Evening star., 1925-11-15

Governing last Monday, after six
days of recess. the Mitchell court
martial heard a week Of sensational
testimony on the part of the de-
fense, which was introduced as an
effort to substantiate the charges
against the conduct Of Americas de-
fense forces-charges made by Col.
Mitchell in his famous statement to
the newspapers, the issuance Of
which led to his present trial. Army
officers in the Air Service and the
reserves testified to conditions
which. on their face, uphold Col.
Mitchell-the attitude, for instance.
of the general staff toward the Air
Service: the number and condition
of the planes in the Air Service; an
alleged agreement between the
Army and Navy by which they We're
20 select in advance the winners for
he annual Pulitzer races and the
appropriations made available by
Congress for aviation. The greatest
interest was aroused perhaps. in the
testimony of Mrs. Zachary Lans-
downe, widow of the commander of
the Inflated Shenandoah. She de-
clared that a high ranking naval
officer furnished her in advance with
testimony she was to deliver before
the board inquiring into the loss of
the Shenandoah. She said she re-
fused to deliver this testimony.
which. if delivered would have
constituted a clear bill of health for
the action of the Navy in sending
The Shenandoah on its last West
ern trip, at least from the stand
point of the Shenandoah comman-
der.
AS the trial progresses interest
among service men here is centered
on the fact that the court is allow =
ing testimony to be introduced de-
signed to prove the truth of the
Mitchell charges. AS a matter of
fact. Col. Mitchell is not being tried
on the truth or falsity of his
charges, but simply on the fact that
he made his statement In violation
of Army traditions and regulations.
Great Britain intends to make quite
an event out of the signing of the Lo-
carno treaty. which is expected tc
take place about December l. In.
yitations are understood to have been
sent to all the statesmen and officials
who took part in negotiating the
treaty, and a great state function is
being planned. King George and
Queen Mary will give a state banquet
in the palace on the evening OF De
cember !, and about 80 guests are ex
pected to attend. including the lead
ing figures in the German. French
and Italian governments The ban,
quet will be served in the principal
state dining room of the palace. and
will be one of the most magnificent
functions ever held.
Another submarine tragedy shocks
the whole world. Closely following the
sinking of the American submarine
with heavy loss of life. a British era II
one Of the largest afioat, went down
II miles off the Devonshire coast las,
week with her crew Of so aboard The
submarine cannot be raised, and no
hope is held out for the survival OF
any Of those on board.
The United States last week OBJ
served the seventh anniversary of the
signing of the armistice, which oc.
CURED November Il. 1918. President
Coolidge, accompanied by the Secre.
taries of War and Navy. led the Ma.
tons official act Of remembrance by
placing wreath on the tomb of the
Unknown Soldier. Many organizations
took g. part in what has become an
annual custom. and the tomb was the
mecca of thousands
Another anniversary was observed
last week, on Tuesday, one day before
Armistice day. 1t was the l50th an
niversary OF the founding of the
United States Marines, an organiza
ton which has played gallant par
In the struggles of this country's his
tory.
The greatest guarantee Of worlt
peace is understanding between Amer
lea and Great Britain, the British Am
bassador. Sir Esme Howard, told tn,
English speaking Union at a neetinj
in St. Louis last week. Those who ar,
trying to build up that understa ndin,
and friendship, he said, are not seek
ing to establish d world-dominatin,
power, but are trying to erect wha
he hopes will become a temple o
peace.in all parts of the world wher
men OF English speech come together
The news headlines again proclaim
a war in China, hoStilities having beeI
resumed between the two factions
one headed by Tuan Chi-Jui, the othe
by Feng Yu-Hsiang, better known a
the christian general" Japan ha
dispatched two warships to China t
guard her interests there. With
news censorship in effect, little ha
been learned concerning the detail
Of this latest outbreak Of civil war Il
troubled China.
A communist plot to kill Kin
Ferdinand of Rumania was thwarte
last week, according to dispatche
from Vienna, which related that
band Of communists lay in wait at
In, nf
King from hunting. and that they wer
rounded up and captured by troop
after battle in which one soldier an
one gendarme were wounded.
The plat to slay King Ferdinan
followed closely upon the frustratio
of a plot in Italy to assassinat
Premier Mussolini and afterward t
overthrow the Sovoy dynasty. Thos
involved are believed to have bee
caught, but police dragnet continue
rounding up all suspects.
A 15-year.old boy was installed la:
week as Sultan Of khalifa. of tn
Spanish protectorate in Morocco. TIL
installation took place with great cert
mony and in accordance with tn
terms of a treaty between Spain an
Morocco, which provides that the Su
tan's authority cannot be maintaine
or stopped without the consent of tn
Spanish government.
Washington entertained a roys
couple here for g. few days last weel
when the Prince and Princess Asak
of Japan stopped over en- route t
their homes in Japan, after an al
sence of three years, most of whic
was spent in Europe. The princes
is sister of the present Emperor {
Japan. The couple were entertalne
Sunday afternoon by the Preside1
! and Mrs. Coolidge and a distinguishe
company aboard the presidents
yacht Mayfiower.
Economic.