New-York tribune., 1921-06-10
Asks
For Removal
OF Mitchell
Weeks Orders Inquiry Into
Differences of Army Air
Chiefs With the Hope of
Adjusting Their Dispute
Wants to Retain Both
Navy Annoyed by State
ments on Aerial Warfare
Regarded as Criticisms
From Tbs Tribune's Washington Bureau


WASHINGTON, June o. The re-
moval of Brigadier General William
Mitchell from the post of assistant
chief Of the army air service was asked
to-day in written recommendation
laid before the Secretary of War by
Major General Charles T. Menoher,
chief of the air service. The request
will be followed by personal investi-
cation of the differences between the
two officers by Secretary Weeks.
Until this investigation has been
completed no change in General Mitch
ellis assignment will be made by Sec
retary Weeks, who declared to-day that
he is hopeful of amicably composing
the differences between the two air
officers.
Weeks Seeks to End Dispute
General Menoher and General
Mitchell" Secretary Weeks said, shave
not agreed on some matters relating
to the air service, and that is what
have to investigate before I can make
any decision. | do not want to air
these differences. I want to iron them
out. | value both men in the places
they occupy in the air service, and |
prefer to keep them both there"
General Menoher and General Mitchell
both refused to make any COM
ment on the differences that have arisen
that General Menoher has disagreed
with General Mitchell in the matter of
administration of the air service, and
has not shared the view held by Gem
eral Mitchell on the question of
unified air service. 1t is understood
also that General Menoher has been
opposed by General Mitchell in various
policies he sought to inaugurate in the
service, and that for several months
mulating until they were brought to
head to-day by the recommendation of
the chief of the air service that Cen
eral Mitchell be given another assign
ment.
Asked if any decision would be made
in the matter before the joint army
and navy bombing tests, in which Gen
eral Mitchell has been designated as
commander of the army air forces,
Secretary Weeks said that he could not
say at this time. The first of these
eral Mitchell left to-day in an army
plane for Langley Field, Va, where he
will direct the training for the ma
neuvers
Basis of Differences
The outspoken advocacy of General
Mitchell of a separate department of
the air, in which all branches of the
government concerned with aerial nav
igation would be combined, is believed
to be at the root of the differences be-
tween Generals Menoher and Mitchell.
General Mitchell also has been vigor-
ously criticized by naval aviators for
his testimony before committees in
Congress, where he declared that air
craft had made capital ships obsolete.
Secretary Weeks admitted to-day that
there was little question that General
Mitchell has annoyed the navy" by his
statements.
General Mitchell was in command of
the American air forces at the front
and is reported to be one of the most
skilled flyers in the army service. Gem
eral Menoher is an artillery officer
who was placed in command of the
air service by Chief of Staff March fol-
lowing the relief of Colonel William
Kenly, WHO headed the service during
the latter days of the war. He is not
a fyer himself. General Mitchell has
been assistant chief of the air service
in direct charge of training ever since
the appointment of Genera! Menoher
as chief.