The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1918-11-01
COURT-MARTIAL FOR
U. S. OFFICER ASKED
And Criminal Prosecution
Against Three Others Is
Also Recommended The
N ew A Admin alton,
Headed by John d. Ryan,
Is Commended for It's
Achievements

4 Washington, D. c., Nov. 1.-The mis-
takes, failures, delays and wastages OF
the airplane production program under
the administration of the old aircraft
board, before the reorganization of last
May. are detailed at length in the report
Of the investigation conducted by Charles
y. Hughes and Attorney General Greg
ory, which was before the country to-
day after having been made public at the
White House.
While the report acknowledges the
successes and achievements of the new
administration in aircraft, headed by
John d. Ryan, it deals unsparingly with
the shortcomings Of the old organization
and recommends courtmartial proceed
ings for one army officer concerned and
criminal prosecutions for three others.
The chief blame for the failure is
charged by the Hughes report to defec-
tive organization in the army signal
corps and the lack Of competent direction
of the work by the responsible officers Of
the corps.
1 AAt 1Reit mus lHbt There were DELAYS
| in getting airpane models from the al
lies and preparing specifications for their
production; that plans frequently were
changed TO the embarrassment of con-
tractors; that some manufacturers well
qualified by organization and experience
could not get orders, while others appar-
emily with few qualifications, if any, did
succeed in getting them, and that there
was confusion and waste in the plants.
Profits in some instances, Mr.. Hughes
reports, were enormous, although Attor-
ney General Gregory points out that 60
/ per cent of these profits revert to the
government in the form of war taxes
and expresses the belief 'that no such
profits were allowed as to Justify a
charge of bad faith"
The DayWright corporation, the re-
port says, with capital of Sl,000,O00
and government financing to the extent
of 81 100000, has prospects of profits of
more than $6000000, The Ford Motor
company, on contracts for 5000 Liberty
motors, the report estimates, will make
profit of more than $1,000 600 on an in
yestment Of not more than $l1 800 900.
The Fisher Body corporation, with an in
yestment of SS60,000 and government
financing of $2,000000, the report says,
is estimated to make a profit OF So 500
600. The Packard Motor company, with
calculated investment of Sll ,S0S000 and
r contract for 5000 Liberty motors, is
estimated TO be about to realize profits
Of S6,450,000 on II months work The
Lincoln Motor company, with paid-in
capital of Ss50,000 and investment of
81 10000 of which S3,460,000 represents
items on which the government pays 40
per cent depreciation, is estimated to
have in prospect or in hand profits of
81 10000.
For a whole year after the country en-.
tered the war, the report says, the equip
ment division of the signal corps of the
army was badly organized with "a host
of sections and departments with Hide
fined functions creating disorder and con
fusion rather than sustained, well di-
rected and expert effort"
Hundreds of flying cadets, the report
says, were held at training camps during
the early months of the war without fa.
eilities for training because there was
failure in delivery of training planes.
The chief actual wastes frem the orig
inal appropriation of $64000,000 which
subsequently was increased, the report
says, was in the abandonment of two
types of airships, one Of them the much
discussed Bristol and the failure to take
advantage of salvage from the abandon
ment. This waste is computed as aggre-
eating $24,00O,000.
The Men Accused.
The three army officers accused of deal
ing with corporations in which they were
financially interested and against whom
criminal proceedings are recommended,
are:
Lieutenant Colonel J. G. Vincent, for
mer vice e-president of the Packard Motor
Car company and now of the Chicago
airplane division of the aircraft produc-
tion bureau; Lieutenant Colonel George
W. Mixter, stakeholder in the Curtiss
Airplane & Motor corporation and pro-
ducing manager Of the aircraft bureau;
and Lieutenant Samuel B. Verooman, jr.,
former inspector of propeller lumber and
a stockholder in the S. B. Verooman com
pany of Philadelphia.
Recommendation also is made that
Colonel Edward A. Deeds, a member of
the original aircraft board and the sub
iect of much of the criticism that brought
on the inquiry, be brought before court.
martial for sending confidential war de-
partment information to former business
associates at Dayton, o., and for sponsor
ing "a grossly misleading statement" last
February about progress Of production.
The report exonerated from any
wrong doing the civilian personnel Of the
aircraft production board.
The Results Attained.
OF the appropriations available for the
fiscal year 1918, the report showed dis
bmsements reported TO last June 80, in