New Britain herald., 1925-02-05
Tells House Aircraft Committee That They Have Not Been Gag ged, As Claims Have Been Made.
Insists However, That Con- fidential Information Be Withheld - Navy Dept. Accused of Deceit.

Washington, Feb. 5.-The house aircraft committee which is consld- ering charges that amry and navy officers are gagged by superiors on questions of military policy. was informed by Secretary Wilbur today that naval officers are free to ex- press their views fully.
 T wish to assure you" the secre- tary said in a letter to Chairman Lampert of the committee, 'that they are perfectly free to state fully and fairly all facts within their knowledge not of a confidential or secret character and fully to express their opinions on any matters into which your committee desires to in- quire.
 Reported As Afraid
 Yesterday the committee was told by Representative Perkins, repub- lican, New Jersey, that three naval officers had asked to be excused from testifying because of a fear of disciplinary measures, and that he had been informed that Rear Ad- Jniral Moffett, the navy's chief of aeronautics, might lose his post be- cause of his persistent efforts for larger air force.
 Mr. Wilburs letter was placed be- fore the committee at a session cail- ed to consider a resolution which would express dissent from any plan to deprive Brigadier General Mitch- ell of reappointhent as assistant chief of the army air service. The reappointment is being held up by Secretary Weeks pending an lexplanation of some of tho gener- al's statements on aviation policies.
 After referring to the three un- named navy officers who were said to have asked that they be not sum moned, Secretary Wilbur's said: T wish to assure you and the members of your committee that the fears of these officers as thus ex- pressed are entirely unfounded. Naval officers are constantly ap- bearing before the committees of congress and are fully advised as to their duty to testify fully and com pletoly to the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth in re- sponse to the questions of congress sional committees or members thereof.
 "Of course, naval officers, like lawyers and doctors. have confided to them certain confidential informa- ton which cannot be released by them without violating fundamen tai duty of their confidential posi- ton; unless such information is given with the consent of the de- partment.
 Personal Views o. K.
 "If officers are asked their own, personal opinions as to matters con nected with the service, they are perfectly at liberty to state those opinions, even if they be at variance with the plans of the department. It is important in such cases, how ever, that it may be made clear by the witness that he is not giving the judgment of the department but his own opinion. and this not because of any obligation on his part to maintain the same opinions as those held by his superior officers, but because he ought not even inferen- tially to deceive the committee by leaving the impression that the veiws he is expressing are the views of the service"
 Misleading, Is Charge
 Discussion of the subject again came up in the house today. Rep rcscntative McCrntic of Oklahoma. democrat, member of the naval com mittec. charging certain high off cials of the navy department had deliberately attempted 10 mislead the American people as 10 the facts concerning the recent bombing of inc battleship Washington"
 McCuntic several days ago charged the navy with using sand loaded bombs in it's aircraft attack on the batleship, He asserted to- day that the last word from the de- partmcnt. he was informed, was that no explosive bombs were used, but that it had permitted an impression to go out "to lead the American people to believe the Washington could not be sunk from the air"