New Britain herald., 1925-11-23
Reiterates Belief That
New York Would Be
Helpless Against An
Attack By An Enemy
From The Air.
Shenandoah Inquiry Also
Develops New Angle as
Survivor Says He With
held Important Testi-
mony Previously.

Washington, Nov. 23 R}--Colonel
William Mitchell took the witness
stand today before the court martial
trying him for breach OF discipline
as a result of his public criticism Of
the administration of the army and
navy air services.
For the third time within a few
months, Mitchell repeated under
oath his reasons for assailing those
IN charge Of governmental aviation,
and for his advocacy of a larger and
better trained and equipped air
force.
Much of his testimony hinged
upon the same points he had stress
Ell last spring before the house air
graft committee, and later before
! the presidents special air board.
Asks No Fayors
When he took the stand in his
own behalf he was informed of his
rights by the law member of the
court, Colonel Blanton Winship, and
,, replied that he would subject him.
Nself to full direct and CROSSE exam
ination by the defense and prosecu-
ton counsel. "the same way as any
other witness"
Colonel Mitchell began his testi-
mOny with detailed account of his
army career. including the service in
the air in France, for which he was
awarded many decorations.
From that point the witness was
: led under questioning by his coun-
sci, Representative Frank Reid Of
Illinois, to an expression of his
opinion on various phases of air.
craft development. The colonel tes-
titled that at the end of the great
war aviation was just beginning to
come into its own and had the con-
tlict gone on. a destructive air war
fare would have been directed
against Germany's nerve centers."
All Were Rejected
He then recited long succession
Of recommendation regarding avia-
ton made by him and rejected by
the war department. He said he
lever had been able to have study
made of the precautions a city like
T New York should take to defend it.
self from an air attack.
IF an enemy came within 100
miles of New York" he said, ''he
could stand off in an airship, after
picking up an Identifying point, and
/ belle. every aerial torpedo he
fired would fall within an area of
the size of New York city,
Other things he had asked for un-
successfully, the witness said, in
cluded q better meteorological serv-
ice for aVjators; maintenance of air
units at such institutions as Culver
Military Academy in Indiana; an air
unit in Alaska; and an arrangement
with Canada for airways through
Canada TO Alaska, Asia and Europe
IN 1924" he said, "I recommend
I'd that a complete change be made
tine Pacific so as to utilize Alaska as
an offensive and defensive point"
Advised New Plane
Another request on which no ac-
tion was taken, he said, was for the
building OF Il plane with q speed of
200 miles per hour, at an altitude
of 10000 feet, and a cruising radius
OF l.500 miles.
Asked If he was in command at
Langley field, Va, in 1921, when
the Eagle airship left for Wash
inGton and crashed in storm
killing six persons Colonel Mitchell
said he was not.
The pr. Secution recently charged
that Colonel Mitchell was In COM
mand at Langley field at that time,
gOd asked one OF the witnesses if
the defendant was not responsible
for the disaster.
Colonel Mitchell read findings of
the board of officers that investi-
gated the accident, which said no
blame or censure could be attached
to any individual.
Tho defense turned Colonel
Mitchell over to Major Allen Gull
lion, assistant trial judge advocate,
after less than two hours Of ques-
tioning. No mention was made of
the San Antonio statements on
which charges against him we're
based.
Japan Was Enemy"
Major Guillion took the witness
over subjects dealing with the
Hawaiian mancuvcrs and during
this phase of the examination
, Colonel Mitchell said Japan was
the Theoretical enemy" in these
war games.
The trial judge advocate also re-
marked that plan for the defense
Of the Pacific announced by Colonel
Mitchell on September would
cost sG24.7oO.OOO.OOO, or twice the
entire wealth of the United States.
"Your plan" Major Guillion said.
addressing the witness would re-
unire $4,000 submarines to make
the defense of the Pacific effective
against Japan.
1T would require twice the
wealth of the United States and
since the United States is wealthier
than Japan, don't you think Japan
would be embarrassed in effectuat-
Ing such a plan?"
Asked about his statement that