Evening star., 1925-10-15

They are the warmest and the light
est. Eskimo boots, polar beaer pants
and reindeer skin Jackets are the ideal
equipment" - .:-.
Denied Fights in Party.
Having in mind Col. William Mitch
ellis testimony before the board that
the expedition fought like cats and
dogs all the way up and all the way
back" Senator Bingham asked the wit
ness if there were any fights. Lieut..
Comdr. Byrd denied Col. Mitchells
statement, and said, II don't see how
anybody could know about 1t, because
there wasn't anything sent back 10
that effect Comdr Macmillan and
got along splendidly."
Asked by Senator Bingham what
type of aircraft he would use II ne
again went into the Arctic, Lieut..
Comdr. Byrd replied:
"If were to make Il dash to the
pole from Spitzbergen l would use a
dirigible, but If l wanted to do detailed
exploring l would rather have a plane
SO / could land and devote time to the
things / saw from above
The witness in reply to another
question by the senator said he had
studied the amphibian type of plane,
pronounced 1t the best, and declared
II still think it the best
Comdr. Byrd told the board the ex-
pedtion was Indebted to Mr.. Bum
stead Of theh National Geographic
Society, who invented the sun COM
pass. and which was of 'inestimable
value.
At the conclusion of this testimony,
Chairman Morrow congratulated the
witness and the Geographic Society
for the undertaking and the inforna-
ton given the board.
Opposes Proposals.
Vigorous opposition to the proposals
of Maj. Gen. Mason NJ. Patrick, chlef
of the Army Air Service, and Col. VIII
liam Mitchell for reorganization OF the
Nations defense scheme was given
the Presidents air board yesterday
evening by Capt. William S. Pye, Z.
S. ~, assistant director of the War
Plans Division. office of Naval Opera
ttons. Capt. Pye declared that both
proposed organizations are unSound
and the adoption of either one would
seriously cripple the national defense.
The views of the officer were set
forth in 41page statement, and were
advanced as his own. Shortly after
he began the delivery of his state
ment yesterday evening the board ad-
journed to call on former Secretary
Weeks to allow him to give an opinion
on the aircraft controversy. Mr.
Weeks told the board, however. that
he thought the views he held had
been adequately presented by Dwight
F. Davis, his successor. whom he saw
installed in office yesterday. and by
the general staff. Mr.. Weeks left the
city last night for Massachusetts to
complete preparations for his long
planned vacation in South America.
Holds Theory Unsound.
Capt Pye said the organization pro-
posed by. Col. Mitchell "a department
of national defense) ''is based on o
theory of war which is unsound and
foreign to the character of the Amer
lean people" and that Gen. Patrick's S
Air Corps in the Army "is unsound
in theory and impractical of opera
ton" The greater part of the state
ment was aimed at Col. Mitchell's tes-
timony before the board and writings
in his book Winged Defense"
Col. 'Mitchel's plan as given to the
board on his last appearance. Capt.
Pye declared, "is far less radical than
that contained in the Curry bill. Col.
Mitchell now recommends that the
Army and Navy shall retain as part
of their respective, organization the
air services required for domestic use.