Evening star., 1925-10-14
Conservatism Almost Unbe-
IievabIe, Admiral Declares,
en- Witness Stand.
ASSERTS NEW WEAPONS
REJECTED AS PRACTICE
Cites Shenandoah Disaster as Case
IN Point-Byrd Also to Be
Heard Today.

Admiral William s. Sims, United
states Navy. retired comma nder Of
the American naval forces in Euro.
pean waters. told the Presidents air
board today that conservatism in the
Navy is 80 extraordinary IL is i'm.
possible Of belief were it not for his.
torical evidence that establishes it
The admiral known as the Navy's
chief critic, declared all new weapons
have been resisted by military au-
thorities throughout the ages. He de-
clared the Navy Department belittles
the power of the plane while airmen
regard it as rapidly developing.
"A policy must be established before
useful decision can be reached on
the value of aircraft" he declared.
The question in the Navy is not the
matter Of a naval air force or the
greatness it needs in the air, but what
is needed in the department"
The admiral used the words danger
Gus administrative practice" in the
Navy Department, which, he said. Is
violation of command and detri-
mental to the efficiency and morale
of the personnel.
Il cite the Shenandoah as a case
he said.
Byrd Also to Testify.
Another witness due to appear to-
day is Lieut.. Comdr. Richard T.
Byrd, in command of the naval sec
ton Of the Macmillan Arctic expedi-
ton. Comdr. Byrd returned TO Wash
inGton Yesterday. and he is expected
to answer testimony given by Col.
William Mitchell and others that the
expedition was gotten up in hap
hazard manner" and its failure was
due to sending planes designed for
service in the tropics into the Arctic.
To speed up the taking of testi-
monv so it will be able TO place its
report in the hands of President
Coolidge before Congress meets, the
board held a session last night-the
first since organized. Mai. Gen.
Hanson T.. Ely. commandant of the
Army War College. and Brig. Gen.
Frank Parker of the I'd Corps Area
were heard. Prior to recess yester-
day afternoon Mai. Gen. Charles p.
Summerall. commanding the I'd Corps
Area, also testified.
Criticizes Air Service.
Gen. Ely charged the Air Service
was mot playing the game with the
other branches of the Army in peace
time operations. High officers of the
service, he declared, instead of us
ing. if they possess them, leadership
qualities. either actively ferment dis
satisfaction or sit supinely and see 1t
30 on" He recommended transfer to
the Air Service from other branches
of the Army of at least 20 colonels,
so lieutenant colonies and 20 majors,
to be selected. as far as possible, for
known leadership qualities, whereby
they could obtain among their subor-
dinates loyalty and discipline
That is what the Air Service
needs" he declared. loyalty and dis
cipline."
Gen. Summerall. who commanded
the 1st Division overseas and later
the 5th Army Corps. said he "ad-
mired'' aviation. but "it can't fight
a war alone as there was no way
for an air force to subsist in the air.
Gen. Summerall said 1t has been d
great revelation to him Ito hear the
, charges made against administration
of the Air Service. 1t is a highly
efficient service. and it is unfair to
aviation to spread report that 1t is
lacking in morale. 1t is not true. The
Air Service always has been loyal to
me- and I see no reason for change
in the air organization" ne added.
Gen. Parker likewise opposed any
method for the conduct of Army avi-
alton other than the existing one.