New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-02-19
Senator Robinson Charges
Col. Reber with Deceit In
SURPRISING Facts.
INTRODUCES LETTERS
TO SUPPORT CLAIM
Officers Asked to Make False
Reports to War Depart
ment, He Says.

Washington, Feb. ls.-Sensationnl
charges against the army aviation ser
vice. with a demand for immediate IN
vestigation, were made to-day before
The Senate Military Committee by Sene-
tor Robinson, Of Arkansas, who de-
clared that the service was con
temptibly inefficient" and that Its head
! Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Reber. no.
only was making no effort to improve II,
but deliberately was. preventing tho
facts from reaching his superiors.
The Senator appeared before the COM
mittee with a mass Of data, Including
Photographic copies of letters which, he
said. had been exchanged between Colo
mel Reber and Captain Arthur S. Cowan,
commanding the aviation station at San
Diego.
These were introduced at the trial OF
Lieutenant Colonel Goodier. judge ad-
vocate general OF the Western Depart
ment, for altering charges preferred
before him. A commission OF army Of
fcers appointed by the Secretary Of
War is considering what action should
be taken toward Colonel Reber, Cap
tain Cowan and the service generally
as the result of the revelations at
Colonel Goodier's trial.
Senator Robinson read liberal ex-
cerpts from his photographs OF the let
ters, and quoted Captain Cowan as
writing TO Colonel Reber that II the
service ever came under investigation
by any one outside the Signal Corps IT
would be impossible to explain the rot
ten way in which the work has been
handled" Other letters were produced
20 show that favoritism was practised
in the promotion of men In the service.
Sought to Deceive Congress"
The Senator charged that Colonel
Reber prompted Captain Cowan TO prac-
tise contemplate deceit" toward Rep
resentatives who visited the aviation
station. and that he attempted TO get
into the annual appropriation bill, In
connection with the item for the pur-
chase Of airships, a provision for the
purchase of accessories" with which
TO buy automobiles. He said the
colonel wrote that the word 'acces-
sories' will be like charity, and cover q
multitude of sins"
Another letter upon which the Sen
ator dwelt instructed Captain Cowan
TO have prepared designs for sheets to
be placed under the seats OF aviators
$50 we can say we have armored aero
planes" ,n
"This resolution was introduced"
Senator Robinson said, "only after con-
sideration Of evidence that the aviation
section of the signal corps Is hopeless
~ inefficient and that this fact Is
known by the officers charged with Us
control. and deliberately concealed by
them from the War Department and
from Congress-
Under date Of April 10, 1914, the
Senator said Captain Cowan wrote
Colonel Reber:
FRANKLY. | don't want to put down
in black and white over my signature
my opinion about the way the signal
service has handled this work.
Officer Detested Work.
when | think of all the mistakes
that have been made while ! have had
charge of this end Of the work, II just
makes me sick. IL had known
as much about this work six months
ago as know now. am convinced that
! could have saved this whole unfor'
I tunate situation. l don't know
very much about how this work should
! be done" ..
"As conclusive evidence that Colonel
Reber prompted Captain Cowan 10
make false reports concerning the true
condition Of the service" said Senator
Robinson. ~ quote from his letter OF
February 25, 1915, as follows:
/ He (the chief-General Scrtven)
will probably ask you for the personnel
I of the First Aero squadron and | sug-
gest that you have prepared list
showing the officers who shall, | say,
theoretically, belong 20 the same. IL
you find il necessary TO I'll up by put
ting in the names OF some OF the avia-
tion students. put them in and give him
q list
The committee will act Monday on
Senator Robinsons resolution. Senator
Chamberlain, the chairman, declared
that the charges should be investigated
ana expressed the opinion that the
committee would order promptly a
favorable ropOrt on the resolution.