The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-04-18
BIG SHAKEUP ORDERED IN
THE ARMY AVIATION CORPS
Secretary Baker Reprimands Gen. Scriven and Lieut.
Coils. Reber and Goodier in San Diego Case-Spe-
cial Board to Study a New Policy.

WASHINGTON, April 17.--Sweepins
changes in the organisation and per-
sonnet Of the army aviation service are
expected to follow AN announcement this
afternoon by Secretary Baker OF pun.
ishments imposed on officers involved
in the recent charges against the army
aviation school at San Diego. Cal.
Brig Gen. George p. scriven. chief
OF the Signal Corps Of the army. has
been reprimanded.
Lieut.-Col. Samuel Reber. chief OF the
aviation branch OF the Signal Corps,
has been reprimanded and relieved Of
his present post.
Lieut.. Col. Lewis T.. Goedier. Judge
advocate Of the Western Department Of
the army. has been r~eprimanded.
While these are the only penalties
imposed up to the present, certain of the
charges investigated by the special
board OF inquiry are still to be disposed
OF and other actions may follow.
Special Committee Appointed.
Secretary Baker announced further
that he has requested Majur-Gen. Hugh
l.. Scott, Chief of stan of the Army, To
appoint a special committee of officers
to study the whole question of the man
GENE and discipline of the aviation
school and the relation Of the aviation
corps to the general army organization.
He called attention to the often
sive use to which aeroplanes hay"
been put in the present war In Europ.
and suggested the ACCESSIBILITY OF max
Ing the aviation corps "a distinct branch
OF the service rather han an adjunct
OF the Signal Corps to which II vas at
tachcd when II seemed that the principal
function Of the aeroplanes would he 10
gather information and perform scout
duty.
PENDING the reorganization Of the
corps Capt. William Mitchell of thu
General Stan will act In the place oi
present a patient a. the Walter Reed
Hospital in this city recovering from In.
Juries received recently when he fell
Gown "A stairway at his home.
In announcing the sentences imposed
on the officers Secretary Baker declared
that nome Of them had been guilty OF
unworthy motives" lie gave on, IN.
follo" ing statement:
The questions growing GU, OF the avi-
alton school and the discipline Of the
aviation corps have all been reviewed b.
q DOdTu VI OIH|eTS Or tNe army, CONSIST
ing of Gen. T.. \. Darlington. Inspector.
General Gen. NJ VI. Macomb. president
OF the Army War College. and Gen. II
=. Mccain. the AdJutant-General. In
addition to the evidence taken by then
l have had the testimony in the court.
martial case Of Lieut.-Col. Goodier and
have followed he work now being dom
by the aviation section In Mexico.
1T is clear that at least a part Of
the criticism which has attached 10 arm,
aviation Is due 10 a failure to realize tn.
experimental state 81 the art OF fyine
heavier than air machines adapted &c
military uses. As yet the development
OF u stable type II uncertain, and ,hs
supposed failures Of some OF our arm,
machines are not greater than the fail,
u~s experienced by inventors. manufsc'
turers and pilots in civil life.
THE net result Of the work 80 far don.
in aviation in the army can be safei,
said to be the building up Of "A corp,
of daring. skilful and successful r.crs
and the work now being done by III,
aviation section in Mexico demonstrate,
the usefulness OF this arm and the yea
which has be~n expended In is organ
iza,ion and instruction.
Where the Fault Lies.
"Restlessucss and i%mpatenc. on IN.
part OF some Of the men In the corp,
with the slo~ness ~ progress made "