Norwich bulletin., 1916-04-18
Shakeup in Army
Aviation Service
RESULT OF RECENT INVEsTIeA-
TIoN OF THAT BRANCH
3 OFFICERS CENSURED
Favoritism and Lack of Discipline Un-
earthed BY investigation of Board of
Officers-creation of Separate
Army Corps For Aviation Now Con-
templated.

Washington, April liberation Of
separate army corps for aviation, dis
tinct from the signal corps, was fore
cast by Secretary Baker today In an
nouncing a general shaking up Of the
flying branch of the army by the pres
ident and the war department as a
result of the recent investigation OF
the aviation service. If this plan is
followed it will pave the way to the
addition of battle aircraft to the
scouting and message-b bearing aero
planes now used.
Recommendations of CourtmartiaI Ap-
proved.
recommendations of the court-mar-
tiaI which tried Lieutenant Colonel
Lewis B. Goodier, Judge advocate Of
the western department, were ap-
proved, as were those of a special
board of officers appointed to inquire
into the whole question of discipline
and conduct of the aviation section of
the signal corps. These steps We're
taken:
Colonel Goodier censured.
Colonel Goodier was censured by
| President Wilson as commander-in-
chief of the army for having failed
| Ito observe the attitude which his Of
fee and seniority of rank required
him to observe toward junior officers.
6riSadieT ScrtNe1 Negligent.
Secretary Baker censured Brigaditr
| General George p. Srciven, chief sig
nal officer of the army, for his fail
ure personally TO supervise the disci-
plinary features Of aviation corps ad
! miuistra ton"
/ Lieut-Col. Feaer Relieved from Duty
! Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Eebar
chief o. the aviation section. signa
corps, was relieved fgCm that duty
and censurGd by Secretary Baker, "fol
disrespect to q coordinate branch oi
t the government, failure to observe this
restraints imposed by law with regard
to the personnel and pay OF member:
of the aviation section" and for othel
reasons; and
Committee to Study Reorganization
The appointment of n committee o
the general STAFF to study the reorEan
iZation of the aviation section wa!
directed by Secretary Baker.
| Colonel Goodier's case was only in
cidental to the general shakeup of III
aviation section, although hearings IL
that trial held at San Francisco sew
erai months ago, served to call atten
ton to the conditions that resulted il
today's orders issued. After his son
Lieutenant Lewis E. Goodier, Jr.. o
the coast artillery, had been injure,
while studying aviation at San Die
. go, Calf, Colonel GoOdier, accordin
| 10 tne testimony, made every effOr
| ! to oust Captain Arthur s. Cowan fror
, his post as commandant of the schoC
and also attacked the AWAIT sectio
} in letters to brother officers. many Q
, which found their way into print.
Reorganization Recommended.
The reorganization and the disci
, plining Of General Scriven and Colont
/, Reber were recommended by tn
board of officers appointed to inquir
. into the facts disclosed at the Good
. ier trial. Senator Robinson, of Ar
, kansas, introduced recently and tn
, senate passed a resolution callinf fc
a congressional investigation of I'll
subject. He presented letters to tn
; military committee rejecting upo
Colonel Reber's management of hi
!, office as chief Of aviation The resc
! luton has not passed the house
! New Appointments.
Captain William Mitchell. sign;
] corps, now assigned to the gener.
= staff, has been DESIGNATED as tempor
: airy chief of the aviation section. Lieu
] tenant Colonel George o. Squier. sis
nal corps, attached to the embass
in London, has been ordered home fC
duty. Is is assumed he will either 9
. to the aviation school at San Dies
y or succeed Colonel Reber, as he hs
had much experience with aIrcrat
work abroad.