POOR SPLENDID WINGS

Ten army fliers have crashed to their death since the air mail service was taken out of the hands of the private companies. Yesterday the President ordered all except the most necessary routes to be abandoned until weather conditions and experience permitted the aviation corps to fly them safely. The army planes on all routes slowed up the service so much that large quantities of scheduled air mail were sent by train instead. Finally, the Administration is doing its best to recontract the private companies and relieve the overworked military planes.

Granted that flying conditions were poor; granted that army fliers lack experience in blind and instrument piloting, radio beacon landing; granted that the government's aeroplanes were some years behind the civilian transport machines in efficient performances--that may be valid excuse for their poor performance in carrying the mails, but it would be small consolation had the emergency been one which could not be controlled by executive order or opposition legislation. The individual army pilots lack neither courage or ability, but the equipment, training, and morale of that service is far below the standards of practical preparedness.

If war, not a suspicion of graft, had sent the army planes of a sudden into the air, they would have found themselves out-maneuvered and shot down. The private planes might, in due time, be fitted for military service, but modern aerial warfare is too quick and deadly to await their reconstruction. Obviously, what the situation demands is not a larger air force, but an air force whose existing equipment is effective, up-to-date, and at least on a par with that of the private lines.