New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1925-10-02
Hero Of PN-9 No. | Challenges
Anyone TO Make "JuSt Criti-
cism' Of Preparations
TAKES DIRECT ISSUE
With COL. MITCHELL

Navy, Rather Separate Agencies
For Aircraft--.Adyises Selection of |!
Strongest Man Attannble to Head
Proposed Organization.
Washington, Oct. 2 0p -- Taking
direct issue with Colonel william
Mitchels charges, Commander John
Rodgers. a witness today before the
presidents air board, issued a chal-
lenge to anyone to make "a just
criticism" of the arrangements for
the Hawaiian flight of the PM,
No. 1,
Colonel Mitchell previously had
told the board the preparations Tor
the fight, which was commanded by
Commander Rodgers, looked ike
the work of "bungling amateurs"
Without mentioning Mitchell by
name, Rodgers declared that the
navy adopted 1.-The proper tactics
and that he was fully satisfied
with the crew and personnel as
signed to the fight.
II cannot see," Rodgers con-
tinued. "how the navy department
could be held responsible for the
failure Of the fight.
"Everything was done that could
be done.
"rhe secretary OF the navy per-
sonallv visited San Diego and or
dored the bureau Of aeronautlcs 10
give us everything that we asked
for.
"This was done"
National Defense Dept.
Commander Rodgers, told the
hoard that development Of the air
nlane had made necessary the es'
tablishment Of department OF ma
=, tional defense which would lhcluu'
, both the army and the navy.
The need for proper sclentln'
organization of the national defense
Commander Rodgers said, wa
plainly apparent. Declaring receh
naval disasters were not due 10 an
y blame on the part of the navy, n
II declared there is something vitall
'e wrong with the navy department.
d Outlines Own Views
o The commander OF the Hawalla
If eirbt however, opposed either
10 united force or a separate air corps
:. such as have been urged by variou
IF witnesses before the board, declar
'e ing the problem engaging the s'uu
le of the board was one involving es
y sentially a revision of present OF
II carnations. So far as aViatlon II
Golf Is concerned as an 1nter'o
TO problem, he believed the quesuo
Is might be satisfactorily solved TOT III
r moment bv proper establishment
IN an aviation budget, by improvemei
to of norsonnel situation, fixing ny ID
es the return Of officers In the line
eu the navy on a special list ana
'ft establishment OF strong aVlauo
&C section in operations"
~ For a permanent and f'na' sou
H. tion," he added, appoint the stron'
I'll est man attainable as secretary
&C the national defense, give MN
~ good staff, let him work out the o
AZ nG sanitation required, and when rea'
~ take over both the army ana nav
,,o Air Service Costly
"Now last, but most important
in noint which l feel safe in assumll
i've M aviator has heretofore mention
ho defense by the air Is no che'
to thing as seems to be the popul
oninion. | have not the figures d
I doubt If they exist, but l nave
conviction they would not be pIe'
ant to look upon.
NV "Ways and means must DC iou
Al 10 reduce this cost. The maIter
costs is one which 1t seems 10
YOU must face before your dutleS
ing comnleted in this committee
in "Some such great reorganzau
90 7 have suggested. Is required
effect a great reduction and u
cen rermit aviation to take It's pro-
clty p)ace in the national. defense WI
III ont breaking the United STA
l"5 .E' treasury"
ary Dcfends Hawaiian Flight
at OF the Hawaiian fight, he said
az could not see how any poSsi
stretch of the Imagination" co
eu- attach any blame to the navy
'ses nartment because the fight did
a. work out as planned. OF the Sh
II ~ andoah disaster he said: Il can
'rue ', see how the navy department
Ia rs ., in any way, be responsible Tor
Ite, Ite, fact that a good airship'
anu anu manned and captained, goes out
merry cruise. meets heavy weather an
w lost"
.,, w. This testimony was In direct
',.u' , trast to that of Colonel Mitcl
'0 who attributed the failures
ro "bungling."
How can the navy departing
'0II he asked, prevent a Savannah
t,a steamship, which, by the rule
LA the road, is required to keep G
Tha from running down a submarine
Declaring that these accidents
ri, No no bearing on the personal effici
Of any officer stationed in the
partment. he said:
THE navy department Is not
The gahlHeu on 'ue pii''''p,e'
ru1nn fic organization, as l unders
here them. Briefly there must b
Tho stronger co-ordinating and cor
st of ling force. There must be a