Evening star., 1925-12-05
Had Full Discretion on Flight,
Chief of Naval Opera
tiOnS Declares.
SHARP CROSS-GRILLING
FAILS TO SHAKE STORY
Prosecution Brings Ranking Officer
to Trial to Refute Mitchell
Charge.


prosecution in the court martial pro
ceedings today brought the Navy's
highest ranking officer 10 the stand.
who vigorously denied that the flight
of the diricible was a publicity
stunt" and that it was ordered on its
final trip by persons wholly unac-
quainted" with aviation and incom-
petent for their duties.
The witness was Admiral Edward
w. Eherle. chief of naval operations,
and he stoutly maintained under
direct and cross examination that
Lieut.. Comdr. Zachary Lansdowne
had fun discretion TO deviate from
orders given him to make the flight
He pointed to a new policy govern
ing aircraft operations. which he had
promulgated. and declared Comdr
Lansdowne when informed of this had
expressed complete satisfaction with
liberty of action
Says Fairs Changed Time.
Subjected to an unusually stiff cross
examination by Representative Frank
r. Reid. chief defense counsel. on the
part State fairs played in the route
of the last flight. the admiral declared
was found the shenandoah would pass
over cities where STATE fairs would be
held in A few days. 50 the time was
altered TO conform with these events.
The object of flying over cities and
towns was in response to requests
from millions of people who had
asked To see the airship," he explained
Repeated questioning by Mr.. Reid
on whether the mission was a naval
one brought the same reply from the
witness that it was for training in
observation and navigation" The ad
miral explained that the airship had
been in the hangar for four months
and the crew was sorely in need Of
training.
Consulted Lansdowne
Under direct examination by Mai
Allen w. Gullion. assistant trial judge
advocate. Admiral Eberle explained
that the orders for the flight were
issued after conversation and con-
sultation with the chief Of the Bureau
of Aeronautics and the comma nding
officer of the Shenandoah" Would
you order the same kind of a diriSible
to make this trip TO the West next
year," asked Mr.. Reid.
Il cant answer that question" re
piled the admiral
Would capt. Lansdowne he alive
today if he had not made a trip under
your direction"
II don't care to answer that ques-
ton
Inquiry by the court on the number
of State fairs in operation when JhH
flight in June was proposed developed
from Admiral Eberle that there were
some being held. but they were not
the ones II had been intended TO visit
in September"
Air Officer Called.
The examination of Admiral Eberl%.
on the Shenandoah question concluded
the prosecution rebuttal on this
phase of the Mitchell charges, and
Lieut.. Comdr. Bruce G.. Leighton, avi-
alton staff officer of the scouting fleet
was brought to the stand to give his
version OF the rescue of Lieu. L|r-u
Wade. one of the world flyers. Col.
Mitchell has charged the Navy de
stroyed" the world cruiser Boston.
Declaring he personally ordered the
Shenandoah h on the last fight after
converSati tions and consultions with
the chief of the Bureau of Aeronautics
and the comma ndinG officer of the
Shenandoah" Admiral Eberle said the
reason for the fight was:
ITO carry out the cruise of the Los
Angeles which had been interrupted
by engine trouble over Clevela nd
handling and training of officers and
men: handling of the ship: determin-
ing her qualities of withStanding
various weat ther conditions: ascertain
ing her military qualities: familiar
! iZing personnel with flying over land
as well as water SO that in case of
an emergency requiring movement of
he nf
water to another they would have
had valuable experience"
Defense Provoked.
The policy Admiral Eberle referred
to brought from the defense state
ment that it had not been furnished
with it, to which it was entitled. The
prosecution declared, however. that
this written policy had been inserted
in the record by the defense as docu-
mentary evidence.
Admiral Eberle emphasized that the
board in issuing orders to the
Shenandoah. or any aircraft for that
matter, confers with the Bureau
of Aeronautics and describes the task
desired. The commanding officer of
an interested unit is acquainted with
the duty and allowed to make recon-.
mendations. the witness said. In
our policy of command" he explained
we leave it to the commanding of.
ficer of the unit on the spot to exc
cute it. We prescribed that the mis-
sion of the Shenandoah was TO take
up the interrupted flight of the Los
Angeles. The Los Angeles was going
West with the object of getting a line
on commercial air routes, as this di.
rigible under the treaty Is limited to
commercial use"
Reads From Statement.
Admiral Eberle's direct testimony
was taken almost entirely from a
paper which he had previously read
before the Shenandoah court of in
quiry. He was permitted to read this
statement by the defense with the
reservation that other questions might
be asked under cross-eXamination.
The paper outlined in detail the en-.
tire sequence of events leading up to
the last flight of the dirigible, includ
ing all verbal and written exchanges
between officers involved in the prep
aration.
Admiral Eberle told of the flight
planned originally for the Los Angeles
and of that ship being incapa citated
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