Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1918-05-09
GREGORY STARTS !
AIRCRAFT QUIZ
Attorney General Says Guilty Will
Be Punished.
w. |. FRIERSON STARTS WORK
Senator Chamberlain Plans Investiua-
tion to Determine How and Where
Large Appropriations Were
Expended.

Washington, May 8.-Attorney Gen
eral Gregory, acting at President VIII
sons direction, began planning the in
vestigatiOn of the $640,000,00 appr0-
priation for the construction of air
craft
The attorney general said:
The purpose Of the investigation
will be to determine whether there
has been any dishonesty or malversa-
ton of any kind.
In case either is developed, neces-
sary steps to punish the guilty will be
taken The investigation will begin at
once and Assistant Attorney General
William l.. Frierson will be in imme-
diate charge"
Senate Probe Also.
At the some time Chairman Cham
berlain of the senate military com
mittee proposed to have Il thorough
inquiry of its own. He promised the
senate there would be mo white
washing"
The investigation, Senator Chamber
lain announced, would be to determine
how and where these immense APP
preparations were expended, adding
that the committee proposed to put
its finger on the men responsible"
In making his announcement Sena-
tor Chamberlain declared there had
been something radically wrong with
the whole program.
New Charges Daily.
New charges of a sensational kind
in connection with aviation are meing
brought forth daily, Senator Chamber
lain continued.
Senator Nardaman, Democrat, of
Mississippi, asked how many Ameri
can planes were abroad, and Senator
Chamberlain replied that not one
American built battle plane had been
sent there, although American mate
rials in large quantity had been
shipped for assembling.
Referring to testimony of Major
General SQuier, chief of the signal
corps, before the committee regarding
failure to train 1,500 American cadets
sent to France because no airplaneS
were available and plans to return
them to this country for training, Sen
ator Chamberlain said a large num-
ber of the cadets had never received
any training abroad.
100000, 900 Spent.
Senator Thomas of Colorado. Demo-
crat, said he understood that $200,000,-
600 had been actually expended and
that the rest is represented by con
tracts" which, when completed, Wal
absorb the remainder
Resuming his announcement, Sena~
tor Chamberlain declared that not
only would aviation be investigated by
the committee, but every other branch
of the service"
Senator Norris of Nebraska Repub-
lican, remarked that large numbers
of Liberty motors had been ordered
by the allies.
Senator Chamberlain said England
had ordered large number, but he
did not deem it advisable to disclose
confidential information.
Baker Asks Billion.
Secretary Baker urged the house
military committee to recommend a
new hillion-dollar aircraft and figures
regarding aircraft plans should not
he made public.
He said the committee was entitled
to details, but he was opposed to pre-
senting them publicly.
Despite suggestions by several
members of the committee. he said
nothing should be given out by the
committee.
He said criticism of the aircraft
plans were inspired by prO-German
Influences and that details of govern
ment plans should be kept military
secrets.
Secretary Baker, in prepared
statement on the Liberty motor, said
it was composite of ideas of engine
builders.