Evening star., 1925-02-19
WEEKSFACESQU|z
ON VARIANCE FOUND
IN AIRCRAFT PROBE
Department Says 1900
Planes Are Ready-0nly 19
Mitchell Asserts.
COMMITTEE SEEKS EXACT
KNOWLEDGE ON ISSUE
Votes Down Proposal to Give Gen.
eral, Facing Demotion, Vote
of Confidence.

The House aircraft investigating
committee today voted to recall Secre-
tary Weeks before it to explain War
Department news release that the
Army has 1900 planes that can be
used for an emergency in the face of
testimony by Brig. Gen. William
Mitchell that there are only 19 mod
ern airplanes to compete with mod.
ern enemy.
Secretary Weeks would make no
comment on the committees decision
to recall him to the stand beyond in
dicating that he would be prepared
to appear whenever the committee
desired. 1t was said at the War De-
partment that the report showing
1.e00 serviceable Army airplanes was
prepared by Maj. Gen. Patrick, the
Air Service chief, and that it showed
that 700 of them are of postwar
types:
The committee also voted down the
proposal of Representative Reid of
Illinois that Gen. Mitchell be given a
vote of confidence on the grounds
that he has rendered great and good
service to the country in his testi-
mony, which has been fearless and
ooJCClIoH was H1dQe Dy Rep-
resentative Prall of New York on the
grounds that the committee was not
sitting as a judge, and 1t would be
better to wait until final report was
made and then include any recon-
mendation it saw fit.
But it will be too late then" de-
clared Representative Reid. for this
Fellow (peintins to Gen. Mitchell, who
was on the stand) will be out in the
sticks.
Fears Eject of Action.
Representative Prall replied: IF he
Is going to be punished he will be-"
To which Representative Reid said
If he is punished you never can get
another Army officer to come here
and say green is green"
The discussion about Gen. Mitchell
was originated by Representative
Reid while Gen. Mitchell was testify
Ing. The Illinois committeeman.
read from morning papers story to
the effect that the House aircraft
committee late yesterday afternoon
had been informed that Gen. Mitchell
would be told today that he would
not be reappointed assistant chief Of
the Army Air Service and would lose
his rank of brigadier general
Representative Reid declared he
knew nothing about the committee
receiving that information. and then
Representative Perkins Of New Jer-
sey, the committee examiner. stated
the body had been so informed on
authority which had heretofore been
considered excellent
Praises Gen. Mitchell.
II move, them declared Represen-
tative Reid that the committee thinks
Gen. Mitchell has rendered great
and Intelligent service to the country
and that he should continue in his
present office. He knows a thousand
times more than any one who has
testified here and it is on a subject of
most Importance to the people today"
Representative Reid questioned Gen.
Mitchell about the report and about
his chances for appointment to
which Gen. Mitchell replied he
hadn't given it a thought" and that
In no way, shape or form" had in
formation been given him he would
or would not continue In office. In
reply to questioning from Representa-
tive Reid, Gen. Mitchell aid he would
have to go wherever the War Depart
ment sent him, and with the rank of
colonel, and he would be concerned with
only the duties under that office.
After receiving the testimony from
Gen. Mitchell that the 19 Curtiss
PW-S pursuit planes at Selfridge Field,
Mich, constitute Americas aerial
fighting force and comparing this
statement with the alleged official
War Department announcement, Rep
resentative Reid declared, Il don't
think Secretary Weeks knows his Job
or what 1t is all about in his depart
ment and that he should be recalled to
explain"
Sees Force Deficient
The committee unanimously went
on record believing the present
war strength of the United States in
the air was sadly deficient and below
the figure cited by the War Depart
ment.
The committee late yesterday aft
ernoon received information that Gen.
Mitchell was due to be relieved of his
present duties. Inquiry at the White
House and the War Department could
not substantiate this rumor, although
nothing definite was given one way
or the other on the future of the
present assistant chief of the Army
Air Service.
Gen. Mitchell appeared on the stand
today a the request of Representa-
tive Perkins, who wanted him to
make a statement on certain defense
questions. The general declared that
all information on aeronautics fur
nished by the War and Navy Depart
ments comes to you strained through
non-hying eyes"
Says Condition "PitifuI."
He declared the condition of the
American Air Service is most pitiful
example in the world because II is
left under the War and Navy Depart,
ments. We are not capable of putting
up an air battle against any present
third-rate power, and there are no
concrete plans for the defense of the
Atlantic coast"
Representative Perkins INTERRUPTED
Gen. Mitchell at this point to de-
clare: Il want to go or the record
now as believing America is helpless
in the air.
Declaring there is a lack of CO.
operation between the Army and
Navy in the question of defense, Gen.
Mitchell said when he was in the
Hawaiian Islands last year he found
that the commanding general OF the
Army forces and the admiral of the
naval contingent wouldn't go to the
same social functions together" He
said that the former commanding
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