The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1919-07-30
GOOD MATERIAL
ORDERED BURNED
Million Dollar Fire in France
Destroyed More Than Hun
dred Perfect Air
planes.
ORDERS FROM OFFICERS
Congressional Sub Committee on Con.
duct Of War, Hears Of Appar-
emily Useless De-
structon.
ORDERS FROM OFFICERS
TBy Frank ]. Taylor, United Press
Staff Cores spondent.1

by pIduh D. uyAoAJ oAASSA - . w.
Staff Correspondent
NEW YORK, July 30.--A million
dollar fire. in which more than l0o
airplanes in first class condition are
alleged to have been destroyed In
France, under orders OF American
army officers, was the center of to.
days investigation by the congress
sional subcommittee on conduct OF
the war.
The committee. which yesterday
delved into alleged cruelty to Amert-
can army prisoners, abandoned that
phase of the investigation temper
arily to take up reported destruction
of army property and waste.
witnesses, testifying regarding the
million dollar fire" by which the
incident is said to have been popu-
larly referre dto in some army circles
said 1t occurred in Colombey-Les.
Bellies last May. The hundred or
more machines, including liberty
planes, salmsons and spads, were
piled up and burned, after their
motors had been destroyed. it was
ytestified. The first two witnesses
were Lieut.. Paul L. Lockwood, Stam-
ford, Conn, Of the first pursuit squad.
ron, and Sergeant Alfred T. Rorar,
Scranton, Pa, of the Fourth pursuit
squadron
Lockwood referred to the fire as
apparently useless destruction" of
planes in good condition. He said
orders for their demolition were
written and came rrom officers
higher up" He didn't know their
names.
Although he did not witness the
fire, Rorar said he was ordered to
detail sixty men to do the work.
Sergeant Fred F. Bailey, Manas.
quan, N. j.. testified he was in charge
of detail of seventy-five men de-
stroying planes and tnat the work
was still going on when he left
France in May. He said all the
planes were in good condition and
that the records showed one of them
had been used only twenty minutes
Bailey said guards were placed
about the "pyres" to prevent photo
graphs being taken. All his men were
curious about this obstruction, he said,
but could not ascertain why it was Or
dered, or who ordered it.
Today's investigation was In charge
of Congressman Bland, Indiana. He
was assisted by Congressman John
son, South Dakota
Bland said the committee also pro
posed to inquire into alleged enormous
expenditures through destruction Of
trees In various parts of France and
for bills presented by the French for
deprecated land values resulting from
digging trenches. He said inquiry
would also be made into the British
governments charge Of $50 a piece
for transmitting American soldiers
overseas.
The committee was especially anx-
ious to determine the identity of Of
ficers alleged to be responsible for
the million dollar fire" and similar
ions to determine the identity Of Of
the Investigation resulted from General
March's request for such information
from General Pershing. The latter, ac-
cording to Bland, replied there had
been no useless destruction.
The committee will complete it's
work here in day or two and sail for
France August to continue the in.
vestigation.