Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-02-05
Police Seek Authors of
Indicated Poison Plot at
Ohio State University
3 OFFICERS DECLINE
TESTIFY AIR PROBE
fear discipline

Washington, Feb. A flood of
Information on the condition of the
army and navy air services were
turned loose today with unexpected
suddenness before the house COM
mittee investigating The aircraft in
dustry. and before the committee
adjourned the subject had spread to
the Army and Navy departments and
the floor Of the house.
The committee members. aroused
by charges that army and navy Off
GERS had been "muzzled" to prevent
their telling the truth about the eff
cheney OF aircraft in war, shifted
rapidly at today's hearing from one
phase of the situation to another
and announced their intention to sift
the matter to the bottom.
The committee obtained and made
public q ''confidential letter." in
which Secretary Weeks asked that
General Mitchell furnish all facts
on which he based recent statements
seriously rejecting" on the army air
service and its administration in his
testimony supporting unified control
of the governments air service.
It also considered in executive ses-
sion a resolution to place it on
record as regarding removal of Gen.
eral Mitchell from his present posi-
ton as detrimental to the army serv-
Ice. but action on it went over until
tomorrow. Such a change in Gen.
eral Mitchell's status would return
him to the rank of colonel.
Representative Perkins, Republi-
can, New Jersey, the committee ex-
aminer. announced that three naval
| officers had asked not to be sum-
moned for testimony, as they could
not give their honest views for fear
of being disciplined, and he stated
later that he had beeninformed I'M
officially that Rear Admiral Moffett,
chief Of the bureau of aeronautics
of the Navy department and Briga-
der General Mitchell, assistant chief
OF the army air service, were to be
transferred from their present as
signments.
Secretary Wilbur denied that the
navy department attempted to exer-
| else any censorship over the testi-
| mony of naval officers testifying be-
| fore congressional committees. He
refused. however, to comment on the
subject although he indicated that
I when Gen. Mitchell's reply is before
him he will make a public statement
announcing his decision and setting
forth reasons for it.
Representative Reed of Illinois, a
Republican on the aircraft commit
! tee. charged at the committee session
, that the investigation had not been
treated with open and aboveboard''
tactics by the army and Representa-
| tive Curry, Republican. California
| author of a bill pending before the
military committee to create a uni
fled air service, issued statement
challenging the 'older service" OF
the army and navy Ito order tests
covering the entire field in Mitchells
testimony"
Among other things, General Mitch
ell recently told the committee that
| certain officers were afraid ito tell
the truth" about aircraft through q
fear of being disciplined indirectly
| through transfer to less favored
posts. and Mr.. Perkins said today
/ that one of the naval officers who
asked to be called told him If he tes-
| titled as he believed-"well, Guam is
| long distance away"
Representative Anthony, Republi-
| can, Kansas, in charge of the army
/ appropriation bill, also told the
house 1t had been the policy of both
the war and navy departments to
! place restrictions on officers as to
| testimony, and that his committee
! lad found 1t extremely difficult" to
| obtain straight forward or confiden-
1 tial information"