The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1925-12-25

ara.
decided favorably on 10 propositions.
First and most important, it recon-
/ mends the establishment of a depart
iment of national defense with unity Of
command and headed by a civilian
secretary with undersecretaries for
land, sea, and air; or, If such de-
partment is not Immediately possible.
either a unified air service or sep
arate air corps in the army and the
navy.
The other propositions are designed
to develop aviation with liberal appro-
priations and legislation and to cor
rect alleged injustices suffered by
aviation officers.
Carrying the Endorsement Of Pres
ident Coolidge, the annual report OF
the national advisory committee for
aeronautics was submitted to con-
gress. It recommends the creation Of
bureau Of air navigation in the De-
partment of Commerce to regulate
and encourage commercial aviation.
continuance Of policy of aircraft de-
velopment in the light Of the loss OF
the Shenandoah, and extension OF the
air-mail service to all sections of the
country.
TT WAS the army's turn last week
L to jump on Col. William Mitchell in
his court-martial trial, and score OF
high officers, including Maj Gen. Ma
son NJ. Patrick, chief of the army ar
service, and Brig. Ben. ]. E. Fechet.
assistant chief, were called to re-
i but the colonel's testimony. Gen.
eral Patrick admitted defects in the
service, shortage Of planes. lack Of
training and the like, but laid the
blame on congress which had made
insufficient appropriations. He said
that while antiaircraft fire was mot
entirely effective" 1t was one OF the
agencies against air attacks that
should be used and developed. Capt.
r. G. Rath, an army aviator who won
the Distinguished Service medal in the
war in France. gave testimony that
discredited the efficiency of Colonel
| Mitchell when he commanded the air
forces there. Mr.. Reid, the colonel's
counsel, piled Captain Rath with in
sulting questions and remarks belit-
Ting his courage until the audience
Kissed and General King, member Of
the court, protested to its president.
General Howe. Major Gullion. as
sistant judge advocate, angered the
defense by again attempting to intro
duce evidence that Mitchell had
cribbed large parts Of his book.
winged Defense" The court once
more ruled this out Of order.
IN REAT BRITAIN'S quarrel with
NJ Turkey over the Mosul oil region
is fast approaching climax. The
League Of Nations council. which ac-
cording to the advisory finding of the
world court is competent to decide the
question, was told officially by Turkey
| that that nation would not admit the
world courts competence to give an
advisory opinion to the council, and
when the council accepted the opinion,
the Turkish representative withdrew
from the negotiations for the time
being. The British insisted that the
council proceed to debate and decide
the boundary dispute, fearing that If
the matter were postponed until the
March session Turkey would attempt
to seize and occupy the Mosul region
by force.
On Thursday General Laidoner of
Esthonia. special agent of the league.
reported that the Turks were commit
ting atrocious acts of violence along
the provisional Mosul frontier, de-
porting the Christian inhabitants, oc-
cupying villages, confiscating arms. inn
posing heavy fines. demanding women.
pillaging houses, and in some cases
taking life.
| Djabir Bey of Damascus. represent
| ing the Syro-Palestine independence
organization and the rebellious Druses.
tried to get hearing from the coun-
ell to tell Of French maladministra-
ton Of the mandate, but the French
and British delegates objected sue
cessfully.
TN THE Tacna-Arica plebiscitary
i commission Chile moved that the
date of the plebiscite be fixed for
February 1. General Pershing opposed
this as not giving enough time to ar
range for a fair and free vote. and
Peru supported him. They agreed the
commission should pass the electoral
regulations January Is. with February
10 for registrations and April Is for
the plebiscite. Chile then decided to
appeal from this decision TO President
Coolidge, the arblter.