Professor Claims Flying Course Not Army-Controlled

Charges circulated by the Committee on Militarism of New York City that the Civilian Aeronautics Authority is merely a cog in the national defense machinery provoked strong replies yesterday from instructors in the Pilot Training Program here.

In a circular sent to newspapers and persons interested in the government flying course, the Committee on Militarism quoted from Congressional debates to show that the Civilian Aeronautics Authority is "civilian" in name only and is very closely allied with the Army and Navy.

The brochure stated that universities were becoming training schools for the Army and Navy rather than agents for international peace.

Caustically replying to the Committee's charges, Den Hartog, associate professor in Engineering and head of the flying program here, admitted that if the United States enters the war, pilots will probably be drafted into the Air Corps, but he said that "there is not the slightest possibility that pilots will be drafted for military service before the general population."

Professor Hartog denied that an increase in the number of pilots would lead the country into war and asserted, "There is no cooperation between the C. A. A. and the Army or Navy. When peace in the world is once again restored, the C. A. A. program will result in a great increase in private and commercial flying in this country.

"The fact that we may have 10,000 more pilots in this country next year than this cannot have the slightest influence on our entry into the war or our staying out."