Omaha daily bee., 1918-05-08
AIRCRAFT BOARD
UNDER fire OF
SENATE'S PROBE
Colossal BIundering in Air Pro.
gram While Under coffin's
Administration, Declares
Senator Reed.

N are ABOUT 10 De ldunCEeQ, Wnlie
President Wilson and the cabinet
were hearing today Attorney Gen.
I eral Gregory's plans for the inquiry
into charges of graft and misman-
agement ordered by the president.
Chairman Chamberlain OF the senate
military committee announced that
the committee proposed to open its
investigation and put its finger on
the men responsible for deficiencies
in the aviticn program.
Senator .hamberlain's announce
mcnt followed conferences of mill
tary committee members and dis
cussion of the subject on the floor
OF the senate.
Senator Norris Of Nebraska, re-
publican, remarked that large num-
bers of Liberty motors had been or
dered by the allies. Senator Cham
berlain said England had ordered a
large number, but he did not deem
il advisaA to disclose confidential
information about it.
If the senator will come to my
Office" Senator Chamberlain said, 81
will show him what happened to that
contract"
No Liberty Motors Abroad.
Senator Hitchcock of Nebraska.
democrat, interjected that the num-
Der OF. Liberty motors asked by Eng
land and France had been merely
nominal, because we have not been
able to supply ourselves"
No Liberty motors now are in op-
GRAFTON abroad. the Nebraska senator
added
Senator Brandegee asked to whom
Attorney General Gregory would
make his report.
TO congress?" he demanded.
No, to the president, who already
has two reports and the Lord only
knows If he would make this report
public if there is anything bad in it."
Senator Walsh asked whether the
sending OF 1900 aviators to France
for training was wild, needless and
thoughtless act" of General Squier,
or failure because of wrong assur-
ances given him.
There is no question regarding
General Squier, think" replied SEN
ator Chamberlain. Il think he hon
estly believed that the planes would
be there"
Then there was no training of the
men because the planes were not
there" demanded Senator Walsh.
Some Colossal Blundering.
Il don't doubt there has been blum
d, ring of the most colossal oharac-
ter" Senator Reed added. 1T has
b.en under the supervision of Mr..
Cofin that this failure has come, and |
because Mr.. Coffin thought he could !
standardize airplane engines so they
would TIT any machine on earth"
Production of airplanes for $1,000
apiece, Senator Reed declared, was
=. physical impossibility." The Lib
erty motor, he added, was only adapt
able to two or three planes.
Senator McCumber insisted his es-
Inmates were correct, explaining they
were based on the production of a
standardized machine.
Senator Smoot of Utah. republican.
declared that when the 100000 900
appropriation was asked it was said
BY aviation officials to be ample" to
build 1900 airplanes.
Resuming his announcement. Sena-
tor Chamberlain declared that not
only would aviation be investigated
by the committee, but it also would
continue its war inquiry with ref
erence TO every other branch of tlk
service"
House Committee Satisfied.
In the meantime the house military
committee, considering the $l5,000,-
100000 army appropriation bill with
billion for aviation, virtually CON-
pleted brle' aircraft inquiry of its
own.
After hearing Secretary Baker and
his chief aides for aviation, the COM
mitteemen were agreed that the sit
uation did not call for an investiga
ton by them and leading members
SAID after the meeting they were con-
vinced both that there had been no
criminal liability for delays and de-
hciencies N the past and that the
present status Of War department
F---sS WIN v. !
In addition to outlining the pro-
gram for the coming year, War de
partment officials gave the committee
an accounting of the $740,0OO,0OO al
ready appropriated for aviation.
showing tina: S307000,0O0 actually Il
has been spent and of the unexpended II
balance $2700000O0 covers contracts
already placed. /
Before the committee in executive
session were Major General March. {
acting chief of staff; Major General /
Squier, chief general officer: Brig. "
General w. !. Kenly, chief of the di
VISION OF military aeronautics; Will 9
lam Z. Potter. chief of the eouipment !,
division OF tie signal corps, and other h
officers. .
No Criminal Neglect \
Mr.. Potter testified that he knew
OF no criminal neglect on the part OF a
either the manufacturers or of the S
government officers and believed the +
Inanuiactur@rs we're engaged in =
patriotic and honest efforr to pro- : :
duce results for the government
Secretary Baker said that much
81 the criticism of the aircraft pro.
gram has resulted from pro-German
propaganda. Members Of the COM
mittee wanted to know whether Ger
man plotting had interfered with pro-
duction. Mr. Baker said he could
not say it lad.
representative Shallenberger. Ne
braska, democrat, said he believed tbe
explanation satisfied the entire COM
mittee. We realize" he said, that
ne expenditure of money provided :
~ congress last year has not re- ~ y
'ulfed in construction of as many o.
'attle planes as was expected. The y
production capacity of the country II
!owever, is how ready for the pro. 10
luctioa Of s;rp1anes. The committee &C