Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-05-07

from the charges Of criminaiity made
BY Borglum. the highest officials OF the
war Department appeared before the
House Military Affairs Committee to-
day. While they were appearing pri-
marily to present their estimate OF the
cost OF the aircraft program for tne
coming year. II was pointed out that
they would be forced by the committee
to enter a vigorous defense In connec-
ton with their request for funds.
Opening the inquiry today General
henley, in charge Of purchase and direc-
ton OF aircraft abroad, announced that
the estimate for next year Is i.032,ooo.-
900. exclusive OF the S20o,ooo.o0o def
cheney for the present year.
I'm his open letter 10 President Will
son. Borglum says
1T is something more than shock
that noticed today the publicity which
l could hardly interpret in friendly
manner. considering the order OF the
statements given and the meaning OF
your empowering letter TO me. and am
taking, therefore. the only course open
TO ire. that of addressing to you reply,
ropuhlishing your empowering letter TO-
Rether with my first letter TO you ac-
companyire my first review Of the aero
nnutc situation.
In this refer to the difficulties
met with in carrying out your wishes
that I 30 to the bottom Of this busi-
ness Beyond that spared you the
record Of petty intrigue. espionage ana
general system of official bullying that
!s carried on by. II not at. the direction
Of great departmental officials. certainly
with their knowledge and approval
~ had not been in the Office assigned
to me in the War Department forty-
eight hours before ] met with the IN
trigue of that department. Requisitions
that ! made for data brought untrue
or ralueless reports. and Mr.. STANLEY
King, whom you had named to be my
aid and who Assistant Secretary OF
War had turned over to assist me, began
to systematically block the work was
undertaking to the extent even OF
threatening witnesses who came to my
Office. Room No o25. War Department.
to give me information. and warned
them that they would give information
TO me at their peril
Alleges Conspiracy TO Deceive
General Squire acted in like man
ner and every official that ] approached
and from whom I had the right to re-
ceive aid and courtesy had. apparently
under general instructions. entered into
a common conspiracy to deceive. to mis-
lead and TO prevent me learning the
truth about the aeronautic situation.
The reports that were sent to YOU
were true. and II they erred az all. they
were not strong enough in statement.
which a subsequent inquiry has proved
and placed amply before the public.
Actual Inquiry Impossible
There has been a great deal Of talk
and great deal Of noise but for some
strange. unaccountable reason, II is I'M
possible TO get official action that Will
really investigation the aeronautc
group.
The nation knows it's billions. or
such part OF It as they could possibly
manage 20 use. is gone The nation. and
all of our boys know. that there are no
planes to protect them. although Colonel
Deeds told the National Press Assoca-
.on recently in great confidence, that
we had 1900 fiers with 1900 planes. all
ours, flying over the lines An officer
who has arrived in this country within
the week, straight from our troops. in
forms me we have less than twenty
that they are French school planes: :
that they are not allowed near the Ger
man lines and that our single balloon is
hastily pulled down out of danger as
the enemy planes appear.
Men Of Ability Rejected
Il have said that asronautic men and
ability of the nation have been snuhbed
and ignored unemployed, and that fac
tories or nucleus of factories that
could have been developed into produce
ing institutions. who knew the art Of
aeroplane building. are even at this writ
ing without the slightest consideration
by the group who dealtl out the colossal
funds for their purpose.
Charges could not be more serious.
Charges more grevious could not be
made against a department or group of
men Seven or eight Investigations have
been made besides my own. and there is
no single definite denial of anything |
charge why Is it then that this offends?
why is II that placing the truth be-
fore the authorities fails for months to
meet with response and finally with
brusque rebuke, and why, after the work
Is done and delivered a month or more,
I should receive letter from you refut-
ing the authority which alone brought
me to Washington and under which had
worked so long?"