New Britain herald., 1925-02-06
Goes Over Sec. Weeks Head And Asks Cool ! idge's Sanction To
 Publish Series of Magazine Articles.
Also Reads Testimony to Congress Reaecting Up- on Ability of War Dept. to Handle Aviation Prob lens.

Washington, Feb. G. Apparently undisturbed by indications that he will lose his rank and position as as- sistant chief of the army air serv- ice, Brigadier General William Mitchell today reaffirmed those declarations about the governments air policy which have brought down upon him the displeasure of his su- periors in the war department.
 Making public his reply to secre- tary Weeks demand for an explana- tion, General Mitchell told the house aircraft committee that if he had given offense by his advocacy of a reorganization of the air forces, it as a matter which I cannot change; they are my firm and unalterable convictions"
 Charges Repeated
 The letter itself repeated some of the statements which Secretary Weeks had declared served to dis credit the war department; accused the navy department of giving incor- rect testimony about the relative value of aircraft and battleships; and declared no adequate develop ment of national air policy is pos- slble under the present system.
 Directly opposite views had just been given the committee by Briga- dier General Drum of the general staff. who said he was authorized to speak formally for the war depart ,ment.
 General Mitchell adopted the Cn- usual course of reading copy of h's reply to the war secretary at pub lie session of the house committee before the original had reached MT. Weeks.
 Goes Over His Head
 At the same time it was learned that because of his utterances on aviation, the general had been or dered verbally to submit future statements of that nature for Mir Weeks perusal in advance, but that he recently had gone over the sec retary's head by seeking direct sane tion from President Coolidge for a series of magazine articles. So far as the war department is informed, the presidential approval sought was not given.
 MT. Week. maintained silence to- day, but indicated that he would not be long in making a decision on General Mitcheil's future status, once all the papers are before him.
 The Generals Letter.
 General Mitchell informed Secre- tary Weeks that he believed the present war department organiza- tion and it's administration quite in- capable of creating, handling or ad- ministering air power in an efficient manner" In the letter, replying to a request from the war secretary for all facts upon which the assistant army air chief based recent state 1nents seriously refec;ing" on the armys air arm, General Mitchell said he was convinced the system of air craft management in operation in the United States lis detrimental 10 the country's good, and will serious ly compromise our national defense should an emergency arise
 The generals letter was placed be- fore the house aircraft committee, which had met to hear both General Mitchell and Brigadicr General Drum of the army general staff.
 Policy of Limitation.
 "The general view of the war de- partment," General Mitchell wrote, lis to limit the ability of aviation in 2 military way and in spite of the findings of the point army and navy board, in spite of the most conclu- siye evidence of every country in the world, the navy department still ap- rears before congress and still teeti- fles incorrectly aud gives the inn precision that aircraft are of limited power against battleship5.
 "The resistance of the war de- partment to the creation of an in dependent aeronautical personnel is tnenstent and constant.
 q have fully criticized the sys- tenn now in operation, which l am convinced is detrimental to the county S SOouI anu "-'Si '''' s iously compromise our national de- iense should an emergency arise"
 General Mitchell said since the war s4s3,00O,0oO has been put into aviation" but that he did not be- lieve 'thc appropriations are eco- ironically administered on account of the duplication of land bases be- tween the army and navy" He de- clared that Major General Patrick, chief of the army air service, had like himself, endorsed ''a united air force" although such a move is op- posed by Secretary Weeks as well as Secretary Wilbur.
 Quotes Report.
 The report of the joint army and navy department board in 1921, of which General Pershing was oenior member, and which bore the appro- val of Secretary Weeks and Acting Secretary of the Navy Roosevelt, General Mitchell quoted as follows;
 (conunued on Psee 2sl