The sun., 1918-05-07
Says President Broke Prom.
ise to Have Experts
Aid Him.
SEES COURT.MARTIAL
Baker and Others Tried to
Block Investigation,
He Charges.
FOUND SQUIER HOSTILE
IntimatiOns Now That Senate
Will Begin Comprehen-
sive Inquiry.
FOUND sQUIER HOSTILE

Special Despetch to THS euS.
WASHINGTON. May 5.-The aircraft
situation was torn wide open tonight By
Gutson Borsium after the publication BY
the President Of his side Of the corre-
spondence with Mr.. Borsium concerning
the iatter's investigation Of the delays
In the military airp,ane programme.
This correspondence was made public
BY the President in connection with the
announcement Of HE determination to
Rave the charges Of delinquency and dis.
honesty made by Mr. Borglum investi-
gated by the Department Of Justice.
Such action has been demanded OF the
President by Howard Comm. former head
Of tho Aircraft Board. who Is now recu-
rcrsting in Georgia.
II was apparently the last letter OF
the President in this correspondence. ac-
cusing Mr.. Borglum OF having misinter-
preted the scope OF the authority which
h.d been accorded to him. that caused
,fr. Borglum to make public late to-
which bristied with implications.
So sensational was the letter which
Mr.. Borglum addressed to the CHIEF
Executive that It Is sure to give rise to
much speculation as to what next 10 to
follow In q situation which In the optn-
ion Of many now closely borders on the
scandalous.
Mr.. Bore,um. before giving out his
letter to ths President. gave to the
Nj
witnesses who. he soys. can substan'
tiate his charges Of derelictions and de-
lays.
senate Msy Act.
II remains now 10 be sssn. in view q
his letter. tonight. whether the senate
COMMITTEES viii Nov tAe Investigation
10 remain An the hands Of the Depart
ment OF Justice or will conduct ts own
probe. =.
pursued Il made moro likely by reason
OF the charges which Mr.. Borglum now
makes OF being blocked and spied upon
by high officials Of the War Department
with the intimation that some OF mii
happened because he would not wnite'
wash"
With the President inviting him to un'
der.ake an investigation and assuring
him that he would be clothed with ful
authority to get to the bottom OF every
situation" the sculptor In the CHARGES
he made tonight insists that from tne
minute he took hold the man turned
over to assist him by the Secretary o.
War began ''to systematically o'ocK tns
work" Witnesses summoned to MI
Office, he insists, were threatened and
system Of petty intrigue, espionage ahe
official bullying revealed.
He accuses the President Of not keep
Ing his promises to give him expert as
Histants and Of dealing directly with hin
in cases of difference between himsel
and Mr.. Baker.
Concerning the aircraft programme
itself Mr.. Borglum charges that It's con
duct has been replete with pronteerine
that hundreds Of millions OF dollars hav
been wasted and contracts given to mel
merely because they had pull with Ger
tain officials.
Charges Are Serious.
CHARGES more grievous could not
made against a department or grou
OF men," says Mr. Borglum.
Ills letter follows:
"My Dear Mr.. President: 1t Is VII
something more than a shock tnat
noticed to-day the publicity which
could hardly interpret in a friendly man
rer. considering the order of the state
rents given and the meaning OF you
empowering letter to me. and ! am TAX
Ing therefore the only course open U
me. that Of addressing to you reply
with my frst letter TO you. accompany
ing my first review OF the aeronauti
situation.
Tn this I refer to the dihfculties
met with In carrying out your wisne
that 4 20 to the bottom Of this business
Beyond that spared you the record q
petty intrigue. espionage and geners
system of officiai bullying that Is carrie
On by. IL not at the direction OF gres
departmental ofYicials. certainly WIZ
their knowledge and approval.
Il had not been in the once ass'sne
to me In the War Department forty -eigr
hours before ! met with the intrigue
that depa rtment. Regulations that
made for data brought untrue or valu'
less reports and Mr.. Stanley King who'
you had named to be my aid and ~hol
Assistant Of War had turned over
assist me, began systematically to bloc
the work I was undertaking: to the q
tent even Of threatening witnesses WI
came to my ONCE. room 226. War D'
Iartment. to give me Information A.
warned them that they. would give II
formation 10 me at I1eV peT"
Says squieP Acted Likewise.
Gen. Sauier acted in a like manne
End every Official that I approached ar
from whom ! had the right to recei'
aid and courtesy had apparently. und'
general instructions. entered into con
mon conspiracy to deceive. to misiea
and to prevent learning tho truth abo
the aeronautic situation.
II do not presume TO give tue reas,
sources OF tho periodical statement
false in contents and in purpose. emana
ing from the War Department regardiI
a.ronautics. and they would not iot
with favor upon any inquiry that des
with the true situation ana 30 within
week aba ndoned the War once and Q
cured All once without the buiding IN
nv investigation might be less pref