Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-03-29
Senator Overman Declares
Agents of Kaiser Have
Prevented America From
j Carrying Out War Pro
gram.
COMMITTEE STARTS
AVIATION INQUIRY

Washington, D. c., March 2S.-
Charges that German spies were re-
Lsponsible for this country's failure to
keep up in its airplane program were
made in the senate today by Senator
Overman, democrat, OF North Carolina.
He also charged that there were spies
IL the Curtiss plant.
"If were secretary OF war, would
commander the Curtiss plant and put
out every man employed ,there and
hire Americans in their places" de-
clared Senator Overman.
SABOTAGE IN FACTORY
Senator Overman declared spies
took metal braces and saving them in
then painted over The first Bristol
machine that was tried fell, he said.
An investigation disclosed the defect.
Many other pieces also had been
tampered with and as q result the
building Of Bristol machines was de-
layed two months while inspectors
and government agents inspected and
closely examined the various parts to
replace tampered pieces.
10000 SPIES IN U. ..
Senator Oyerman said it had been
rerortsA ttA1e are 100. .00o B German
spies n this country, but he believed
there are 100000. He said he was
making no charge against any en-
ploye Of tho Curties plant but asserted
some Of their names sound un-Ameri-
can and added, I'VE do know that
spies are in the plant and that they
have delayed the delivery Of ma
chimes"
Mr. Overman announced that his in
formation had been obtained from a
detective whose name he intended
giving to Chairman Chamberlain Of
the senate military committee SO that
he and others can be summoned be-
fore the military committee.
When the senate debate was re-
sumed today. the shipbuilding situa-
ton was taken up with Senator Nc
Cumber, republican Of North Dakota,
attacking statements of, Chairman
Hurley Of the shipping board on
progress of the governments program.
PREDICTS HEAVY SHORTAGE
Senator McCumber cited this weeks
submarine loss as far above the aver
age and declared that at the present
rate of construction and sinking,
net loss of 100000 or 1000, 900 tons
of shipping will be shown by January
1, 1919 He charged that most of the
ships Chairman Hurley reports in
service have been requisitioned and
not newly built.
Chairman Fletcher Of the commerce
committee replied that three ships
now in service were designed and built
by the emergency fleet corporation.
THREE SHIPS IN YEAR
Then the efforts of the shipping
board actually in nearly year have
produced three ships" Senator Nc.
Cumber observed
To obtain additional information re-
garding the airplane situation, the SEN
ate military committee today called
Major General Sguier, head of the sig
nal corps, Colonel Deeds Of the signal
corps and Howard F. Coffin, chairman
of the aircraft board, before 1t immedi-
ately.
FOLLOWED BAKERS LEAD
Charges that the committee on pub
lie information, in issuing photo
graphs on airplane production, sup
piled misleading captions tending to-
exeggerate the volume Of production
were investigated today before the
committee.
General Squier and Col. Deeds were
heard in executive session over the
protest Of Chairman Cham berlain who
argued thsr had been so much misuri-
misrepresentation and so
many conflicting statements over the
ai-plene situation that the two army
officers might agree TO make public
statements.
Morris Strunsky, employed in the
picture department OF the committee,
said he wrote the captions on the pic
lures sent out for use on March 30,
but which have since been withdrawn
from publication, but declared he
based his information for part of the
on statements by Secretary
Baker.
DANIELS REJECTS MOTOR GIFT
Strunsky said that perhaps he per-
mitted enthusiasm to dominate the
facts, although he denied any intention
to mislead the public
George c. Beach. employed as assist
ant counsel for the war risk insurance
bureau, told the committee Secretary
Daniels refused his offer to turn over
free to the government all American
(Contiausd on page 2. Col. 81