Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-12-18

Argument Major
Gullion Asking
Conviction Mitchell
Washington. Dec. 16-(AP)-Dis-
mlssal of Colonel William Mitchell
from the army was asked today by
prosecution counsel in opening argu-
ments before the general courtmar-
tial trying the air officer under the
96th article OF war.
In asking the maximum sentence
prescribed for offenses triable under
that article of war, Major Allen Gull
hon. ASSISTANT trial judge advocate,
declared Colonel Mitchell 'had been
proven guilty of disorder to the pre-
JUDGE of good order and military dis
cipline and of conduct of a nature to
bring discredit to the military SER
vice."
The prosecution counsel bitterly ar
raigned the defendant and severely
condemned many of the witnesses
who had testified in his behalf
I'VE ask the dismissal of the ac-
cused." Major Gullion said. for the
sake of the army whose discipline he
has endangered and whose fair name
he has attempted to discredit We
| ass his dismissal for the sake of those
youns officers of the army air service
whose ideals he has shattered and
whose loyalty he has corrupted. We
ask his dismissal in the name of truth
under whose aegiS he has sought pro-
lection but whose face he dnes not
know. Finally. we ask it in the name
of the American people whose fears
he has played upon, whose hysteria
he has fomented, whose confidence
he has beguiled and whose faith he
has betrayed"
Major Gullion analysed only the
evidence which pertained to Colonel
Mitchell's charges against the Navy
Lepar tment and which has been Of
| fered lie court by defense witnesses.
Some of these he referred to by
names and types. They int '1ded:
| Admiral Sims. characterized as the
"opinionated. narrow minded, hobby
riding. egomaniacal type" Major
! William N. Hensley, army air SER
vice, "the shifty type" Lieut.. H. w.
! Sheridan. air service, the half truth
/ type" Lieut.. Orville Anderson. air
| service, "the pseudo expert type:"
Captain Robert E. Oldys, air servi ;,
"the reviving memory type" Lieut..
J Col. William G. Schauffler. air service
reserve, the "flippant type" and Ma
| jor Gerald Brant, general staff, "the
gay, gallant, lovable type"
OF Representative F. H. Laguardia,
| Socialist. New York. Major Gullion
said: "He Is beyond my powers of
description. Thank Heaven, he is sui
eeneris."
The prosecution counsel selected
numerous quotations made during the
trial by Representative Reid in his
role of defense attorney, attributing
some to Ignorant malice" and term
ing others "taunts" and slurs. He as
serted Mr.. Reid had made "unfound-
ed claims as to the illegality and ir-
regularity Of the investigation -
in so extravagant way that it seem
ed as though counsel thought that
the preliminaries (of the triaD were
an unholy thing"
Referring again to Col. Mitchell,
| Major Gullion summed up what he
called the Mitchell formula" in this
way
! ''First, exaggeration of national
defense matter closely approaching
| falsehood.
Second. untrue and misleading
statements for the deliberate pur-
pose OIL ulSCfeultilB al NY anu he"' >
officers. thus
! "Third. creating distrust in minds
of people as to war and navy depart
ments.
Fourth, egotistic self-description
rs to experience and qualifications
coupled with
Fifth. protestations of absence OF
self -interest and expressions of will
| lingness to be, and expectation OF
being. martyr. all leading to
sixth. a united air service, with
Seventh, William Mitchell as the
only logical head of 1t.
THAT" the major said, lis Tho
formula he has followed. Ever!
! demagogue has followed similar
| one, protesting unselfishness and Sc
cretly seeking ACKNOWLEDGMENT,
as he appealed directly to the peo-
pie over the heads of constituted au-
thority'
us this man Moses, fitted to lead
the people out of wilderness which
/ is his own creation, only? Is he OF
, the George Washington type as
counsel would have you believe? Is
( he not rather of the all too familiar
I CndTlHIdH anu utIudSo6uS~ tsPS =
d. :. He is a good flyer. fair rider.
| a good shot, bamboyant, self-adver-
i Using, wildly imaginative, destruc-
! tive never constructive except in
wild, non-feasible schemes, and
never overly careful as to the ethics
| of his methods.
This court has had opportunity
to study those methods, not only as
revealed in his statements of Sept.
| 5 and 8, but also in his former state
ments which his counsel has read
! into the record. All of these state
i ments made over period of years
/ follow what we may term the Mitch
| ell formula"
| Stating why he believed Colonel
| Mitchell should be dismissed from
the army, Major Gullion said:
would an ACCOMPLISHMENT fit the
| offenses of which the accused has
| been clearly proven guilty? For
making statements which his coun-
! sci read into the record, statements
similar but not as bad as those of
| September 5 and 8. the accused's
| chief. General Patrick, recon-
! mended that he be admonished
4 4 l.