Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1921-06-10
Removal of
Mitchell Is
Chief of Army Air Service
Asks Secretary Weeks to
Gust Assistant From
Office.
Final Action Postponed

Chicago Tribune Omaha Bee Leased Wire
Washington, June o.-Maj. Gen.
c. T. Menohcr, chief OF the army
air service, has asked Secretary OF
War Weeks to relieve Brig. Gen
William Mitchell from his post al
assistant chief OF the air service. hlt
secretary OF war has not yet"acteo
on the request of the air service
chief, which has been expected tor
some time. due to friction between
General Menoher and his assistant.
and the request may be denied.
Discussing the case today, Seore'
tary Weeks said that he hoped to
iron out the differences between
the air service generals. as he valued
highly the ability and attalnments Of
both men.
General Mitchell's persistent agita'
ton for a unified air service, even
after President Harding had advised
against it in his opening message to
the special session OF congress, u
known to have made him target
for official criticism in some quarters
particularly from General Menoher.
and this, it is understood, is the cher
basis OF the air chieftains complaint
against his assistant.
Other Complaints.
But General Mitchells advocatcy
Of a unified service and his frequent
public utterances on this subject,
although not the chief OF the bureau,
are not the only sources OF complaint
against him. His recent conflict with
naval OFFICERS over the forthcoming
bombing tests, his criticism of the
regulations adopted to govern the
naval tests and his declaration before
a congressional committee that with
an army plane he could blow any
battleship out OF the water, have
been ranking in the breasts OF the
navy aviation officials and Others
higher up.
Naval officials have charged that
General Mitchell has not been
showing the cooperative spirit that
should exist between the two big
branches of the national defense and
are known to have complained to
General Menoher regarding his as
sistants attitude and his frequent
statements for publication, which
they regarded az holding the navy
M to ridicule. General Menoher,
himself. IS said to have complained
that the published interviews and
statements from General MitchehA-
have made il embarrassing tor him
in his relations with the Navy de-
partment.
Talked Too Much.
Secretary of War Weeks said to.
day that he believed that General
Mitchell had been inclined to talk
too much for publication regarding
the aviation work of the army.
particularly in view of the fact that
he was the head of the bureau, but
that he thought this was due TO
General Mitchell's enthusiasm tor
aviation development, and. IN no
sense intended to make trouble.
I'm value the services OF both Gen.
eral Menoher and General Mitchell
very highly said the secretary.
Each has been of great value to the
country. As an active aviator.
General Mitchell is unexcelled and
he knows the service thoroughly. l
very much regret the friction that
has developed in the aviation branch.
and | am going to drop other work
in order to conduct personal IN
vestigaton into the work of the de-
partment. If | find that the differ
ences are such that they cannot be
ironed out, shall have TO take ac-
ton for the best interests of that
branch of the service. But | have
not yet noted General Menoher's
requested to relieve General Mitchell
and | hope will not have to.