Evening star., 1925-09-29
Onslaught Repeated With
More Than Usual Enthu-
siasm Largely a Summary
of Previous Statements.
DECLARES THAT ARMY
NOW HAS BUT AN EFFIGY
Twelve Worn-Out Pursuit Planes
and 20 Bombers, With Other Ma.
chimes Out of Date and Danger
Gus, Called Only Equipment
U. S. Has for Aviators.

Brought face to face with the tri-
bunal whose inception he was large
ly responsible for. Col William
Mitchell today fought anew his bat
tic for supremacy of the airplane
and reorganization of the defense
system of the Nation. with an inde-
pendent air force. and his attack
on non-hying officers in control, be-
fore the board appointed by Presi
dent Coolidge to determine what ac-
tion can be taken to improve the
good qualities OF the Air Services.
1t was the day Col Mitchell has
longed for since his famous utter
ance in San Antonio September 5.
which charged almost criminal neg
hgence' in the management of the
Army and Navy Air Services, for he
had looked to the time when he
could present his case before the
American people and support his
charges.
Testimony Not New
The testimony of Col. Mitchell was
not new; 1t was a summary of sew.
eral onslaughts against the present
aircraft management made in the past
year. 1t was, however, delivered with
more punch and enthusia SIN than at
any of his previous five appearances
before congressional committees last
Winter. The formal and tranquil at.
mosphere that has permeated the In
terstate and Foreign Commerce Com
mittee room in the House Office Build
ing since the air board began it's hear
fngs was charged with anticipation
and enthusiasm for one hour before
the hearings began.
Tells of II Years.
Lieut.. Col. Benjamin u. Foulois,
commander of Mitchell Field, New
York, was the first witness, and while
he detailed his experience with the
War Department during II years of
flying, the specttors, who taxed the
committee room to capacity and over
flowed into the corridor and to ad.
joining rooms, visibly were restless
and impatient.
At 1855 clock Col Mitchell ac-
companied by Mrs. Mitchell and two
aides appointed by the War Depart
ment to assist him in preparing his
case, entered the room almost with
out notice and as he walked past the
committee rostrum and was recog-
niZed there was spontaneous ap-
plause. Col. Mitchell, however, had
to wait exactly one hour before
taking the stand. Fifteen minutes
were given over to newspaper pho
tographers and motion picture men
and then the examination began.
Asks to Be Sworn
Col. Mitchell requested he be sworn,
to give authority to his statements
and Chairman Morrow insisted they
would be taken with as much credence
without being given under oath. Mr.
Morrow then informed Col. Mitchell
the board had been appointed by the
President to find out what action
should be taken to better the condi-
tions in the Air Service and said, I'VE
want you to give your opinion in your
own way"
Col. Mitchell replied he had nine
prepared tables, each dealing with
division of the general subject of air
and defense, 'one of which Is de-
structive, and I'll not give that
Chairman Morrow insisted, however,
that he read all of the tables.
The committee showed the same
attitude toward the colonel as it
had toward other witnesses, no mat
ter of what rank, following the rou-
witness name, date of flying COM
mission and number of hours in the
air. This dispensed with, Col. Mitchell
requested a globe be brought into
the room and several minutes were
lost while four men struggled with
big world map through and over
the heads of the crowds. His two
aides, Capt. Robert f. Oldys and
Lieut.. David Lingle, placed a mass
of manila envelopes, maps and charts
on the table and business was re-
sumed. Col. Mitchells first table lev
eIed specific attack against non
flying officers of the Army and Navy
who control aviation. He declared
they are not competent to represent
aviation matters in the departments.
before Congress and the people and
as witnesses the" are almost worth
less"
Attack on Non.Flyers.
From time to time Col Mitchell
went back to his charges of incompe-
tence in the two services because mon
flying officers are in control
He declared 1.-The voice of the air.
is smothered before it is heard, and
there are no governing heads in the
Army or Navy who are flying officers
and know the business or are capable
of giving an accurate opinion on 1t.
Not one general in the line of the
Army outside of aviation and not one
admiral IL the line of the Navy are
really air officers and even If they
were they would think of the Army
first and then the aviation, or of the
Navy first and then the aviation.
Among the regular members of the
Army general staff. there has been
only one flying officer and he is as
signed to the section that looks after
housing the Army.
Planes Out of Date.
I'm the Army we have no air force,
none whatever. either in material or
In operation Col. Mitchell said. The
effisy of this thing that is held up be-
fore the American people consists of
about IL old and worn pursuit air
planes and % bombers. All other
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