Evening star., 1925-10-05
MITCHELL IS TOLD
OF ARMY CHARGES
Colonel Silent After Session
With Nugent-Reid to
Be His Counsel.
BY the Associated Press.

by the Associateu Press
Col. William Mitchell of the Army
Air Service reported today at the In
spector Generals Office of the War
Department, where disciplinary pro-
ceedings against him are under con-
sideration
The case at this stage Is in the
hands of Col. George A. Nugent of the
Inspector Generals Office, and the
purpose of the visit was to furnish the
colonel with copies of proposed
charges against him growing out of
his San Antonio statements, which
precipitated the present aviation in
quiry.
Before any charges are made Col
Mitchell will be given an opportunity
to make any reply he desires in ad-
vance. Col. Nugent'g recomme ndation
as to further proceedings will be made
after he has considered what Col.
Mitchell has to say.
Hall May Sit in Court.
Any court-martial would sit in
Washington and indications are that
Maj. Gen. Summerall. comma nding
the Second Corps Area, New York,
would be senior officer and president
of the court. At least one air service
officer senior to Col. Mitchell Is ex-
pected to be a member of the court,
and Col. c. G. Hall, Army observer
on the Navy airship Shenandoah at
the time of the disaster to that craft.
appears to be likely selection, as the
only other two officers of the air serv-
ice senior to Col. Mitchell are Maj.
Gen. Mason NJ. Patrick, chief of the
air service, and Brig. Gen. James E..
Eechet Col MitchelIS successor as
assistant chief.
Col. Mitchell spent about 20 minutes
in Col. Nugent's Office and waved
aside questioners when he came out.
Il haven't a thing to say" he said.
ASK Them
He went to the Office Of the Judge
Advocate General before he left the
building.
Formal Action Delayed.
Formal action to convene court
martial probably will not be taken be-
fore next week as Secretary Davis
will be away this week on an Ohio
River inspection trip.
Col. Mitchell has retained the serv
ices of Representative Frank r. Reid
of Illinois to head civilian counsel
to defend him before any disciplinary
proceedings the War Department
may institute against him. Col.
Mitchell, in announcing this today
Reid, also said Col. H. A. White of
the Judge Advocate Generals De-
partment and on duty at San An
tonic, would be his military counsel
"All we are doing is for the coun-
try" said Col. Mitchell. Il am ready
for any eventuality that may come
up. Everything we do is in a broad
way for the betterment of the ma
tional defense"
Promises Further Moves.
The present agitation by Col. Mitch
ell and his followers for a reorgani-
zation of the Nations defense system
is only curtain raiser" the fiery
airman told newspaper men at a con-
ference last night in his suite at the
Willard Hotel.
Ignoring references to the impend-
ing disciplinary proceedings Of the
War Department, the colonel declared
the question of defense plans is vital"
and holds the interest of every Amer
lean. I'VE have just begun to fight -
he declared, adding that the word
we" did not imply the existence of
any organization. because that is
what we want to keep away from. If
there is an organization for this pur-
pose ii will get into the political
category" he said.
The purpose of the conference, Col.
Mitchell said. was to stress" the
value of the plan he has advocated for
the creation of secretary of national
defense with subsecretaries for air,
land and water. Such an organization,
he said. would prevent a deadlock
on aviation matters, where as now
there is an 'interlocking directorate"
on matters pertaining to hte air.
Quotes Rodgers Proposal.
Aeronautics, under the proposed
plan, he said, would have an equal
voice with the land" and water
branches, and would eliminate any
"tie votes" Comdr. John Rodgers of
the Hawaiian flight advocated such a
department, Col. Mitchell said, al.
though he admitted in detail the naval
officers plan differed. President Hard.
ing's reorganization plan, while calling
for an amalgamation of the Army and
Navy, did not make provisions for the
air, but eventually would have in
cluded that branch. the colonel said.
Declaring he had not been invited
to attend the American Legion con.
vention at Omaha as the guest of the
Legion. Col Mitchell said he had
planned to go with one of the local
posts. He will communicate with
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