Imperial Valley press., 1925-03-06
MITCHELL DENOTED BY WEEKS
Penalty Melted
Out as Result
AircrUftROlU
ny United Press Leased Wire

WASlll NtfTON, Mar. G.--Brlg;t.
1 ,ier General William Mitchell, as
lstant chief of the mir service, to-
/ day reverted to the rank of colonel,
|kwhen Secretary of War Weeks
failed TO rcappoint him to his post
FOR a new term beginning March
kS7.
Mitchell will lose his rank on
Ia pril - when Fschct assumes the
3bOst of assistant chief with rank of
general. Though Nit
4 hell was appointed on March 26,
q 92l, tho adjutant general OF the
|slrmy has ruled that since he did
.5lot accept his commission and as
Esume his post until April u, the
YChange does not become effective
Rlntil that date.
Weeks recommended to the Pres.
|ident the appointment Of Lieuten-
sint Colonel James +. fechct TO
Succeed Mitchell.
n The President has already indi-
kated he would appoint wIlocver
&ccretary Weeks recommended for
fhe post.
u Fechet is commandani of the air
advanced flying. field at
Dkelly Field, Texas.
n Mitchell today was at Fortress
Va. aiding in the tests of
guns against airplanes.
IA Colonel Mitchell waa appointed
10 tho chief of the air
kerviee on July l, 1920, with tom
Eporary rank Of brigadier general
hrgelv on the basis on his sFecta-
Nfular record asa flying commander
Ndurihg the war in France.
During the lasa month Of the
Mar he was chief of the air service
94roup of the armios, having risen
,Hlpidly from a military observer
Nand aviation officer in 1917 to
chicf of air service. first OF the
zone of advance. lator of the first
torps, then of tho first army and
dinalv Of the entire group OF
.armies.
There was some alleged jealousy
In Mitchell, it is said. because he
kus not q West Point man. lie
entered the service as private
N ith the Wisconsin volunteers IN
b. Spanish American war. ln 1901
L. was appointed first lieutenant
b. the signal corps.
lie served ON the general stan
rom 1913 to 1916.
Thu distinguished service cross
Nos awarded 30 him ''fOr repeat
81 acts Of extraordinary hefoism
b. action in France, and also the
distinguished service medal.
Flying Field Assignment
Mitchell is expected TO be as
kigned 10 the command of Il fly
klg field away from Washington.
I Few believe that his punishment
sill deter him from carrying on
lis fight for a unified air service.
If il is made impossible for him
o do 50, however, the flying gdn
ral will resign from the army and
mn for congress from Wisconsin,
lc has announced.
Mitchell has three years more
servico before him before he is
Eligible for retirement after ~
,ears service. He has told friends
hat if it is ut all possible. it 10
lis desire TO stick il out these thrT
Fears.
Dcmotion of Mitchell follows
wo months of stormy controversy
kver the air power policy of the
government, which took place prln-
ipally before thu aircraft investl'
Mating committee of the house.
An ardent advocate of unified
ir service with all aircraft forces
" the army, navy and postofficc
department under one head, Nit
hell carried his fight into high
places, attacking not only his sup
riors, but high naval officials, in
uding Secretary Of the Navy
Wilbur.
Mitchell charged that the gem
hal staff of the army ignored the
,yAwn of the aircraft era, that the
a lheral board of the navy blinded
/sdlf to the vulnerabilhy of bat
Ileships and suppressed vital facts
n its presentation of the ease be-
ore the house committee.
His conduct evoked warm critic
km from Secretary of War Weeks
pd each frequently denied the 9th
IS statement of fact.
Some sort of punishment for Nit
hell WA considered inevitable
arly in the controversy when he
ode rough shod over army propric-
rs in taking his ease to congress
1pectly instead of through his sup
Rriors. There even was talk of
is courtmartial for insubordinaI
Bon, though this has died down.
Fechd will get the rank Of bri-
adier general. During the world
Var he was in command of various
yiation fields, Carlstrom Field,
poor Field and Kelly Field.