The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1925-11-04
N CHE
PROVE
Gil AIMS
Increases Number of Wit
nesses to "a including Fa
nous French Flying Ace

Ss
The cOut-martial 81 Colonel VIII
liam Mitchell, stormy petrol Of
the American air service, will be-
given an international flavor,
when resumed next Monday By
the introduction 81 defense testi-
mony revealing the air status q
Great Britain and France, i was
learned today.
Given b free hand III the calling
81 defense witnesses, Mitchell VIII
seek first to prove the truth Of his
criticisms Of the administration Of
American aviation and then to-
convince his Jrfy Of generals that
the weakened condition Of our ma
tiOnaI defense justified any means
Of bringing it to the attention Of
the Government and the American.
people. Upon this frail thread
will hang MitcheIl's only hope Of
an acquittaI on charges Of conduct
prejudiciaI to military discipline.
HelpIes Cont
As part Of this proerana. the de-
tense will sponsor testimony show
ing that Great Britain and France
have progressed beyond the Unitgd
States In the DEVELOPMENT n their
air services condition, which.
Mitchell viii contend, IS dangerous
to National defense.
Out Of the British and French air
situations, Mitchell also viii gather
fuel to support his own declaration
that the American air service will
be helpless so long az controlled by
#non-flying officers.
The defense win call Rene Fonck.
French air ace, for instance. to-
reveal the truth about French ayia-
tion against the Riffs.
It was reported that Fonck viii
testify the French air service broke
dow nagainst the Riffs because tho
filters were placed under the COM
mand OF infantry and artillery Off
Gers, who had no flying experience.
Increase Hi Witnesses
The British situation viii be re-
vealed through the presentation OF
military intelligence documents from
the files OF the War Department.
Although seventY-f our defense
witnesses have been named. Il was
said Mitchell will summon several
score more before before completing
his case, II allowed by the court.
Among those already named Wern
three Cabinet officers. members 0f
recent aircraft boards and dozens
Of former "A. y. #. Tiers.
Rumors were current today that
the first defense witness Mondey
will be AdmiralWillian s. Sims, le-
tired. who was the Mitchell" Of his
day.
Sims VIII be called, it was said. to
substantiate Milchells charges that
the navy wasted money by building
battleships to the neglect OF air.
planes.
The war and Navy Departments
today eegan eUnpiling the long lists
Of official documents requested by
Mitchell for use in his defense.
These will include official reports
on anti-aircraft gunnery tests, aerial
bombing experiments, air man
euvers, reports of casualties in the
air services, confidential documents
relating to the Macmillan Polar
flight, the Shenandoah flight and
the navy's transpacific flight.
Ordered to Assist Him
Besides offering all documents the
publication of which Is not inimical
to the national defense, the War
and Navy Departments were in
structed by the jury Of generals to
render Mitchell every possible
assistance.
The jury made it plain 1t will
give Mitchell every opportunity to
prove his statements, not as q direct
defense to the court-martial charges,
but rather as an extenuating cir
cumstance.
In the words Of the trial judge
advocate, Colonel Sherman More
land:
1--WE will not oppose any testi-
mony offered for the purpose of
proving Mitchell's statements in ex-
tenuation or mitigation, but we will
oppose evidence introduced for the
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