The Bismarck tribune., 1925-12-17
MITCHELL'S
DISMISSAL IS
BEING SOUGHT
Prosecution Counsel Scores
Many Witnesses and De-
fense Counsel Reid

missal of Colonel William Mitchell
from the army was asked today by
prosecution counsel in opening ar
guments before the general court
martial trying the air officer under
the 96th article of war.
In asking the iraXimam sentence
prescribed for otfenseS triable under
that article Of war. Ma jor Allen Gul-
lion, assistant trial judge advocate,
declared Colonel Mitchell had been
proven guilty of disorder TO the
prejudice of good order and military
discipline and Of conduct of ma
turc to bring discredi, 10 the mill
tary service"
The prosecution counsel bitterly
arraigned the defendant and severely
condemned many Of the witnesses
who had testified in his behalf. sing
ling out, among others, Rear Admiral
William S. Sims. retired, as a par
ticular target for barbed thrusts.
Representative X. Reid of Illinois.
chief defense counsel. also came in
for repeated mention in this con-
nection.
Reasons For Asking Dismissal
eve ask the dismissal Of the ac.
cused," Major Gullion said. "for the
sake Of the army whose discipline he
has endangered and whose fair name
he has attempted to dscredit. We
ask his dismissal for the sake of
those young officers of the army air
service whose ideals he has shadowed
and whose loyalty he has corrupted.
We ask his dismissal in the name
of truth under whose aegis he has
sought protection, but whose face
he does not know. Finally. we ask
it in the name Of the American peO-
pie, whose fears he has played upon,
whose hysteria he has fomcnted,
whose confidence he has beguiled and
whose faith he has betrayed"
Major GulliOn ana y2ed only the
evidence which pertained to Colonel
Mitchelis charges against the navy
department and which had been of
fered the court by defense witnesses
Some of these were referred to by
names and types. They included:
Admiral Sims, characterized as the
"opiniOnated, narrow minded, hobby
riding, egomaniacal type; Major
William II. Hensley, army air ser
vice, "the shifty type; Lieutenant
ii. w. Sheridan, air service, the "half-
truth type; Lieutenant Orville An
derson. air service, the "pseudo-ex-
pert type; Captain Robert f. Oldys,
air service, "the reviving memory
type; Lieutenant Colonel William
G. Schauffler, air service, "the fiip.
pant type; and Major Gerald Brant,
general staff, "the gay, gallant, low
able type"
Reid Is Scored
The prosecution counsel selected
numerous quotations made during the
trial by Representative Reid in his
role Of defense attorney, attributing
some to Ignorant malice" and term
ing others "stunts" and "slurs" He
asserted Mr.. Reid had made found
ed claims as to the illegality and ir-
regularity of the investigation, in
SO extravagant way that it seemed
as though counsel thought that the
preliminaries (of the triaD were an
unholy thing"
Referring again to Colonel Nit
chell, Major Gullion summed up what
he called "the Mitchell formula" in
this way:
First: Exaggeration on national
defense matter closely approaching
falsehood.
Second: Untrue and misleading
statements for the deliberate purpose
of discrediting army and navy offic-
ers--thus.
Third: Creating distrust in minds
of people as to war and navy depart
ments.
Fourth: Egotistic self descrip-
ton as to experience and qualifica-
tions, coupled with,
Fifth: ProtestatiOns Of absence of
self-interest and expressions of will
lingness to be, and expectation Of be-
| ing martyr, all leading to,
Sixth: A united air service, with,
Seventh: William Mitchell as the
only logical head Of it,"
Mitchell's Formula
That the major said, "is the
formula he has followed. Every
demagogue has followed similar
one, protesting unselfshness and Sc
cretly seeking f-aggrandizement
AS he appealed directly to the people
over the heads of constituted autnor-
ity."
Major Gull:on admitted that it was
not known lust how seriously the
accused's conduct has actually preju-
diced discipline" and told the court
lit need not be known" to enable it
to reach a finding.
Our soldiers are watching this
case" he said.
Fail to dismiss him and you weak.
en- the authority Of every non-com.
missioned officer in the service. Dis.
miss him as he deserves, and you
strengthen the arm of every single
officer commanding a one-company
post from Maria to Nogales.'