The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1925-09-21
ISSUES STATEMENT

W uSnlngton, sept. 2l.-IAp-l nc
American people were assured toda!
by Acting Secretary Of War Davis tina,
there is mo reason to be panickl
about the condition of the army all
service"
Tcstifying as the first witness be
fore the presidents air board. Mr.
Davis broadly outlined the policy OF
the army air arm and pointed to tn.
successful world fliGnt by arm!
planes as one achievement which has
"provcd' its right to public conf
dence."
"1hc amount Of equipment is in
adequate" he said, "but this is con
trollcd by funds available while its
personnel, although somewhat limit.
ed, is unexcelled by army air ser
vice in the world"
Pledges Cooperation
Mr.. Davis, who first urged ap.
pointment of the board, pledged the
full cooperation of the war depart
ment in the inquiry. and said that
if during the investigation charges
were made against its administra-
ton he would welcome an opportun-
ity to leappear and answer them.
"The war Department. Mr.. Davis
said. ''welcomes this inquiry into
the air defeuses of the country by
this board OF disintereated citizens
National defense is Il sacred trust
of all the people. They have the
right to know whether appropria-
tions are being wisely and cconomi-
cally expended and whether the de
fenses Of the country are planned,
organized and equipped in the most
effective manner.
Wants Probe
"In the consideration of this
vitality important subject honest diff
ferences Of opinion naturally arise.
They exist within the war depart
ment itself as you will undoubtedly
hear today, and the proper express
sion Of honest convictions is to be
encouraged. The war department
impugns the motives of no critics. 1t
has the right to demand the same
fair dealing for itself, it seeks to
keep an open mind on all debatablc
questions, to adopt an constructive
suggestions which it can approve, to
improve the service wherever it's
means will permit.
sponsibility for the national de-
tense, it is morally bound to insist
that mere assertions must be backed
up by hard facts, that due consider
ltion must be given to the costly ex-
perience of the past in weighing
speculations as to the future, that
change for the sake Of change alone
unjustifable.
1--WE here are all actuated by the
same fundamental motive, that pa
triotic desire to safeguard our COM
mon heritage. We may honestly diff
fer as to the ways and means of its
accomplishment. In such discus
sion there is no place for passion,
personalities or prejudices. In that
spirit, we welcome this inquiry.
No Muzzling
"On behalf Of the war department,
am glad to offer the board of avia-
ton inquiry every assistance in our
power. All studies, records, and re-
ports, whether public, confidential, OF
secret, are at your disposable. Off
GERS, enlisted men and employees will
appear before you, if and when de-
sired, and will testify fully, freely
and frankly.
"There has not been, is not now
and will not be any 'muzzling' of
army officers in the expression of
their individual opinions.
'In your constructive program the
war department will cordially co.
operate. | personally have long felt
order that public opinion may rest
Ln& Infn *
being wisely safeguarded and is in
the hands of officers Of ability, 10y
atty and vision, and not of mere
bureaucrats.
"At this hearing I will confine
myself to general statements of pol
icy, leaving the details to the Ella
borated by the military and techni-
cal experts.
Tn general, l believe that our
personnel is at least equal in skill,
hardihood and bravery to that of
any other nation. The equipment is
inadequate in numbers and part of
it, built during the war, unsatisfac-
tory in condition, situation which
is gradually improving.
"This condition is due solely to lack
of money and can be remedied only
by money. That our technical and
research work is satisfactory is evil
denced by the fact that the Army
Air Service holds an extraordinarily
large percentage of world records in
aviation.
tThe efficiency of the whole ser.
vice was strikingly shown by the
success of the round-the-world
flight, triumph of organization as
we'll as of flying skill"
Specific recommendations for bet.
terments and economies in the all
service, Mr.. Davis said, presented "a
broad subject" which he would re.
quest the privilege of discussing
more fully at later time.