New-York tribune., 1919-12-10
If Lieutenant Was Correctly
Quoted on Drunkenness
in Air Service He May
Face a Court Martial
Fliers Denounce Charges
Say They Are Lie and Black.
EN- Memory of Heroes
Who Died for Democracy

Lieutenant Belvin W. Maynard, the
nylng parson. faces the possibility Of
court-martial as result of the
statementN made in his name by the
Anti-Saloon League and authenticated
by Maynard. The statement alleges
that the failures and some Of the
deaths IN the transcontinental air race
were due to drunkenness of pilots.
An official investigation has been or
dered by the War Department. and il
is stated that if Lieutenant Maynard
has been correctly quoted he will be
required to prove his statements be-
fore an official board
Lieutenant Maynard's statement has
caused excitement in local flying cir
cles, and every point made in it was
denied Indignantly yesterday.
Captain Field Kindley, one of the
Leading American aces, and adjutant Of
the Long Island flying fields. where
Maynard is attached, said:
"1f it is true he said that, it is tho
most disgraceful announcement that
could have been made by an officer OF
the air service. l fully agree with
General Mitchell that he should be fred
no more respect for his brother Of
ficers has no right to associate with
them.
"The statement is all the more dis
graceful because it attacks the dead
the men who have given their lives to
their country and are not able to de-
fend themselves.
Lieutenant Maynard says the reason
the other pilots did not win the trans
continental race is because they were
drunk. IN making this statement he
q 70 o1 !,
the winner of the race. 1t was won
by Lieutenant Alexander Pearson.
Lieutenant Maynard was the first to
complete the course, but his flying time
was much longer than many other con-
testants. He did use wonderful judp-
ment, and did good work for the air
service. But he could not have chosen
a. worse method to injure the air SER
VICE nee+ than n by making such false state
Cole J. Younger, vice chairman Of the
Flying Club, who checked out every
pilot in the transcontinental air race.
said:
"No man in that race who came to me
to clear out was under the influence
Of liquor"
At the American Flying Club indigna-
tion at the statement reached a high
pitch. The majority of the members
saw overseas service. They prepared
a set of resolutions yesterday denounc-
ing Maynard's statement as false. In
it they said:
These statements are hideous in
their inference, for they place every
American aviator who dicI by accident
under the black cloud of false sus-
picion. Lieutenant Maynard has sullied
the memory of hundreds of American
fiers who lost their lives in splendid
sacrifice by his odious statement that
they died because they tried to fly
while drunk He attempts to destroy
those who died that ideals might live
"He poisons the minds of every
American family who lost sons in the
air service, with the sickening doubt
that death might have been the result
of own misdoing. False in foundao zion,
vile in purport, malicious, infamous
lie, tending to stain the name of every
pilot who gave his life in his coun-
try's service, Lieutenant Maynard's
words are offensive to every member
of the air service, who are all slurred
under the shadow of shameful false
hood.
Had Lieutenant Maynard any. basis
Of fact, revelations of such a condition
could only cause bitterness and pain
to those who cherish memories, and we
can only resent it the more because
his words are untrue"
These resolutions were signed by
members who served in the air serv-
ice.
Captain JACQUES NJ. Swaab, an ace
with ten Germans to his credit, in q
statement said:
ut is good thing that Lieutenant
Maynard admits that he cannot prove
his assertion that most deaths in the
United States Air Service were caused
by drunkenness. Of the original egh-
teen pilots in the 22d Aero Squadron,
who flew during the St. Mihiel and
Argonne-M -Meuse offensives, ten pilots
lost their lives in service. Of that
number there was not a single death
caused by drunkenness.
1T is rather poor sportsmanship to
condemn ones opponents in games. If
the gentleman has made the remarks
it is only fair to those who died to
say that the statement of Lieutenant
Maynard is a lie, and it is better for
the science of aviation that the liar,
even though he may be a winner of
two races, be kept out of the sport
which his association with contami-