Evening star., 1925-02-05
Has Wilbur support.


Admiral Moffett has received whole
hearted support from Secretary Will
bur in the development of aviation.
he having asked for sS2,000,000 for
1926 and the Secretary approved it.
Before it reached Congress, however,
it was cut in half. Further, it was
said at the Bureau, the admiral has
not sought TO go over the heads''
of the general board in acquiring
Legislation he believes would be of
benefit to naval aviation. He has
endeavored to educate" those in
power to the needs of his arm OF the
service and when he has failed he
has gone no farther and then the
responsibility for any aftermaths. as
the result OF the boards decisions
rest on them He has played fair
with his own crowd the Bureau
declares.
S2JO,OOO,00O Needed for Army.
If Congress granted the War De-
partment S25.000,000 a year for 10
years, plus the amount necessary for
pay, clothing and similar expendi-
lures, at the end of a decade Amer
lea could control the air. Brig. Gen.
H a. Drum of the general staff told
the select committee of inquiry into
operations of the United States Air
Services at hearings held yesterday
afternoon. In making this statement
Gen. Drum said he disagreed with
Gen. Mitchell that if the air service
were given half the price of a bat
tieship for two years America could
control the air
There is nothing wrong with the
Air Service, but the lack of appro-
priations for planes, Gen. Drum said.
The organization and personnel is ex-
cellent and, in his opinion, has "done
wonders Gen. Drum, who is op-
posed to united air service, said no
Improvement could be made in the
efficiency of the Air Service, if it were
separated, over its present accom-
plishments.
The committee, charged with bring
ing to light charges of waste and in
efficiency in the air services has met
or crossed the path of the House
military affairs committee deliberat-
ing on the Curry bill for a unified air
service.
Denies Any Pressure.
Much time was given yesterday
while Gen. Drum was on the stand to
the merits of Gen. Mitchell. Repre-
sentative Perkins of New Jersey
asked the witness if there was any
policy which called for disciplining
officers for giving testimony before
Congress, and Gen. Drum replied he
knew of no such policy. To the con-
trary, he said, the War Department
encouraged officers to give their opfn-
ions.
Representative Reid of Illinois
thought the witness was endeavoring
to evade several questions and, jump
ing up, declared the Army tactics had
not been open and above board" and
said Gen. Drum could 'Inaneuver bet
ter than any airplane he had ever
heard off,
Representative Perkins asked the
witness If he did not think the dis
ciplining of Admiral Moffett and Gen.
Mitchell would put the fear of some
thing in the hearts of other officers"
to which Gen. Drum replied it would
depend upon what they were trans
ferred for.
After discussing the war record of
Gen. Mitchell and the battleship
bombing experiments, Gen. Drum was
asked if he did not think such en-
thuSiastic men as Gen. Mitchelrs type
were of great Importance to the de-
Tense of the country. Il would like to
reserve an answer" said Gen. Drum
Praises Gen. Mitchell.
Some members of the committee
sought to have a resolution adopted
declaring it would be detrimental to
the service for Gen. Mitchell to be
deprived of his present rank and de-
tail.
Representative Curry, Republican,
California, author of the bill to create
united air force, issued a statement
yesterday afternoon indorsing the
views of Gen. Mitchell and express
ing confidence in his ability.
we need Mitchell as assistant
chief of the Air Service, as he is the
best qualified man in the service for
that post" said Mr.. Curry. "Since
Mitchelrs statements of facts as to
the power OF the airpiane have been
challenged. let me suggest that 1t is
a thing susceptible of proof. The
national defense is the concern Of US
all. Controversy leads nowhere except
UP blind alleys"
If the War and Navy Departments
'are sincere" he added, in doubling
Gen. MitchelPs assertions, most of
which have been proven, 1 challenge
the older services to order tests COW
ering the entire field in MitchelPs
testimony. The air force will speedily
prove its case IL such tests are con-
Quoted" ,,5....-.
Mr.. Curry said from testimony thus
tar presented on aviation it is evt.