Evening star., 1925-02-07
MITCHELL UNJUST,
SUPERC|L|0US, SAYS
WEEKS, IN ANSWER
War Secretary Says Great
est Military Figures Criti-
cized Unfairly by General.
REAPPOINTMENT TO AWAIT
AIRCRAFT PROBES END
Capt. A. w. Johnson Says Army
Mans Testimony at vari-
ance With Facts.

Making his first public statement
regarding the row that has centered
about Brig. Gen. Mitchell, assistant
chief of the Army Air Service, Secre-
tary Weeks today declared that those
who disagree with Gen. Mitchell had
been the targets for unjust and
''supercilious' criticism.
Before passing judgment, the Sec
retary said, it would be we'll for the
country to remember that the oppo-
nents of the Mitchell air policies in
cluded Cen Pershing and many of the
other great figures of the American
war Army.
1T is Incredible" continued Mr..
Weeks, that these officers should
wish to take any course relating 10
the development of the Air Service
which would not he for the best inter
est of the future defense Of the United
States"
Capt. johnson ON stand.
The War Secretary's statement was
issued while the House aircraft COM
mittee was being told by Capt. A. W.
Johnson, assistant chief of Naval Air
Service. that some of Gen. Mitchells
most sweeping statements to the COM
mittee about the results of joint
ArmyNavy maneuvers could not be
substantiated by the facts.
In an indirect reference to the gem
erals charge that officers are afraid
to tell the truth" for fear of disct-
pline, Capt. Johnson said he had asked
Secretary Wilbur whether there would
be objection to giving the committee
certain official correspondence, and
the Secretary had replied:
Tell everything you know"
Reappointment Not Touched.
Secretary Weeks did not touch di-
rectly in his statement on the ques-
tion of Gen. Mitchelrs reappointment
s assistant chief of the Air Service,
which is being held in abeyance while
the War Department head examines
the generals explanation of his con-
duct. The generals assignment to
his present post expires next month.
and unless he is reappointed he will
return to the rank of colonel
1t was with reluctance, Mr.. Weeks
said, that he had decided TO make
any statement pending a final de-
cision on the case of Gen. Mitchell,
but felt he could no longer remain
silent in justice TO other officers of
the Army.
d
ency on the part of some newspapers
and men in public life to be critical
OF the officers actively connected with
the management of the Army and to
refer to them in rather opprobrious
terms" the Secretary said
1t is well for the country to keen
IN mind who these officers are Very
largely they are the men who com
manded the American Armies in
70 r1ro lt,r r;rr },
manner as to bring everlasting
glory to the American Army and the
American people.
Pershng Heads List.
First and foremost is Gen. Perish
ing, the distinguished commander of
the American expeditionary force.
who has just recently been relieved
as chief of staff; Gen. Harbord, the
distinguished chief of staff of the
American expeditionary force: Gen.
Hines, the present chief OF staff, who
is one of the finest commanders of
combat troops ever developed in the
history of our country, and his sub
ordtnates, every one of whom had an
active and important part in the
fighting on the other side, and who
made good in every position in which
they were placed.
service and its future as men can be.
II submit that it is unwise and un-
just to subject such men to super
cillious criticism. Naturally and
nece ssarily they know about the ac-
tivities of the air service on the other
side. 1t is simply incredible that these
officers based on their long expert
ence, should wish to take any course
relating to the development of the
air service, which would not be for
the best interests OF the future de-
fense OF the United States"
Appointment to Go Over.
Secretary Weeks has indicated that
he planned to make no decision re-
garding Gen. Mitchelrs reappointment
until the House inquiry was COM
pleted. but Representative Perkins,
Republican, New Jersey, the aircraft
committee examiner, said today he
expected the hearings to be prolonged
considerably, in view of recent de-
velopments. Gen. Mitchells appoint
ment expires March 26.
With his authority from Secretary
Wilbur to tell the committee all that
YOU know" Capt. Johnson today, be-
fore the committee, pronounced az
absolutely incorrect" statements by
Gen. Mitchell relating to the 1871
bombing experiments. Capt. johnson,
who was in charge of all aircraft
activities in the target practice on
the German ships at that time, also
declared that Gen. Mitchell violated
printed instructions to which the
Army had agreed.
Pointing to an article in the Satur-
da.y Evening Post by Gen. Mitchell
that one of the small bombs dropped
bv the Army on the target had e1-
pIoded and wrecked the condensers
on another ship a mile and halt
away. so that 1t had to limp into
port at three knots, Capt. Johnson
read a letter he sent to Secretary.
Wilbur. who, after reading Gen.
Mftchelrs account, asked for an ex-
PLANTATION. The facts in the case were:
Can't. Johnson said that when the
bomb was dropped the Shawmut, ths
flagship, was 1900 yards away. Fiji
teen minutes after the bomb exploded
the submarine, which had been at
tackled, sank and an Army plane fell
into the sea.
The Shawmut rushed TO the rescue
at full speed, Capt. Johnson said, and,
after bringing the pilot aboard, the
engineer officer requested permission
to stop the ship and examine the con-
densers, thinking that some damage
had been done by the bombs explo-
sion. Upon examination by Capt.
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