The Washington times., 1921-01-13
FL|ERS' FIGHT
TO Be IGNORED.
Daniels Says Taut Nerves Can't
Undo Amazing Exploit in
Canadian WiIds.
INQUIRY MERELY ROUTINE
Full Investigation From Scien-
tific Standpoint Will Be
Purpose of Hearing.

There will be no courts martial
OF Lieutenant Farrell or Lieutenant
Hinton because Of their personal en-
counter following their return to
civilization after being lost in the
snow-swept wilds of Canada. No
suggestion Of a courts-martial will
be entertained"
This statement was made by Sec
retary Of the Navy Daniels to rep
resentative of The Washington
Times today when questioned as to
the possibility Of disciplinary pro-
ceedings against the two naval air
men.
INQUIRY AUTOMATIC.
"Since the naval balloon crossed the
boundaries Of another country and
left, there must automatically be
court of inquiry" continued Secre-
tary Daniels, "and this inquiry will
cover all phases Of the flight and the
personal conduct Of the three officers.
"The inquiry will be conducted to
ascertain what was commendablc and
heroic on the part of tho three air
men, as well as their other actions.
and I am quite confident that the in
quiry will develop so much in attesta-
ton of the bravery, courage, endur-
ance, and pluck of all three of the Of
ncers that any petty personal diner
ences among them will be entirely
overshadowed and the entire nation
will be proud of the trio of stalwart
Americans.
TN view Of the hardships these
men endured, their narrow escape
from the jaws Of death. the physical
mental, and nervous viscissitudes and
strain to which they were subjected
during their long, perilous, and har-
rowing ordeal and their generally
overweight condition. think tho
Navy and the nation can well Under
stand and overlook any spontaneous
outburst of temperament and personal
difference that may have found ex-
preston in such a moment of nervous
reaction
NERVES WERE TAUT.
"The nerves of these men must have
been as taut as a drumhead after the
hardships they had been through, ana
at such a time of overstrain men say
and do many things they would not
do while normal"
Secretary Daniels said the officers
to conduct the court OF inquiry would
be named within the next day or two
and that the investigating body would
be authorized to make a complete in
hn n
benefits derived therefrom. and the
conduct Of the three afrmen, each OF
whom will be given opportunity to
tell his own story under oath on the
witness stand.
Secretary Daniels denied the re-
port that the flight in which the lives
OF the three officers were jeopardized
was unauthorized. He said he did not
personally give the order for the
flight, but it was ordered by the
proper officer at the Far Rockaway
naval station.
CAN'T CONTROL WIVES.
Mr. Daniels also said he had given
no authority to Mrs. Walter Hinton,
wife OF Lieutenant Hinton, to make
public letters which that officer wrote
to his home, and which lead to the
encounter between Lieutenant Hinton
and Lieutenant Farrell.
"I did not authorize the publica-
ton OF these letters, as Mrs. Hinton
is reported to have stated" said Sec
retary Daniels. land no naval Of
ficer would have the authority to au-
thorize such publication"
Secretary Daniels said that while
tho navy could regulate the conduct
and actions OF its officers. II could
exercise no control over the officers
wives in making correspondence pub
lie or giving out statements.