New-York tribune., 1918-03-23
Lynching the Aircrafters
Publication in "The Ne1u York World' of Confden-
tial Report Made by Gutzon Borgun, the SCULPTOR to
President Wilson n the Aircraft Situation

which men he officers. Experts
repudiate these charges.
Mutual friends of Colonel Deeds and Mr..
Borglum say that there is personal diff
ference between the two men which may
may not have affected the views Of the
scul ptor. u
Continuing the report reads:
"Mr. Coffin, The chairman of the board,
| find 10 charge complaint against, but
1T is inconceivable to me that this extraor-
di2arv condition could have existed without
MS knowledge. He appears, however, 10 be
81 man OF enterprise, club interests and pro-
noting faculty, with a strong tendency
toward publicity, but with no trained
knowledge or sense Of production or what
it really involves.
HE has, however, issued and is daily
causing to be issued, Statements harmful,
untrue. nnfounded, deceivng our own peo-
pie. excepting those who understand, but
not deceiving allies or enemies.
General Squier
81 spent almost an hour with General
Squ:er, and have this full report: He is inno
cent OF all participation in the activities
above set forth (cxcepting the publicitv).
Like the honest man he is, he poured out
MS heart to me, and repeatedly asked me
to tell hlm what | knew, what l had found
and what was looking for. declined and
assured him that no reflection upon himself
had come to my attention, nor could con-
ceivo o. anything. He thanked me.
He has, however, hindered my investiga-
ton. and in other ways made it distinctly
unpleasant for me, for which I in no wav
n!ame nm. He was active as an officer. and
"bstalned from explaining my authority
0" discussing your wish
MY observations regarding him arc
these: tie Is scientist, a student. His
i'le as regular officer in department
unacqua'nted with action as it is under
stood. has protected him from the hard
schooling of the world, and he is unnre-
pared to govern or direct the great work
his department. has had thrust upon II
and he should be relieved. if that we're nos
slble, without injury in any way to himself
ne IS vain, and reminds me very much
OF General Fremont and his strange illu.
sions and staff. He exclaimed: NV work.
Mr. borglum, IS so Important. | DON'T
OIhN MY MAIL. never write a letter:
haVe to think (and he pointed to h,s
head. am the only man who has
an International staff. I have the 6ncst
professors, the 9nest scientists in the coun.
try, on my staff. The General Staff cannot
compare with mine No one could ui,,.
Mayor Mitchell a commission. 50 I @,,a
him one saw
Mr. president. the acronautic pro-
er"mmc Is as serious piece of business
"s com rohts the world. 1t might win tho
war. II 1t can do what its advocates bo.s,
IT can save us from a hundred to two ~
three hundred THOUSAND of our bows.
Teutonic Personality
Must 1T continue the butt of graft and
Inefhc'ency? This department should he
."Ne" from the signal corps. 1t is a great
creative establishment, and should hn nm
r'la'ec 10 either the War or the Navv
oopai''"eh' but should produce to their
requirements precisely as a great factor..
Nor should aeronautics be obsossad ~.o; '.';., y
100 many purely technical men.
III IS difficult to keep opinjon ONT of
report OF this kind, and | have tr;oa -
relraln, and simply report But Doods,c
po"erluI lcutonic personality seems +n
nave completely hypnotized the trust;,n
yc'en'''c mind of General Souier and
pceoS, not Squler is controlling his state
menu II not his action
Mf Howe. the new member in cbaroo
OF spruce supplies, is not conncctoa '"' I'D. se
inc earlier work Of this war '"
Regarding the naval meubers ,o.,;
ru' Eood comes to me about these oontIo
"c". hey seem to have attended, +L;
meetings ana dcalt only with such mattnrs
as concern their dcpartmcnt-thc navv
MS brlef revlewa digest of croo+
mass OF inquiry brings US face to fa",
w'th NJ: Collins official statement in .Tha
Saturday Evening Post under date ~ 1n ne
uary 3, 1918. 1t has no relation ~ +r,,., "a-
ana as an official document must thorofora,
nave been written with the intont ~ a.
ce'Ve. ms personal explanation is that .tbcv
wrote what they pleased, and hc ouonos
'hem TO use his name General Snm;".,s
excuse TOR the article was that Chief Cnr
sof Crcel was responsible Each Of tbe;r
excuses carries its own conviction.
ms lCofiin's) speech at tho Enr;,nors,
Club few nights later is of the snr,n so,,
ana Sam Biythes article in che S.+
ufday Evening Post of last week was
repetition OF the same group of misstats'
ments; also, General Squier's stoteman,
m m the Sunday edition of The Washington
iost' January 20, 1918, was inconce;va,,"
N the face of reports | possess fron, ~
o'hc'al files of his Office (His Anal renorts ,.s
dated January l5 19ls.0 ''po''s
ne seriousness, as we'll as the uroo,.,,
81 ADVISING you on this subject comneIs ~
20 arrest 1t here without touchinr ,,>a,, NV
,,egu'af't'es of eaunl seriousness to what !,
mere recorded, the datn far ,,,h;L -" -