The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1925-03-06
CEN. MITCHELL
is DENOTED
BY WEEKS
Col, FeChet Named New Aid
to Air Chief
PUNISHED FOR TALKING
General May Quit Army and
Run for Congress

NTASHINGTON, March 6.
wv Brig. Gen. William
Mitchell, assistant chief of the
air service. today reverted to
the rank Of colonel when Sec
rotary of War Weeks failed
60 reappoint him to the post
for a new term. beginning
March %.
Weeks recommended to the
president the appointment of
Lieut., Coz. james f. Fechet to
succeed Mitchell.
The president has already
announced he would appoint
Whoever Secretary Weeks rec
commended for the post.
Fechct Is command8nt Of the air
service advanced flying field a. Kelly
reid.
Mitchell was az Fortress Monroe
craft guns against airpianes
Col, Mitchell was appointed assist,
Hnt 10 the chief OF the air service
an July !, 1920, with temporary rank
NJ hrigadirr general largely on the
basis % his spectacular record as a
flying commander during the war Ia
krance.
During the last month OF the war.
he was chief Of air service group %
The armies, having risen rapidly
from n military observer and aviation
officer in 1871 10 chief OF the air
service, first % the zone OF advance.
later of the first corps. then OF the
first army and finally OF the entire
group OF armies
There was some alleged jral.
ousy Of Mitchell. IL y said. be-
cause he was not West Point
man He entered the service a.
n private with the Wisconsin vol
unieers in the Spanish.imerican
war. In 1901 he was appointed
firSt lieutenant in the signal
corps lie served on the general
staff from 1918 to 1916.
The distinguished service cross
was awarded 10 him for repeated
acts OF extraordinary hcroism In nc
ton" IN France and also the dis
tlnguished service medal.
MITCHELL SAYS HE MAY
Run FOR CONGRESS
Acting on Weeks reoommenda.
ton, President Coolidge sent Fcch.
cts nomination 10 tho senate at
noon.
Mitchell Is expected 70 b. signed
10 the command OF a living field
away from Washington.
Few believe that his punishment
will deter him from carrying on
his fight for a unified air service
II Il Is impossible FOR him 10 DO
so. however, the flying general win
resign from the army and run for
congress from Wisconsin. he has
announced.
Mitchell has three years more Of
service before him ere he IL eligible
for retirement after 30 years serv.
ice. He has told friends that II Il
is at all possible. IL Is his desire 70
stick II out these three years.
Demotion OF Mitchell follows two
months Of stormy controversy over
the air power policy OF the govern.
ment which took place principally
before the aircraft investigating
committee OF the house.
An ardent advocate OF unified air
service with an aircraft forces OF
the army. navy and postoffice de.
partment under one head. Mitchell
carried his fight into high places.
attacking not only his superiors.
but high naval officials. Including
Secretary OF the Navy Wilbur
Mitchell charged that the general
staff Of the army ignored the
dawn OF the aircraft era. that the
general board OF the navy blinded
itself to the vulnerabllity Of hat.
tlsships and suppressed vital facts
!. I'm its presentation OF the case be-
fere The, bouss committee.
His conduct evoked warm critl.
rism from Secretary OF War Weeks
and each frequently denied the
Dther's statements OF fact.
Some sort OF punishment for Nit
cheIl was considered inevitable carly
In the controversy. when he rode
roughshod over army proprieties in
taking his case TO congress directly.
instead Of thru his superiors. There
even va talk Of his court martial
for insub srdlgatien. tho this has
died down.