New Britain herald., 1925-02-19
Assist. Chief of Army Air Service Denies Knowledge of Report That He Was to be Reprimanded by Pres ident.
Assails Nations Aerial Weakness, Saying Japan Could Easily Capture Both Philippine and Hawaiian Islands.

Washington, Feb. 19.--Instead of going to the White House today for his much advertised "reprimandp from President Coolidge, Brigadier General Mitchell appeared once more before the house aircraft com- mlttee and reaffirmed his opposi- ton to the administrators air. craft policies.
 Denies Knowledge of Call
 Before he took the stand the general disclaimed all connection with the report of White House summons which broke up yester- days committee meeting. Commit tee members who received that re- port by telephone yesterday refused to say who had been their inform ant, but indicated that their source of information was some interested person at the executive end of Penn sylvania avenue.
 White House Denies Too
 Both the White House and the of- fee of the secretary of war have denied fatly that they passed any such information along to the com mittee. White House officials would go no further today in their discus sion of the incident, but said the generals name was not on MT. Cool idge's appointment list.
 For this part, the general insisted today that he not only had not spread the report that he was to be called on the green carpet by the president today and informed a re- appointment had bsan denied him as assistant chief of the air service. but added that he had not received such a summons, and had no idea where the story originated.
 Has His Little Joke
 When lie took the stand before the committee today Representative Reed, republican. Illinois. asked:
 'Is this General Mitchell or ex- general?"
 The assistant army air chief smiled but did not reply.
 Senator Bingham suggested that If officers of the general staff were permitted to wear wings as well as spurs" it might give them a sym pathetic attitude toward the air service. He said the air service had not had a fair chance, and when he was asked if he had ever heard of a single thing the general staff had done to aid aviation, replied he had not. He declared that during the war there was much jealousy of aviators on the part of the general staff.
 Gives Testimony
 General Mitchell in his testimony again assailed the inadequacy of nations air power, and asserted the defenses of the Hawaiian Islands were as obsolete as bows and ar rows" Japan could capture both the Philippines and Hawaii, he said, adding that the latter could not hold out against Japan for two weeks.
 During discussion of the proposal to recall Secretary Weeks, Repre- sentative Reid. republican, Illinois, said he thought the war secretary should be recalled as "he doesn't seem to know anything about his department"
 The resolution was offered by Representative OSullivan, democrat, Connecticut, after Representative Perkins, republican. New Jersey, the committee examiner had pre- sented a report which he said he understood was an authentic war department release" This report quoted Mr. Weeks as taking excep- tion to recent statements by General Mitchell, and saylng the armS had about 1900 planes ready for flight service. This Mr. Perkins said was in direct Connict with testimony the committee had received from several sources.
 After action on the weeks resolu- ton Mir. Reid offered a resolution Of protest against a possible reprimand Of General Mitchell hy President Colidge. Mir. Reid declared that if White House action were contem- plated if was because inc president had been misinformed. Tho commit tee. however. tabled this proposal.
 tavorcI By Gen. Patrick
 Asked by committee members what action had been taken on the question of reappointng him when his assignment as assistant air ser vice chief expired next month, Gem erll Mitchell replied that he under stood Major General Patrick. the air chief, had recommended 10 Mir. Weeks that he be retained. He said he knew nothing further. The Ecncrad said he had received two additional letters from Mir. Weeks since the war secretary ad- dressed to him the first 'confiden- tial communication" asking for facts to suhstantiate his statements to the committee. One concerned the method he had chosen in presenting aircraft facts to the committee he