The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-11-04
GENERAL AERIAL
 INQUIRY DEVELOPS
 IN COURTMART|AL

San Francisco, Nov ember 3.-The de- fense in the courtmartial of Lieut. Col. Lewis E. Goodier. judge advocate of the western department of the United States army, charged with wrongfully advising officers at the San Diego avia- tion school sto prefer charges against their superior, Capt A. $. Cowan, com- manding the school, announced today that it expected to prove that Captain Cowan knew that the machines in use at the school were unsafe and that aviation officers there were not warned of their condition. The trial has de- veloped into a general inquiry into the aviation situation in the army.
 Next to the announcement of the de- fense the testimony of Capt. T. F. Dood attracted attention today. At the Brownsville, Tex, aviation school, Dodd commands, new wings and parts for some of the aeroplanes, he said, were supplied free by the makers after he had reported to Lieut. Col. Samuel Reber chief of the aviation section or the army, that the machines were un- safe. Captain Dodd said this made him believe the manufacturers knew the machines were not up to standard.
 Captain Dodd went to Brownsv1lle from San Diego, and while at the lat ter school, according to his testimony. saw an experts report to Colonel Re- Der, declaring the type of machine in use at San Diego unsafe if tilted at a greater angle than one in 10. Two &C., cidents have occurred at San Diego, the witness said, since this report was made. Eight officers, all told have lost their lives at the San Diego school since January, 1913.
 Capt. Dennis Quinlan testified that he never told Colonel Reber that Colo mel Goodier said he would "get him out of the service" referring to Captain CoWan This contradicted Rebers tes- timOny.
 But I told other people" Quinlan observed. naming Louis Call, civilian chief clerk in the office of the judge advocate general in Washington, and Brig. Gen. Enoch H. Crowder, judge advocate general of the army.
 Admits Activity
 Lieut.. Col Samuel Reber, chief of the aviation section of the army, on cross- examination today in the courtmartfal of Lieut.. Col Lewis E. Goodier, charged with conduct subservient to discipline, admitted that for activity in bringing charges against Capt. Arthur s. Cowan last April, Lieut. W. R. Taliaferro. a flyer, might have been recalled from aviation duty. Lieutenant Taliaferro's s death fall into San Diego bay on Octo- Der Il, spared him the possibility. Cap tain Cowan is commandant at the avia- tion school at San Diego.
 Lieutenant Colonel Reber was rep resented va personal letter written by him to Cowan last September, mourning the fact that Lieutenant Taliaferro established a flying endur- ance record
 "Confidentially, would rather have seen someone else make it--you know why" the letter read
 Reber explained that when a man made a record it was hard to effect his recall from aviation duty in the face of political influence.
 The defense cut short unexpectedly the cross examination of Lieutenant Colonel Reber, and he retired from the stand, but before he had spoken into the record his conviction that Captain Cowan was victim of a conspiracy among other officers seeking his re- movaL.
 Reber admitted the existence of a secret cipher code used by him and Captain Cowan for personal wire cor respondence.