New Britain herald., 1925-09-30

were sent 10 the AICtlC regions where officers in charge of planning the expedition expected therl 10 give satisfactory service" The former assistant chief of he tlr serv.ce severely criticised he work Of the navy in arranging equip- ment for the navy contingent accom- anying the MacMillan Arctlc cx. pediticn, declaring fragrant" nis- takes made in nrepar' ticn for the three aeroni ut.cal eventt made 't Impossible for airmen to ensn si ,ent,
 sco.cs shenandoa'. Trip
 By ?ndins tho shenn 1doah to the yniddle west, he insisted, the navy violated the law because in time Of peace land activities belong to the army.
 The big dirigible, he charged, was rot equipped with parachutes.
 This Is like sending a ship to sea without lifeboata." h9 ;.aded
 Colonel Mitchell declared an at- tempt 10 ret obsolete vessels 'rorl he navy for target practice brought q reply tror' A'si tant Sec retary of the Navy Robson that there were Tho obso.ete vessels
 "It might be well to build pom toons and rafts for this purpose. he said in reply 10 a question, add ing:
 "The point is we ant be choke4 eff this way when everybody else is going lead.'
 Discussing the Lassiter aircraft report, General Mitchell said that the secretary of the navy repeatedly declined to accept any suggestions which would link the army and navy air services, even declining the pro- posal of the secretary of war that appropriation for the two services te considered jointly,
 Bombing Planes Idle
 He read the testimony given by Secretary Weeks before a house committee in which he said that fol the navy to get more money fol aviation than the army was unjust The work of army bombing planes, he said, "has amounted to nothing this summer. The bombing groul has been used to tow targets. Th' commander is now in Maine shooting moose and trying to recover attel such procedure
 Regarding the aircraft tests ol the batttleship Washington, Colone Mitchell said that testimony wal given to the house aircraft commit tee that the ships bombing by air craft was intellectual. This state ment he charged, was not in keep ing with the fact, adding that thes tests showed that aircraft properl' used could sink any surface vesse afloat and that the only thing nee essary for final proof of his state ment was for tests to be conducte q which would give aircraft a fai a chance.
 f No Fair Tests Yet f There have yet" he said, "bee il no adequate tests to determine tn " effectiveness of aircraft in Its clas , with naval vessels" f Colonel Mitchell again brought Il the charge made by him last winte that junior officers were "muzzled to prevent them from telling tn A truth to congressional committees " He added that the war departmer - had a reporter In the committe V room.
 F Docs this interfere with you e testimony" asked Repressntativ
 Vinson of Georgia. il Mitchell Doesn't Care Q Tt doesn't bother me" Mitche l. replied, "but 1t tends to retard d flow of testimony by junior offic srs - You realize this Is a public heal
 ing?" asked Dwight ". Morro7
 board chairman.
 Yes" answered Mitchell.
 Do you think" inquired Judi n Arthur C. Denison of Grand Rapid 0 Mich, this has any effect on test 1 mony if the army general staff ht -- a stenographer here L. Ut has the effect" continue 70 Mitchell. "that you immediately g Ia letter asking for all facts ar r. data on your statem snts, Since Ger la eral Patrick (army air chieD test ,r fled here last week he has received st letter asking him to furnish a con lg plete estimate of aircraft expend
 lures and . budget of needs" 'e T thought maybe having a stel k ographer here might be desire
 the general staff 10 save buying - record of the hearing" Mir Denise said.
 q That may be. but 1t works t1
 other way" replied Mitchell
 France Is Ambitious
 France, is aspiring to control | K air" he said, "in the same mann \ England controls the sea. every n \ ton is coming forward with bett A planes than ours" = The air services of Englar
 France and Germany were all s
 perlor 10 that of the United Stat
 ha said, because those countri
 realized the practical value of al
 craft during the World war" , The greatest development, he sa
 has been In the forces Of Gre
 Britain.
 France. he said has 1900 plar
 denloyed in Alsace Lorraine wht
 they can be placed in immedi'
 service,
 To He declared that the United Sta
 should have three types Of plan
 defense ships and high and low al
 fude planes. The present eouipm,
 Is virtually all o' tha low altitr esSYsgES