Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-10-06
Legion Men Uncertain ;.
OF Convention's Stand
In Case of Col. Mitchell
SIX MORE NAVAL
men OPPOSE AIR
PLAN COL, MITCHELL

Washington, Oct 5-(AP)-Six
naval air officers today opposed be-
fore the presidents air board Colonel
William Mitchell's plan for reorgan-
iZation of the national defense, while
the Colonel himself was called to the
war department where disciplinary
proceedings against him are under
consideration as a result of his criti-
cisms of existing policies.
The naval pilots solidly lined up
against the coloners proposed de-
partment of national defense, but
differed among themselves as to a
remedy for dissatisfaction, which
they freely admitted was prevalent
among the nations air personnel be-
cause Of the present organization.
One of the naval officer, Lieuten-
ant Byron j. Council, pilot of the
Hawaiian flight plane PN-9 Number
One, also took exception to Colonel
Mitchell's charge that Amateur
bungling" by Notifying naval Off
GERS was responsible for failure of
the flight. He asserted all arrange
ments were entrusted to Commander
John Rodgers, flight leader, whom he
described as very, very good flier."
Two of the other naval pilots also
opposed a suggestion made to the
board by Major General John l..
Hines, army chief of staff, that the
coastal defense be turned over en-
tirely to the army. declaring such an
arrangement would violate good
judgment. They were commanders
Kenneth Whiting and Patrick Bel
linger.
Colonel Mitchell after appearing at
the army inspector generals office at
the war department, went to the Cap
itol where he called a conference or
press representatives and announced
that II disciplinary proceedings were
initiated Representative Frank Reid
of Illinois, a member of the house
aircraft committee of the last con-
gress, would represent him as civilian
counsel. The colonel also reiterated
that the fight for a national defense
department has just begun"
Among other naval officers appear
ing before the board today were Cap
tain E. S. Land, head of the materials
division of the bureau Of aeronautics;
Lieutenant c. c. Champion, of the
bureau of Aeronautics and Lieutenant
F. p. Sherman, of the naval air sta
ton at Pensacola, Fla.
Captain Land urged that naval air
officers are selected for ability and
not availability" and declared that
the stunt of today is the practice of
tomorrow in aviation. He urged
greater attention to aviation needs.
and favored a reorganization Of the
air service to give its personnel great
er assurance of future advancement.
1. Lieutenant Champion opposed a
separate air corps in the navy, hold
ing that to remove the air service
from the bureau of navigation
would destroy Unity of control"
Establishment of a definite avia-
ton program was advocated by
Commander Bellinger who urged
that the air service be recognized
as "combatant arm" of the navy.
He also proposed a plan to give air
officers system of promotion COM
mensurate with their work, which
also would qualify them to command
navy vessels.
Lieut.. Sherman opposed a separ-
ate air corps declaring it was urged
by flight officers who were trying
to find way to beat the game" SO
far as obtaining promotion was con-
cerned