The Oklahoma City times. [volume] (Oklahoma City, Okla.) 1908-1984, 1918-05-07
pRObE-TO-F|NISH
THREAT IS MADE
BY CHAMBERLAIN
mo WhitewaSh Process to
Place Responsibility"
GREGORY BEGINS WORK
Attorney General Plans to
DeIye 10 Bottom, e,

WASHINGTON, May Chairman
Chamberlain OF the senate military COM
mittee. announced in the senate today
that with the support OF the senate his
committee Would investigate the air.
craft situation with a view oi determine
ing how and where the money appro-
priated for that purpose he'd been spent
Senator Chamberlain declared his
committee proposed to put its
finger on men responsible" for
conditions in aircraft production
and added, "the committee doesn't
propose to engage In any white
washing process either"
In response to questions Senator
Chamberlain unreServedly declared NOT
one American built battle plane had yet
been sent to Europe, although materials
in large quantity had been shipped
abroad for assembly.
Coffin Is Blamed.
Senator Reed OF Missouri, in the
course OF the debate in the senate, said
he did not doubt there had been blund-
erins Of the most colossal character.
| "It has been under the supervision OF
Howard f. Coffin" he declared that
this failure has come, and because Mr..
Coffin thought he could standardils
air engines so they could fit any ma
chine on earth"
GpSory Begins Work.
! Attorney General Gregory started to-
day to outline plans for the aircraft
investigation ordered by President VIII
son. He called into conference q:
Carroll Todd, his assistant, ana
Solicitor General Davis and the three
went over the situation.
The attorney general made it clear
that under the presidents Instructions
he would go to the bottom OF the
charges.
House Hears Baker.
Meanwhile the house military COM
mittee subjected war department otti-
cials to a close examination at con-
ference in which the administrations
request for a billion dollar aircraft APP
preparation was taken up. Secretary
Baker, J. d. Ryan, in charge OF pro-
duction: Major General March, acting
chief OF staff and Major General Squier.
chief signal officer, were present at the
conference. Y
Investig CATION Demanded.
The aircraft subject came up as soon
as the senate convened Stirred by
I published charges. eliminating yester-
, day in the presidents order TO the de-
$ partment OF Justice, senator's began de-
l. manding congressional inquiry.
J, Senator Brandegee, republican OF
Connecticut, was among the first Ia
call for one and Chairman Chamberlain
responded with his announcement OF
: the committees intentions.
In making his announcement Senator
Chamberlain declared there had been
, something radically wrong with the
whole program. He had never seen the
, Borglum report, he said. but declared
. the conclusions reached in the Il
Snowden Marshall report were in &C.
cord with those Of the committee.
Glad Wilson Approves.
I The senate committee, he said, wal
a part Of the governments authoritie.
II and added significantly he was glad
s the president approves rs course in ad'
- vance"
- New charges Of a sensational kind il
connection with aviation are being
2 brought forth daily. Senator Chamber
l lain continued.
| These charges are coming TO me and
other members of the committee ever,
day" he said This committee is de
termined to do whatever is neoessar,
to help win the war"
H No Training Abroad.
II Referring TO testimony OF Major Gen
eral Squier, chief OF the signal corps
before the committee regarding fsilur'
to train |, 800 American cadets sent Il
France because no airplanes were avail
able and plans to return them to thi
country for training. Senator Chamber
lsin said large number OF the eadst
had never received any training abroad
II Senator Walsh Of Montana. demo
crat. declaring the statement extra
ordinary" asked II il was not "con
fe.sion OF failure" and what explzna
ton had been given
Squier Too Optimistic.
The extreme optimism of the chic
signal officer and those associated viii
him" Senator Chamberlain replied
was the explanation.
They thought, in perfect GOO
faith, think, that they owuld hsy
the planes there 10 train the men"
Senator Chamberlain said the cosv
mittee had even more. importsni h
formation which II was not deemel
wise to publish, and said he had -