Evening star., 1925-09-21
System Is Best, But Money
Is Lacking, Acting War
Secretary Says.
WE WILL NOT "MUZZLE"
OFFICERS, HE ASSERTS
Blow at Col. Mitchell Seen in
Facts. Not Fancies' Phrase
in Chiefs Statement.

Vigorously defending the War De-
partment's stewardship of the sac
red trust of national defense" Acting
Secretary Dwight F. Davis told the
board Of aviation inquiry at its first
public session today that the cure
for any inadequaCy in Americas air
defenses rests with Congress, not
with the War Department.
II believe that our personnel he
declared, referring to the Army Air
Service, lis equal in skill hardihood
and bravery to that of any other
nation. The equipment is inadequate
This condition is due solely to
lack of money and can be remedied
only by money"
Mr.. Davis entire statement, re-
quiring nearly an hour to read from
prepared copy, was unstintlng in
praise for the men of the Air Service.
And despite his admission that the
equipment is inadequate because of
insufficient appropriations, he fatty
declared: Il can see no reason to be
panicky about the condition of the
Army Air Service
Supported by Gen. Hines.
In this sweeping defense of the
accepted seriaI program Of the Army,
accepted aerial program of the Army,
Maj. Gen. John L. Hines, chief Of
staff. Gen. Hines declared the re-
cent World War had taught the need
of unified command of air and ground
forces in time of strife. Destruction
of the present system, he added,
would make this impossible.
The House commerce committee
room, where the hearing was held.
was crowded to its capacity when
Dwight W. Morrow, chairmar of the
Presidents board called the first SEES
sion to order Before the camera
men had finished a 10-minute barrage
of sensitized plates guards at the
doors had been forced TO turn several
score persons away and it seems GER
tain larger quarters will have to be
sought for the future hearings.
At the outset of his statement Mr..
Davis declared the War Department
welcomed 'this inquiry into the air
defenses of the country by this board
of disinterested citizens" National
defense" he added, lis a sacred trust
Of all the people. In the con-
sideration of this vitality important
subject honest differences of opinion
naturally arise"
Glad to Return.
Explaining that he would confine
himself to general statements Of pol
lev, leaving the details to be elabo-
rated by the military and technical ex-
perts, Mr.. Davis said he would be
glad to return at any time in the
future that the board might request,
and then go deeper into the subject
under discussion. He offered the
board the unlimited assistance or the
War Department.
Many persons in the room thought
Mr.. Davis may have been striking
back at Col. William Mitchell without
mentioning names when he declared:
Il believe that the board wants sense,
not sensation; facts, not fancies, argu-
ments, not mere assertions. Oh1cers,
enlisted men and employees will ap-
pear before you when desired and Will
testify fully, freely and frankly
There has not been, is not now.
and will not be any muZZlinS' of
Army officers in the expression of
their individual opinions. In your con-
structive program, the War Depart
ment will cordially cooperate. l per-
sonally have felt that such an inquiry
Is essential that the public may rest
assured thaI Ine ndllOIdl oClciiSc 40
being wisely safeguarded and is in the
hands Of officers of ability, loyalty
and vision, and not mere bureaucrats.
Flyers Direct Service.
Mr.. Davis then began a categorical
answer to five questions that had
been asked him in the board letter In
viting him to appear before it today.
The first referred to organization. To
this he replied that as medical men
direct the Medical Service and ord
nance officers direct the Ordnance De
partment, so flyers direct the Air
Service.
AS to the missions of the Air Serv
Ice. the second question, he declared
It had two-namely, in time of peace
to prepare for war and in time of
war to help win the victory "and
bring about peace as quickly, as eff
fectively and as cheaply in lives and
money as humanity possible" The
third question dealt with the relations
of the Air Service to the Army, to
commercial aviation and to airplane
manufacture.
Leaving the question of it's rela-
tions to the Army to Gen. Hines, Mr..
Davis said he believed a well organ
lied commercial air service essential
to national defense. He dwelt at
length upon the need for Government
encouragement of air transport lines,
but declared that while military and
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