The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1918-05-09
GREGORY STARTS
AIRCRAFT QUIZ
Attorney General Says Guilty viii
Be Punished.
w. |. FRIERS0N STARTS WORK
Senator Chamberlain Plans lnvestga-
ton TO Determine How and Where
Large Appropriations Were
Expended.

Washington May S.-Attorney Gen
eral Gregory, acting at President VIII
sons direction, began planning the in
yestlgatlon Of the $6400O0.000 appro-
priation for The construction of air
craft.
The attorney general said:
"The purpose of the investigation
will be to determine whether there
has been any dishonesty or malyersa-
ton Of any Kind.
"ln case either is developed, neces-
sary steps to punish the guilty Will be
taken, The investigation will begin AT
once and Assistant Attorney General
William l.. Frierson viii be In imme-
date charge"
Senate Probe Also.
AT the some time Chairman Cham
berlain Of the senate military com
mittee proposed to have Il thorough
inquiry Of it's own. He promised the
senate there would he mo white
washing"
The investigation, Senator Chamber
lain announced, would be to determine
how and where these immense APP
preparations were expended, adding
that the committee proposed to put
its finger on the men responsible"
In making his announcement Sena-
tor Chamberlain declared there had
been something radically wrong with
the whole program.
New Charges Daily.
New charges of a sensational kind
I'm connection with aviation are meing
brought forth daily, Senator Chamber
lain continued.
Senator Vardaman, Democrat. OF
Mississippi, asked how many Ameri-
can planes were abroad, and Senator
Chamberlain replied that not one
American built battle plane had been
sent there, although American mate
rails In large quantity had been
shipped for assembling.
Referring to testimony of Major
General Squier, chief Of the signal
corps, before the committee regarding
failure to train 1900 American cadets
sent to France because no airplanes
were available and plans to return
them 10 this country for training, SEN
ator Chamberlain said large num-
Der Of the cadets had never received
any training abroad.
s2Oo,oooooo Spent.
Senator Thomas of Colorado, Demo
crat said he understood that $200000,-
600 had been actually expended and
that the rest is represented by con-
tracts" which, when completed, Will
absorb the remainder.
Rcsuming his announcement, Sena-
tor Chamberlain declared that not
only would aviation be Investigated by
the committee, hut every other branch
Of the service
Senator Norris OF Nebraska, Repub-
llcan, remarked that large numbers
OF Liberty motors had been ordered
by the allies.
Senator Chamberlain said England
had ordered a large number, but he
did not deem IT advisable TO disclose
confidential information.
Baker Asks Billion.
Secretary Baker urged the house
military committee TO recommend a
new bilion-dollar aircraft and figures
regarding aircraft plans should not
be made public
lie said the committee was entitled
to details but he was opposed to pre-
senting them publicly.
Despite suggestions by several
members of the committee, he said
nothing should be given out by the
committee.
He said criticism Of the aircraft
plans were inspired by pro-German
Influences and that details of govern
monr plans should be kept military
secrets
Secretary Baker, in n prepared
statement ON the Liberty motor, said
II was "A composite of ideas of engine
builders.