The Washington herald., 1921-01-10
MOTLEYCROWD
AT MATTICE TO
GREET AIRMEN
Reporters, Camera Men.
Indians and Natives
Await BallOonists.
DUE TO ARRIVE
J AT POST TUESDAY
Naval Inquiry Court May
Be Convened in
Washington.

w dclitAtS IOit.
MATTICE. Ont. Jan. s.-Lieut.
McLsuchlan. Of She Royal Canadian
Mounted Police, who f. here with
oficiaI messages from the Canadian
and United States governments for
Lieuts Hinton, SHloor and Farrell
today returned from a trip down
the Mattice trail without word Of
the three officers. He reported the
trail in good shape and said that
the party ought TO arrive here by
Tuesday at the latest
This is also the opinion OF the
Factor Msver Of the Hudson Bay
post on the Great Whale River
who is waiting here to 20 hack 10
Moose Factory with the dogs
which arc bringing in the Ameri-
can officers.
In consequence OF these views
Mattice, whose population has been
almost doubled in the past day or
two by an influx OF thirty corre-
spondents, motion picture men and
operators. much TO the Amusement
and wonderment Of the natives, Is
at high pitch Of excitement, and the
runners who were sent out last
Thursday to meet the three airmen
and hasten back with the news OF
their approach are expected here
early tomorrow morning.
ecOpyriEbt, Isal, Pubic LsdFer Co.
To Convene Inquiry Board.
A court % inquiry will be con-
vened shortly by the Navy Depart
ment TO investigate the CirCum-
stances connected. with the thrilling
flight Of the storm driven naval
balloon from ROckawsy TO sAe
shores OF James, Bay, It was stated
at the department. last night
II is not known as yet what will
! be the precept to the court, bus ss
I in the cases OF the loss OF a ship,
accident to a ship or other emer-
rgency happenings not on the pro-
i gram. the INQUIRY into the Wild eN-
perienCe Of LleUts. Hinton. kloor
and Farrell will involve how the bal
loon was handled, the conduct Of the
crew in the emergency. the condi-
! tions under which the descent was
.
the incident.
The inquiry. OF course, rs proposed
as an entirely friendly one and the
three officers will be the principal
witnesses. There is no fear that
their testimony will show other than
that the traditions, rules and regUls-
tions OF the service were carried out
to the letter.
i is expected however. that
| Lieut. Farrell may take notice Of
any reflections which are cast upon
( his part i'm the adventure in some
Of the interpretations placed upon
Lieut.. Hiuton's letter 70 his wife.
published yesterday. II was stated
by navy officials that this would
not necessarily be a part Of the pro-
ceedinEs before the court Of inquiry.
but il Lieut.. Farrell feels he has
been agErieyed il is his privilege.
as in the Admiral Schley case, to DC
mand a special court Of inquiry Of
his own to vindicste his record from
any sspersions.
OmctaIs Feel Confidence.
. Secretary Daniels would say moth
ing whatever on this phase Of the
case. but high officers in the serv-
ice privately express full confidence
that the official reports Of Lieuten-
ants kloOr. who started out as COM
mander OF the party, and Hinton,
who automatically assumed COM
mand when the craft got in distress,
will show Lieut.. Farrell to have
measured up to all naval traditions
in the psrty's narrow escape from
death.
1t is apparent though. that il the
statements about Lieut.. Farrell are
not explained. they, on their face.
may be regarded as an attack on an
lohicer on the most delicate question,
his bravery The same is true Of the
whole military service. both the
army and the navy.
II II Is considered an attack. the
fact that il is made by one ofhcer
upon another only aEEravates the
Offense. An officer attacking a fel-
low officer is liable to ourt-martisI
proceedings. Whether that kind OF
a court will grow out Of the court
OF inquiry into the whole e1pedI-
tion or out Of the special court
which may be asked for by Lieut..
Farrell will not be known until
further developments.
Kloor's Story Eagerly Read.
The graphic account Of the haz-
ardous voyage, OF the suferinEs and
heroism Of all the party. as written
by Lieut.. Kloor, was read with avid
tty by navy officers, as well as by the
general public in Washington. It's
entire lack OF personalities and ad-
herence to history as all three OF
the daring men made Il commended
themselves to all oficiaIs
i II is not likely that the advance
publication Of the stirring accounts
Iof the trip written by Lieut.. KIoor
and Lieut.. Hinton in letters to Miss
Flowcrton and Mrs. Hinton or any
other communications 70 friends and
relatives Of the ballonists can be
made the subject Of criticism by
the Navy Department The fiers
had not received, and have not yet.
so far as is known, received the
instructions from the Secretary Of
the Navy that their ofiCial reports