New Britain herald., 1925-03-06
C0L. FECHET NAMED
 AS AIR OFFICER
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| N|phtinuea rom flrSt lage)
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 the position he could hardly be use- tul in his present position, where he would Do acquired to operate under policies which he had openly and omphatically challenged.
 General Mitchell was at Langley Field. Va,,, to witness the anti-air- craft gun demonstrations when tho announcement Of his successor was made, but his office gave out state ment prepared by him before his de. parture.
 Gives Out Statement
 "The question of my reappoint- ment as assistant chief of the air service" he said. lis a small matter. The question of the reorganization of our system Of national defense Is a very big matter It is bigger than q very big matter. Tho peo- pie must decide what our nation al defense should be and 10 arrive at a conclusion they must know and be told the truth about what VIC have. what we need and how it should be handled.
 Determination of Secretary Weeks to recommend Colonel Fechet's ap- pointment was made after consider. able study of tho military and other records of available officers.
 The fact that Colonel Fechet rose from the ranks as did General Mitchell and that he had extensive service in the cavalry and was 8 graduate of the service school at Fort Legenworth is believed to have influenced MT. Weeks in his final decision.
 There have been few months that have passed when an attempt has not been made to dispense with my services" General Mitchell said. Be fore we sank the battleships in 1921 and ushered in new era in nation al defense, it was tried strongly. Now, on the verge of further battle ship tests and more progressive work, conditions are similar to what they were formerly.
 So far as am concerned, I shall continue to work for the benefit and improvement Of everything that ap- plies to our national welfare. 1 am extren1ly proud of what the men in the air forces have done in the fur thering of our national development and with the assistance of those who know and will tell the truth to the people, we shall accommpilsh 8 great deal of good for the country in the future.
 "As soon as the sound of the can non had ceased on the western front the forces of retrogression began to work in our country. This was be- cause our participation in the war had been of such duration that the old, inefficient, bureaucratic system of handling our national defense had not yet been entirely eliminated and replaced by new and efficient system and personnel as was the case in the countries of Europe and with us dur ing the Civil war"
 There is no reason why the air forces in time of peace should not be employed in mapping the country, patrolling the forests to prevent for est fires, carrying the mail. eliminat- ing insect pests from cotton, fruit trees and other vegetation, and in making an asronaut commercial transportation survey of the country to determine what can be carried economically and at profit through the air instead of on boats, railroads and by automobile. and in working out new commercial air routes throughout the world.
 Armies and navies are no longer capable of enunciating or putting in- to effect the complete military policy for a country, The voice of the air must be listened to in all councils with equal force as is that of the army and navy. We are further be- hind in our arrangements of national defense in this country commensur- ate with our position, strength and wealth, than any other great nation. We are spending too much money, getting too little for it, have only the most rudimentary plans for the future and no organization capable of carrying them out In their en- tirety.
 Our national defense should be co oordinated under a single direction with q secretary of the national de- fense having under him subsecre- taries of air, land and water"
 Colonel Fechet was born in Texas, August 21. 1877. and enlisted as q private in the Sixth cavalry during he war with Spain. April 1s, 1898. He became second lieutenant in 1900 and has passed through the 'ther grades to his present rank In he regular army.
 Wounded at San Juan. He participated in the Santiago ampaign and was wounded at the 'aNt'V oi coh Juan III IoSo. f1P AlSo | aw active service during the Philip pine insurrection and served in the expedition in Mexico in 1918. Colonel Fechet Is a qualified 1 pilot, having served continuously in ! the aviation service since September, 1917. He was appointed temporary i lieutenant colonel. aviation. at the | outbreak of the World war, promot- 2d to temporary colonel in 1918. his ] commission terminating n 1920, when he was permanently to the air service. He i stands third in relative rank among he lieutenant colonels of the army lir service.
 World War Record.