Evening star., 1925-02-05
NAVY OFFICER GAG
IN AIRCRAFT PROBE
DENIED BY WILBUR
Curbed Only to Extent of
Guarding Military Secrets,
Committee Is Told.
FEAR OF DEPARTMENTAL
DISCIPLINE is BASELESS
Moffett Declares Nothing in Testi-
mony Merits Alleged Threat
of Removal.

The House aircraft committee. con-
sidering charges that Army and Navy
officers are gagged by their superiors
on questions of military policy, was
informed by Secretary Wilbur today
that naval officers are free to express
their views fully.
II wish to assure you," the Secre-
tary said in a letter to Chairman
Lampert of the committee, that they
are perfectly free to state fully and
fairly all facts within their knowI-
edge not of a confidential or secret
character, and to fully express their
opinions on any matters into which
your committee desires to inquire"
Three Fear Discipline.
Yesterday the committee was told
by Representative Perkins, Repub-
lican, New Jersey, that three naval
officers had asked to be excused from
testifying because of a fear of dis
ciplinary measures, and that he had
been informed that Rear Admiral
Mofett, the Navys chief of aero
nautics, might lose his post because
of his persistent efforts for larger
air force.
Mr.. Wilbur's letter was placed be-
fore the committee at a session called
to consider a resolution which would
express dissent from any plan to de-
prive Brig. Gen. Mitchell of reap
pointment as assistant chief of the
Army Air Service. The reappointment
is being held up by Secretary Weeks
p' ng an explanation of some of
II sneraTs statements on aviation
pc
Says Fear UnfOunded.
After referring to the three un-
named Navy officers who were said
to have asked that they be not sum-
moned, Secretary Wilbur's letter said:
Il wish to assure you and the mem
bers of your committee that the fears
of these officers, as thus expressed,
are entirely unfounded. Naval Off
GERS are constantly appearing before
the committees of Congress, and are
! fully advised as TO their duty to tes-
tify fully and completely to the truth.
the whole truth and nothing but the
truth in response to the questions OF
congressional committees or members
thereof"
"Of course. naval officers, like law
yers and doctors, have conhded 10
them certain confidential information
which cannot be released by them
without violating fundamental duty
of their confidential position unle-s
such information is given with the
consent of the department.
Says Opinions Unfettered.
If officers are asked their own
personal opinions to matters con
nected with the service, they are per-
feCtly at liberty to state those opin-
ions, even though they be at variance
with the plans of the department.. 1t
is important in such cases, however.
that il may be made clear by the
witness that he is not giving the
Judgment of the department but his
own opinion, and this not because
of any obligation on his part to
maintain the same opinions as those
heralded by his superior officers but
because he ought not even infer
entially TO deceive the committee by
leaving the impression that the views
he is expressing are the views OF the
service.
IF Your committee is interested in
the testimony of these officers or de-
sires to ascertain their opinion upon
the questions involved in your inves-
tigation. ] wish to assure you and
such officers through you that they
are perfectly free to state fully and
fairly all the facts within their
knowledge not of a confidential or
cret character, and to fully express
which your committee desires to in
Quire."
Rear Admiral Moffett knows of
nothing he has said in testimony be-
fore the House committees that would
warrant such punishment.
Monett Satisfied.
on the three-cornered row between
Afinho1l nd he NaUv
Mitchell and the general staff, Ad-
mral Moffett let II be known that
the Navys argument is being handled
very satisfactorily by the Navy De-
partment and that the subject is out
of his jurisdiction.
On the other hand it was strongly
emphasized at the Bureau of Aeronau-
tics that there is no rift between
Admiral Moffett and Secretary Will
bur or the general board and 1t was
explained that the persons outside
of the Army or Navy" who furnished
information regarding the proposed
disciplinary steps to Representative
Perkins based their .oto->-ictions on
the fact that there is petty jealousy
existing between the Bureau of Aero
nautics' chief and several high rank
ing naval officers over the formers
successful efforts in getting naval
aviation before the public constantly,
while the other bureaus of the de-
partment fare not so well in the mat
ter OF pulicity.
Jealousy LIS Seen.
When Admiral Moffett took charge
of the bureau about four years ago
the American public did not know
there was such a thing as naval avia-
ton, it is claimed. Through his eff
forts a campaign of education was
launched and has been carried out
successfully to the present time. On
more than one occasion Admiral Mof-
fett has been accused of playing to
the grandstand" and resorting to
other methods of educating the public
to the value and need of naval avia-
tion. This, therefore, Is claimed to be
what might be characterized as a
social" jealousy.
Admiral Moffett's term as chief of
the bureau expires the 1st of July,
ending four years of service. No in
timation pro or con has been received
by him on the question of reappoint-
ment, this being due, it was explained.
that Secretary Wilbur's cabinet term
expires March 4 and he must first be
sure that he viii begin new admin
istration on that date before he takes
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