Evening star., 1925-11-18
ARMY COURT DENIES
A|RSH|P PR0BERS'
/, PLEA FOR WITNESS
Politely Keeps Maj. Kennedy
Subpoenaed for Shenan-
doah Quiz Today.
HEINEN TAKES STAND
IN D!RIGIBLE CRASH
Testimony Sustains Mitchell
That Reduction in Valves
Reduced Safety.


trying Col. William Mitchell under
the ninety-siXth article of war today
politely refused to acceed to the de
mand of the Shenandoah court OF
inquiry that one of its witnesses should
accept service on subpoena to
testify at the naval court at 10 O'Clock
this morning, and then heard expert
witnesses in connection with the
Shenandoah disaster. outstanding OF
whom was Capt. Anton Heinen, the
noted German diricible expert.
Mai Frank w. Kennedy. chief of
the lighterthan-hair section at Nc
Cook Field, Dayton, Ohio. and mill
talr observer at the construction of
The ZE-3. now the Los Angeles, as
we'll as passenger on her delivery
flight To America. had been presented
with subpoena from the Shenandoah h
court TO be present at 10 o'clock, and
refused to comply because he was
one OF the defense witne today Y
in the Mitchell proceedings.
Reid Fights Release.
The prosecution requested the
court that ne be excused to appear
before the Navy tribunal but on the
argument of Representative Frank
Il. Reid. chief defense counsel, that
he was surprised AT the nerve OF
those people" in endeavoring ITO
take precedence over this court" Mai
Kennedy was permitted To remain
in the witness room until his testi-
mony was given. After he had testi.
fed. Maj Gen. Robert l.. Howe, presi.
dent of the court. requested him 10
90 To the Shenandoah proceedings.
Capt. Heinen, Maj. Kennedy and
Capt. Charles Clarke of the lighter
than-air section. Army Air Service
were called to substantiate Col
Mitchell's statements that the Shen
andoah was an experimental ship
that the reduction in the number OF
safety valves contributed to her loss
and that the lives OF her victims
could have been saved by parachutes.
These witnesses were confronted by
4 new assistant trial judge advocate,
Maj. Allen J. Gullion Of the Judge Ad-
vocate Generals Office, and on duty
here, who replaced Maj. Francis B.
Wilby of the general staff, the chief
cross examiner yesterday. Maj. Gul-
lion was unusually aggressive in his
objections and arguments with Mr.
Reid. which caused no end of audible
comment among the spectators. Col.
sherman Moreland. the trial judge ad
voCdte. had no part in the proceedings
other than to move that the reading
of the minutes OF the preceding day
be dispensed with
Heinen Testimony Terse.
Capt Heinen. the first witness. fur.
nished Illuminating testimony, the fea
ture of which was his declaration
i,af nod ha he he, e
safety valves on the Shenandoah were
reduced frum IS TO s everybody could
rest assured | would have kicked UP
a hell of row. He further declared
safety factor OF the dirigible was
reduced from 100 per cent to zero"
by the elimination of the valves which
was brought about by the desire of the
crew and not one person. The Shen.
andoah. he added, was "a copy" OF the
German Zeppelin Lie. which had been
shot down by the allies and complete
plans obtained from it before the crew
destroyed il.
Maj. Kennedy. officially the first
Army officer to arrive at the scene
of the Shena ndoah disaster, was pro
hibited from reCitinC a conversation
ne had had with Chief Petty Officer
Collier, one of the survivors. on ol,.
lection of Maj. Gullion. and Mr. Reid
Immediately requested subpoena for
Collier. Maj. Kennedy answered hy-
pothetiCal questions to the effect that
the dead weight of the Shenandoah h
was higher than later ships designed:
that the weight decreased the amount
of useful lift; that rapid rise in flight
would expand the gas cells and fail
ure to discharge the gas would rup-
ture the cells, which. in turn, would
unbalance the ship and bring undue
stresses on its framework.
When recess was taken for
luncheon. Mr.. Reid announced that
Admiral William S. Sims. arch critic
of the Navy, would testify this after
noon. 1t was planned originally, Mr..
the stand at o'clock. but. owing to
the delay of the training bringing TIE
admiral from Newport. r. l.. he per-
haps would not be able to testify at
that hour. However. Immediately on
his arrival. Admiral Sims will be
placed on the stand.
Witness Case Argued
The session was opened with dis
,ussion AS to whether Mai Kennedy
should appear as a witness before the
Mitchell court or accept service of a
subpoena to testify at the Shenandoah
court at 10 o'clock this morning. Mai
Gullion informed the court Mai. Ken
nedy had declined to accept the Shen-
andoah courts subpoena as he had
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