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of airships have been built for foreign countries, and in this way their development has been kept up.
In Italy, the air service is organized into a single bureau under the War Department, which embraces all aeronautical activities (military and civil) that take place in the country with the exception of the actual personnel and material assigned to the navy.  this is very small, and the aviation functions to all intents and purposes very much as an independent air force would.  the question of personnel, however, is a great stumbling block for them.  there is a law on their books which prescribes that an independent arm be organized, but there has been so much opposition in the army on account of the question of promotion that it has been held off until the present, but now it is being put into effect.  This has disgusted many of the excellent aeronautical officers, and a large proportion has left the service.  they will come back, however, as soon as the question of personnel is stabilized.  As in France, the most serious question in Italy is that of personnel.
The Italian organization is very much simpler than the French organization.  The Chief of Air Service in Italy is responsible for the whole thing with the exception of the force assigned to the navy.  he prepares the budget for submission to the Secretary
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