Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1918-05-10
SENATE TO PROBE
AIRCRAFT AFFAIRS
AND GRAFT CHARGE
"There viii Be No WhitewaSh-
ing" Chamberlain Promises,
President Directs Justice De-
partment to Investigate Also

WASHINGTON. May Chairman
/ Chamberlain, of the senate military
| committee. announced in the senate to-
, day that with the support of the SEN
ate. his committee would investigate the
/ aircraft situation with view to deter
mining how and where the money APP
propriated for that purpose has been
spent
Senator Chamberlain declared his
committee proposed to put its anger
on men responsible" for conditions in
4 aircraft production and added:
The committee does not propose TO
/ engage in any whitewIshiug process,
either"
/ In response to questions, Senator
/ Chamberlain unreservedly declared not
one American-built battle plane had yet
been sent to Europe, although material
in large quantities had been shipped
/ abroad for assembly.
Investigation of the aircraft situation
swiftly began taking shape today. both
in the department of justice and in con-
gress.
Attorney General Gregory, acting at
/ President wilson's direction, began plan
ming the investigation which is to dis
close if there has been malfeasance or
misuse OF the great $640,OOO,OOO appro-
priation.
The aircraft subject came up as soon
as the senate convened Stirred by pub
Iisred charges eliminating yesterday In
the presidents order to the department
Of justice, senator's at once began de-
handing congressional inquiry.
Senator Brandegee, Republican, OF
Connecticut, was among the first to call
for one, and Chairman Chamberlain re-
sponded with his announcement of the
committees intentions.
The investigation. Senator Chamber
lain announced, would be to deter
mine how and where the immense APP
preparations were expended, adding that
the committee proposed TO put its fin
ger on the men responsible" and add
ed further:
The committee does not propose TO
engage in any whitewashing process,
either"
Program Radically wrong
In making his announcement, Sen.
ator Chamberlain declared there had
been something radically wrong with
the whole program. He had never seen
the Borglum report he said, but de-
cIared the conclusions reached in the
II. Snowden Marshall report were In
accord with those Of the committee.
The senate committee, he said. was
part of the governments authori-
ties and added significantly he was
glad the president approves its course
in advance"
New charges of a sensational kind
in connection with aviation are being
brought forth daily, Mr.. Chamberlain
continued.
These charges are coming to me and
other members of the committee every
day" he said. This committee is de-
termined to do whatever is necessary
TO help win the war"
Senator Vardaman, Democrat, or MIS-
sissippi. asked how many American
planes were abroad and Senator Cham
berlain replied that not one American
built battleplane had been sent there,
although American materials in large
quantity had been shipped for assem-
bling.
our people ought to be informed.
the senator proceeded. "Of the truth O.
the situation, and they never have
been"
No Planes for Cadets
Referring to testimony of Major Cen
eral Squier. chief of the signal corps,
before the committee regarding failure
to train 1900 American cadets sent TO
France, because. no airplanes were avail
able, and plans to return them TO this
country for Gaining, Senator Chamber
had never received any training abroad.
Senator Walsh. declaring the state
ment extraordinary" asked if it were
not a confession of failure" and what
explanation had been given.
The extreme optimism of the chief
signal officer, and those associated with
him." Senator Chamberlain replied, was
the explanation. They thought, in
perfect good faith, 1 think, that they
would have the planes there to train
them
Senator Chamberlain said the commit
tee had even more important informa-
ton which it was not deemed wise to
publish and said he had received a let
ter from one of the cadets declaring
their morale had been absolutely de-
stroyed" by failure to receive training.
Optimism Of Board.
Authorities, he said, now are arrang-
ing to protect them against optimism
Of the aircraft board"
Senator Lodge commended the COM
mittee for deciding to pursue it's in
vestigation and said information should
| be had regarding expenditure of $780,
| GOO 900 on the aviation program for such
results "ss described by the senator"
Senator Thomas, sof Colorado Demo-
crat, said he understood that $2O0,OOO,-
I 600 had been actually expended and
/ that the rest is represented by con-
tracts" which, when completed, will abb
serb the remainder.
Senator Walsh asked whether the
sending Of the 500 aviators to France
/ for training was a wild Needless and
thoughtIess act" of General Squier, or
a failure because of wrong assurances
| given him.
There is no question regarding Gen.
eral Souier, l think" replied Senator
Chamberlain. 81 think he honestly be-
lieved that the planes would be there"
Then there was no training of the
| men because the planes were not there?"
| demanded Senator Walsh.
Planes Not Supplied.
The planes were not forthcoming Ell
Their from this country or from France
| responded Senator Chamberlain. This
whole business has been camouflaged
| and misrepresented to the American peo-
/ pie
II has only been recently that planes
/ have been supplied in adequate quaint
/ ties for training purposes, he added.
| In response TO another question, the
/ senator said the original aircraft pro-
gram provided for something like from
/ $500 20 5000 fighting planes in France
/ by July l.
| Investigation shows, Senator McCum-
Der declared. such planes can be pro-
duced at a "big profit' for $4,000 apiece
But had they cost $4,000 each. we