Great Falls daily tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1895-1921, 1920-02-17

dence Of self interest and improper prac-
I tees
1T is not the province of this com
mlttee," says the majority report. ito
declare the measure of responsibility of
any official. but, VIC would be dereIict in
our duty IT we failed to present what we
DeHeved to be the cause of America s
iaiure IN aviation and the resulting lack
OF confidence in any present war depart
ment aviation plans
Mere Defamation Says Lea.
In detail the majority report takes up
the alleged waste and extravaganza in
the early aircraft appropriations. The
alleged failure of the de HaviIand
planes; the alleged failure to get suffi-
clent American planes TO the battle
front; the spruce production project in
the Northwest. millions Of alleged waste
on cost-price plus contracts and many
specific charges of inefficiency and
sqnandering Of millions of dollars.
In turn. Representative Lea's minor
lty report replies to the ma ajority find
lngs as 'intemperate. biased and vitu-
perative. an eXaggeration of alleged mis-
takes aud misstatements." a ''gratuitious
reflection upon men who faithfully serv-
ed the government during the war and
repetition of defamatory charges ad-
mlftedy unsuStained by evidence"
Denies Flying Coffin" Tale.
Answering the charge of the major
ity report that only 213 planes had been
shipped to the front up 10 the armistiee
and that these were de Haviands. dan
gerous and known as flying coffins,' the
report quoted Brigadier Ganer-
al IL. \. Patrick, director of construc-
ton and forestry operations of the Amer
ican Expeditionary Forces. as saying
that no larger percentage of De Havi-
lands came down in flames than other
types, Mr.. Lea asserted that only 33
De Havilands ont Of AIT sent over
enemy lines were lost. The majority de-
ciafed more American aviators would
have been killed except for the failure
At General Pershing to receive more than
rs DE tHaviIands
Sending American aviators To the /
front in this type plane. the majority /
said. was more wastefu of human life \
han "equipping shock troops with wood /
N guns"
On this point the minority report said
he government turned out more than
II 900 planes during the war. and these
Scrc virtually the same as the machines
lsed by the allies.
Use of Soldiers Attacked
Touching on responsibility the major
Is report said Secretary Baker, was
property chargeable with any success
II failure of Americas $ aircraft pro-
ram"
The gcrater part Of the majority re-
oort was taken mp with an Indictment
# conditions in the spruce forests.
where 10000 soldiers were assigned for
.ivillan duty under Colonel Disquc.
orrner warden If the Michigan peni-
entiary. II was charged that Disque
Illegally spent $500 900 of govern
nent funds III 1918 when he farmer
ut 2o.0n0 soldiers to cost plus prices
he government paying contractors who
harged a seven per cent cost plus
refit on the soldiers pay. Secretary
saker was charged with direct respon-
ibility for this unprecedented prac- f;
ice Thirteen logging railways were !,
aid to have been started. none of which I,
-as completed before the war ended. :
nd five cost SS.325, 1914. the majority :
sserting that some roads took a round :
bout course "ln order to touch summer :
esortS.'' {.
lad to Have Soldiers. a
There were not enough skilled Ioggers
the country TO carry out the govern
ents spruce production program, sala =
lc minority report, defending the use t
soldiers. il
The majority report alleged that more t
ian S30,000.o00 was wasted through "
in producing airplane I
mber in the northwest The cost plus a
were described as direct in h
ltation" TO premeditated waste and q
The cost of five of the
gging roads was practically double 5
Z assessed full cash value of three ]
eat transcontinental roads the re- a
,rt charged s.
The majority recommended a separate G
rcraft service. but the minority de- =
ared this was "impractical' and would
nd TO extravaganza.
TREATY RATIFIED