Evening star., 1920-03-07
.NO HOUSE VERDICT
ON WAR AVIATION
Fails to Decide if It Was
Gigantic Failure or Mar
veIous Success"

! loTlS OuIlHS tHc war were SIsdhlAS
failure" or marvellous success the
House failed to decide after debating
for more than four hours the antitheti-
cal reports by republican and demo-
cratic members of the special investi-
eating committee made after prolonged
inquiry into the air program and its
results.
The House sitting as a committee.
| reported to the whole House that it
| had come to no resolution" on these
conflicting reports.
Sharp Disakreements.
Even this announcement by the COM
mittee of the whole did not pass un-
challenged. republicans and democrats
disagreeing as sharply as they had
during debate on the investigation
committee reports. The disposition
| made, however, was true to the pro-
gram of republican leaders. Their
spokesman during the debate declared
the only purpose was to make known
the facts of the wartime aviation
failure"
Democratic speakers pictured Amer
lean efforts as a success that gave
| the allies predoninance of the air,
such mistakes" as were admitted by
these speakers were said to be only
WHAT were 10 pe expected IN SO noVei
and gigantic an enterprise.
Representative Frear. Wisconsin.
and Magee. New York. republicans. of
the investigating committee, led the
attack on War Department, and avia-
tion officials, sharply arraigning them
for acts and policies in regard 10
aviation during the war.
A clash between Chairman Frear
and Representative Garrett. democrat,
Tennessee, a minority member of the
committee, was narrowly averted sew
eral minutes after the chairman be-
gan to speak. Mr.. Frear charged Gar
rett with making false statements
concerning him yesterday in 'the
House and the Tennessee member
started toward Frear. Several demo-
Gratis blocked the way and Mr.. Car
rett then asked that Mr.. Frear's
charges be reported to the House.
After the report was made Mr.. Frear
said he desired to "absolve Mr.. Gar
rett from making such statements"
Defends Ryan's Activities.
Representative Flood, democrat.
Virginia. ranking minority member of
the committee, defended John d.
Ryan's activities in the production of
spruce. asserting that shortage OF
spruce in this country and in allied
countries necessitated establishment
of government mills.
majority reports were efforts to bring
strong men into i'll repute. said Mr..
Flood, adding that the advancement
Of aviation during nineteen months
Of the war surprised the world, al
though dilatoriness OF republican ad-
responsible for unpreparedness when
the war commenced.
Representative Lea, California, the
democrat committeeman, captained the
democratic defense.
At the close of debate. under the spe-
House automatically arose and Speaker
Gillett, assuming the chair. was in
formed by the temporary presiding OFF,
Ger, Representative Hicks. republican.
New York, that no decision had been
made by the House Representative
Garrett, democrat. Tennessee, asked II
this course was proper" since there was
nothing before the House. calling
Speaker Gillett asked Mr.. Garrett to
suggest a better form. and getting none.
held Mr.. Hicks report was proper"
and the House adjourned.
Agrees as to Fighting Planes.
Mr. Frear stated that he agreed with
his republican colleague on the commit
tee that there was a notorious failure
to provide fighting planes"
Those in charge of airplane pro-
duction," Representative Frear de-
clared, Say they bought 5000 planes
from France and other countries. but
| 1000 Of these were obsolete. Gen
enough training planes in France, sc
the explanation that we relied upon
| foreign governments shows we leaned
| on a broken reed"
The only American-built machine.
| to reach the front, he added. "wer,
tro 10 to<
that $50,000.000 was wasted on tn,
production OF these DeHaviland fours
which he added were condemned b.
| every witness before the committe
''as not fit for fighting purposes:
In spruce ...IotI production" d.: continued n1st
all the loggers and lumbermen on tn
coast and selected Col. Disque. a war
den of the Michigan penitentiary an
former captain in the Army. VIII
knew nothing about numbering. Col
Disque tried to learn the business an
diers. who were largely clerks. law
yers, doctors. farmed out on cost plu
contractors logging railroads II
Washington and Oregon.
-Four cost plus contractors were se
lected by Disque to get out lumber
900. 900 in contracts. knew nothin,
about numbering. The only contracto
with any experience swore he ha'
been interfered with by under Off.
GERS sent him by Disque. 80 that thre
months were lost and 100000 600 feet o
logs prevented from reaching tn
market"
Others in charge Of the air program
including John D. Ryan. Col. Deed
and w. c. Potter. were complained o
by Mr.. Frear for lack of experience II
numbering operations, which h
charged resulted in waste OF mucl
money.