the air service will piny in national defense, he added, should be thoroughly understood, "and this component of the army should be iiicreaHed to its proper strength." |