Springfield Weekly Republican

FLIGHT INTENDED AS OBJECT LESSON
Army Sought to Show Congress Oceans Fail to Create Isolation — Importance of Planes Demonstrated
By DAVID LAWRENCE
Special Dispatch to The Republican
Washington, Sept. 4-What is the purpose of the world encircling flight of the American aviators? Is it simply a stunt to prove the courage of the American flying corps? Is it a challenge to the aviation personnel of other countries?
These questions no doubt have occurred to many people as they have observed the progress of the trip around the world and the careful preparations made by the army and navy to accomplish their objective.
The answers are to be found in the experience of aviation officials in both the army and navy with Congress. For no matter what spectacular phases of the flight may be uppermost in the public mind today. those interested in developing American aviation as a military weapon as well as a commercial industry, are gratified beyond words at the amount of attention the exploit has attracted.
Hitherto Congress has been more or less indifferent to the pleas for extensive appropriations made by the army and navy. It is true that Congress has granted appropriations more or less generously, reckoning it from the congressional viewpoint, which insists on cutting down the army and navy anyhow. But aviation officers have pointed in vain to the large sums appropriated by Great Britain and France for the development of aviation. It has been contended by army officers, for instance, that European countries since the war have spent more money on aviation than anything else. In America the fact that a billion was spent on an air program which was not ready when the armistice was signed has tended to discourage Congress in expending more money. The aircraft devotees have had a hard time of it since the war.
Pinned Hopes on Mail Service
They hoped that the air mail service would stir up interest and make Congress appropriate money to encourage commercial aviation. To some extent results have been obtained. Many aircraft concerns went out of business with the war and have not been missed because some of them never became efficient. But unless the government kept on buying a certain number of planes annually there was no incentive for private industry to keep on experimenting or building. The industry was in danger of absolute collapse. It is by no means at this time what army officers would like to see. but they have hopes that the world flight will put an emphasis on aviation which will keep it before the eyes of the American people and Congress in particular.
Then there is another aspect of the world flight which will become a subject of discussion when Congress reconvenes. The American aviation units have proved that with a relatively small sum of money they can accomplish a great deal. The whole trip around the world was a minor expense as military items go. Given more money, they feel they can justify the appropriations made and that America should not only keep pace with the rest of the aircraft-building countries but lead them.
When the Washington conference to limit armament was held there was no agreement on the construction of submarines or aircraft nor on the size of standing armies. Battleships and other fighting craft were limited. But since that time France and Great Britain have been engaging in an air competition which has started a good deal of war talk from time to time.
From the viewpoint of national defense. It has now been demonstrated that a hostile nation can come across the ocean with airplanes and Zeppelins. Without doubt a program of defensive aircraft will be an important part of the military and naval expenditures of the United States from now on. The world flight has shown that the Atlantic and Pacific oceans are no longer insurmountable barriers and that isolation is not as comfortable as it was before the days of dirigibles and airplanes.
(Copyright. 1924. by The Republican Publishing company.)