The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1925-10-09
NEWS review OF
CURRENT EVENTS
Aircraft Board Hears Col.
Mitchell on Weakness of
Americas Air Defense.
By EDWARD w. PlckARD

BY EDWARD w. PlCKARD
MYTH 800 pounds Of ammunition"
wv In the shape of documents and
undaunted by his approaching court
martial for insubordinate utterances,
Col. William Mitchell appeared before
the aircraft board last week and re-
peated and elaborated on his charges
that obstinacy and ineficiency of high
army and navy officials have rendered
the United States utterly deficient in
air defense. He read a prepared
statement in nine sections, the main
points Of which are thus summarized:
Development Of air power has made
it the chief weapon Of national de-
tense, navies and armies becoming
subordinate and auxiliary to it. AS
airships can destroy any surface ships,
the submarine becomes the backbone
of the navy. The army, unchanged in
constituent elements, will function as
the last line of defense when the air
and sea forces have failed to stop the
enemy, or extensively only when con-
troll of the air permits transport of
troops at sea. Anti-aircraft guns are
ineffective and always will be, Grip
ping only very small percentage Of
planes. The United States has no air
forces worth mentioning and If in
volved in war today would need from
three to five years to develop an ade-
quate air force properly equipped.
Great Britain could invade America
with thousand planes in eight or ten
days and few days later would reach
the heart of the country; and Japan
could invade America by way of Alaska.
In future wars the nation losing con-.
troll Of the air will capitulate to DESC
lation by unrestricted air attack. An
adequate air and submarine force
would make this country invulnerable
to attack, and the cost would be but
fraction of that Of the army and navy
at present. Finally. the United States
should have department of national
defense, comprising the navy, army,
and air force, and a department of
aeronautics, comprising military and
civil aviation and aircraft manufac-
ture.
The mission Of the land, sea and air
forces. said Mitchell. should be def
initely stated by law. That is:
'The army to be charged with the
defense of all land areas;
THE navy to be charged with the
defense of all sea areas, on or under
the. water beyond the control of mis-
sile throwing weapons from the shore
or effective aircraft operations from
shore bases;
The air force to be charged with
the complete defense OF. operations and
the aerial attack of all enemy targets
on sea and land"
To the self-asked question why the
air service is in such sad plight, Col
onel Mitchell replied:
Because dir matters are entrusted
to the army and the navy which are
handled and governed and dominated
by Notifying officers. They not only
know next to nothing about aviation,
but regard it merely as an auxiliary
of their present activities and not as a
main force in the nations military
equipment. Their testimony regarding
air matters is almost worthless, some
times more serious than this
Next day Colonel Mitchell continued
his attack and criticized the navy for
the Shenandoah disaster and the fail
ure Of the Hawaii flight. Then he was
questioned at length by various mem
hers Of the board and finally Chair
man Morrow asked Admiral Fletcher
of the navy and General Hartford of
the army II they desired to put any
questions to the witness. To the sur
prise Of everyone. both declined to do
any cross examining. Mitchell himself
was evidently disappointed
TN THE naval court of inquiry at
1 Lakehurst, Capt. Anton Heinen.
former German Zeppelin pilot who in
structed the crew of the Shenandoah,
expressed the opinion that the wreck
ing of that airship was primarily
caused by the failure of the officers
In charge to heed danger signals that