Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1918-05-08
SECRETARY OF WAR CAUSES
STIR BY DECLARATION THAT
MOVE is PRo.GERMAN.
PRESIDENT ORDERS PROBE
BY ATTORNEY GENERAL
Senator Chamberlain Plans Full In
curry by Committee Regardless Of
Any Action Gregory May Take -
Baker Says Shortcomings of Depart.
ment Have Been Exaggerated.

| Washing ton, May Am assertion
by Secretary of War Baker before the
house committee on military affairs
that criticism of the condition of air.
plane production is pro German,
caused a stir. at the capitol. The secre-
| tary's charge was resented by mem
bers OF the committee who had clam
ored for the aircraft reorganization
winch has been effected by the admin
istration
The challenge of the war secretary
was accepted by Senator Chamberlain
| of Oregon, chairman of the committee
en- military affairs, who announced in
the senate that his committee would
resume its investigation OF the air
plane production fiasco, which he
promised would mot be a wh!tewash-
ing process"
people Want the Truth"
The committee is going ahead to
make the inquiry" Senator Chamber
lain said. The charge that has been
made from time TO time in various
sections of the press and sometimes
on the floor of congress that those
who want to arrive at the truth in
reference 10 the expenditure of the
money which belongs to the people of
this country are pro Germans in ten
dency, Will not deter the individual
members of this committee from the
performance OF their duty as they
see it.
That charge so far as am con-
cerned, shall not swerve me from the
lsl- 10, =
in the discharge of my duty and that
is to bring the truth so far ASIDE can
ststent with public duty to the attea-
ton of the American people.
Il have no doubt those who are
serving the government faithlessly will
be brought to task promptly by the
American people. All the people want
is to know the truth. Then they will
do what is necessary 10 be performed
to win this war against the miguicst
nation On the face Of the earth"
Gregory Starts Inquiry.
Attorney General Gregory initiated
his Investigation Of the charges of
criminality and malversation in the
airplane administration by assigning
Assistant Attorney General William l..
Frierson Of Chattanooga, Tenn, to
conduct the inquiry.
Mr.. Gutzon Borglum. who has pre-
ferred serious charges against the air
craft service of the government. will
be asked to appear before the investi-
cation to be conducted byA the depart
ment OF Justice" Mr. Gregory said
He win be given every opportunity
to make good these charges. We pro-
n CT
and to spare no one.
If the evidence developed during
the inquiry warrants such procedure,
the grand turies will be resorted to
and the guilty ones will be punished"
Baker Urges Secrecy.
Secretary Baker, in response to the
desire for information on the airplane
situation, said the details Of the pro-
gram are a military secret and that he
preferred not to have 1t discussed even
on the floor of the house.
Members Of the committee called his
attention to the fact that the details
were not considered a military secret
when the plans to blind the German
army" and produce 1s,,,o planes We're
advertised by the administration last
fall and when he himself gave out
statements on the alleged shipment OF
planes to France. The secretary also
was reminded that the raising of a
great aIny had been advertised to the
enemy by the administration for "psy
Geological effect"
The committee postponed until to-
morrow decision on the request Of the
secretary to suppress the information
on existing conditions or airplane pro-
duction.
Calls Shortcomings Exaggerated.
Mr.. Baker said that the shortcomings
Of airplane production had been greatly
exaggerated and that on the whole the
program is progressing satisfactorily.
w. c. Potter. chief Of the airplane
equipment division told the committee
that the Liberty motor will not be
manufactured to the extent anticipated
because of reports from abroad that 1t
is not as satisfactory as other engines
on lightning planes. Mr.. Potter said
great deal Of time has been wasted ex-
perimenting with the Liberty motors.
A large number Of Liberty motors
will be used abroad, however, In bomb
ing and observation planes. About lOo
Liberty engines, he said, went across in
the last ten days. Contracts Will De
let for such foreign planes as Bug
gatis and Hispano- SuiZa.