Albuquerque morning journal., 1916-02-20
MORE EVIDENCE
THAT AVIATION
IS INEFFICIENT
Senator Says War Department
Has Long Had Facts Re-
garding Scandal at San
Diego Wants Outside Probe


Washington, Feb. 19.-More evil
dence in support of his charge that
the army aviation service is contempti-
bly, inefficient,s was made pul lie to-
nitht hy Senator Robinson. who de-
clared he would continue his efforts
for a congressional investigation dcs-
pite the announcement of the war de-
partment that il would make an in
nuiry into the subject. Chairman
Chamberlain, of the senate military
committee. before while Mr.. Robinson
testified yesterday said he would ask
The committee to vote on Monday on
the senator's resolution for inveslEa-
ton.
II introduced my resolution in De-
cembcr.' said Senator Robinson. Il
waited until yesterday for the war de-
partment TO act For months the de-
partment had all this information, As
a result Of inefficiency. several men
who believed the machines were un-
safe, wero compelled ito fly and were
killed. Now think the inquiry should
be made by persons outside the army
Evidence at Disposal.
The senator said further data re-
garding the service had been laid be
fore him today by persons claiming
to have authoritative information.
This, together with documents pre-
sented to the military committee yes
terday including the Photographic
copies of Ietttors purporing to have
passed between Lieut.. Col. Samuel Re-
her. in charge of the aviation service,
and Cap. Arthur $. Cowan, in charge
of the san Diego station Will be
placed the disposal of any nvesti-
cation committee congress may ap-
point,
The data made public tonight was
given out in the form Of a statement
by Senator Robinson quoting from adj
ditional letters he said he had been
written by aviation officers
In one letter" said the statement,
Colonel Reber wrote; The house mill
tary committee, of which is Mr.. Hay.
for reasons best known TO himself
made up his mind to stick to three
hundred thousand and he succeeded IN
bluffing the senate conferees This Is
the whole story and had we gone to
some other committee we would prob
ably have Cotton as much more as the
navy did.
"a letter from Captain owen to
Colonel Reber, dated January l5,
1915, asked for authority to spend
$500 for the purchase of 1915 mo-
torcycle. My official reason, wrote
Captain owen, for wanting to pur-
chase this motorcycle Is that the latest
modern motorcycle we have here IS
1913. We should keep track Of the
and be ready to recon-
mend the type best suited for our
work. My personal reason for want
ing to purchase this motorcycle is to
provide myself with a means Of trans
portation between North Island and
my quarters at Coronado.
Regarding he Barracks
Upon the qnartormaster' corps in
the army is placed the duty of build
ing barracks and they nave appropria-
tions for that purpose. Nevertheless,
Colonel Rehor on May 20. 1915 wrote
as follows to Captain Cowan There
is one thing wish you would be
worry careful about and not let your
refer in any way to the
structure we have erected on North Is
land as temporary barracks a
arrsved the other day for
something for the temporary barracks.
and the quartcrmaster's office foll
down in a fit They said they had no
temporary barracks and that they
knew nothing about temporary bar
racks, which was their proper state
of mind as we cannot tell any person
that we have built bar
'acks