The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1925-09-30
SAYS DIRIGIBLE DID
NOT HAVE PARACHUTES
Seems Funny Destroyers
Could Not Find Missing
Plane on Hawaiian Flight
States Colonel in De-
nunciation.

BU UnneG Press
WASHINGTON, Sept. 3d.
Sending the ill-fated naval
dirigible Shenandoah westward
into the storm which wrecked
it and killed fourteen men was
Sin direct violation Of law, >"
Col. Chilly" Mitchell told :he
Presidents aircraft board to-
day.
"It was like sending ship out
to sea without lifeboats," Mitchell
said.
THE law provides that only ac-
tual flying men should be in COM
mand of aircraft sent out on trips
like that.
"In my mind it was the work Of
bungling amateurs"
No Parachutes
Mitchell charged the Shenandoah
was not equipped with parachutes.
"It was criminal" he said.
Mitchell referred to Government
statutes and an opinion of the at
torney general that only flying Of
flcers should be in control of ex-
perimental voyages.
Opening the second day of his
testimony Mitchell Immediately be-
gan comment Of the misfortunes in
the Navy. He mentioned the un-
successful Hawaiian flight and the
proposal last year TO have the Shen-
andoah sent to the North Pole.
Poor Hunters
1T seems funny to me that de-
stroyers which were strung across
the Pacific were unable to find the
Pm 81 for days after she alighted
in the water" be said.
las far as the proposal to have a
dirigible &c to the north pole is
concerned, that shows what men
who are not tliers will do when they
are in control Of the air service"
Mitchell read testimony Of Sec
retary Of War Weeks before a CON
gressional committee complaining
that the Navy was getting more
funds for aviation than the Army.
THE bombing of the battleship
Washington last year was done in
such a way as to belittle the often
sive power Of the airplane. The
vessel was never bombed.
1.-The army and navy have
quashed the development Of air
offense from the coast"
Coercion Charged
Mitchell reused the board by say
ing there was always indirect CO.
ercion in hearings Of this kind"
why, right now, over there, the
general staff officers are taking down
verbatim records Of every word that
is said here" he added
You are not being coerced, are
you?" Representative Visnon asked.
THAT doesn't worry me a bit"
Mitchell answered. 1--WE seen a
great deal Of that stuff. I've been
knocked on the head for years and
years"
Judge Dennison, Michigan, asked
Mitchell to explain further what he
meant by indirect coercion"
ANY officer can be asked by the
general staff what he meant by COM
ing up and testifying before a con-
gressional committee" Mitchell an
swered. "They have done it,"
Mitchell referred to a globe Of the
world to show how vulnerable Great
4 Britain was to an air attack.
England Active
England realized this after sew
heral attacks during the war and
fA1nally put a united air force into
~ Affect.
f.R To-day she has an efficient air
brps. She is steadily increasing her
N<N apply Of planes and appropriations
f&&f the air service. She has the fast
<tA$ service ships in the world today.
~ How do our pursuit planes COM
y lie with Englind 's?' Morrow asked.
& e England has the best" Mitchell
spped back.
NN#AN4M --------------------