Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1925-12-18


country far and wide.with- propaganda
10 prevent legislation"
Sees Trial Aim Withheld.
THE general staff grabbed at the
long sought opportunity of prosecute
ing Mitchell in terror of the new step
which the advancing truth, was about
TO take. This everybody now knows.
III he was tried it was because they
wished it, not because he did anything
to the prejudice of good order and
military discipline. 1t is they alone
who made the President and the Sec
rotary Of War their tools"
THE general staff had Col. Mitchell
brought to Washington so they could
set in motion their machinery for his
court-martial here, far from the scenes
of the alleged defense Ordi-
nary military procedure was not fol
lowed and the court was convened in
order to get Mitchell and get him
quick. During the entire trial it was
apparent the prosecution was being
conducted by the general staff Of the
Army and Navy.
Their own members appeared at the
trial judge advocates table in viola
ton of every precedent and the whole
was thrown against US.
AssaiIs General Staff.
I'VE have had to fight step by
step against the powerful influences
arrayed against us. 1t is the general
staff and the general staff alone that
has instigated and conducted this
prosecution, and the general staff
only that will benefit from the verdict
of guilty.
1.-The people have learned from this
trial that America has no adequate
air force and no prospect of getting
one. although it is eight years since
the war. No step taken by the War
Department to remedy the conditions
called deplorable by the Lassiter
Board, although that boards report
was approved moro than two years
ago.
col. Mitchell was denoted" Mr.
Reid continued. because he gave
truthful testimony before the Lam
pert and other committees of Con
gress, given under oath ard sought
by those committees. He was re
quired, after he had testified, to sub
stantiate his statements to the Sec
rotary Of War, which he did in writ
ing, although it was "A proceeding
which, under the opinion Of the great
est parliamentarians, is an affront OF
no small proportions to the House OF
Representatives of the Congress OF
the United States. This was the fore.
runner to his court-martial.
Says Proof Given.
In substantiatton to the Secretary
of War, he gave him truth in abun
dance, which evidently was not con
sidered by the Secretary, or he would
never have signed the letter to the
President.
"Col. Mitchell has fought side by
side with the members of the court
in defense of our country. He is still
fighting for the defense OF its great
future. He will continue to fight for
it.
rs it not the act of a good soldier
and citizen to give alarm SO that the
blunders which have been the cause Of
the deplorable conditions in our Ali
Services shall not continue and leaG
us to disaster and imperil the honor o,
our NationP
The general staff sought by punish
ing him to stop the campaign for ar
adequate national defense for Arneri
ca. In this they were mistaken. The
fight has only begun
Coolidge Must Act.
Meanwhile. 1t was generally agreed
today that the case is by no means
settled. as far as the Government Is
concerned, and will not be until dis
posed of by President Coolidge. The
findings of the court now are before
the War Department and will be
studied by the board of review. The
t.,
of Coils. William Taylor. f. G. Abbott
and l.. L. Korn. This organiza
ton is concerned only with the
legal end Of the trial and in the
past if it were clearly established
that the accused did not have a fair
trial. 1t could recommend a new trial
or throw out the findings. However
under the Thirty seventh Article OF
War, the board is given much latitude
and any action other than approval
of the courts decision is forecast as
unlikely. From the reviewing board
the findings Will go to the judge advo
cate general, thence to the Secretary
of War, who will transmit it to the
President. The sentence, II approved
will not become effective until the
Executive has finally passed upon 1t
In the meantime Col. Mitchell Will
his estate near Middleburg, Va.
The trial was brought to a sudden
close yesterday by the refusal Of Col
Mitchell to proceed in the case any
longer. Had the defense presented Its
ability the hour for the court to de-
eide the matter would have arrived
some time today. Col. Sherman More
land, the trial judge advocate, de
livered the reply" yesterday after
noon and it was only after the de
mand from Maj. Gen. Robert l.
Howe, president Of the court, to
learn from Col. H. A. White, military
counsel, what the defense purposet
in the matter, that the court took ur
elaboration for decision. This was
done at $40 o'clock and at 4:10 the
jury returned to the room and in
quired of the trial Judge advocate II
there were any previous convictions
on the record Of the accused. On be
ing informed there were none, the
court again retired.
Decision Forecast.
This maneuver forecast the decision
Of guilty in general terms. Under the
procedure, If the court had found 6
verdict of acquittal it would have sc
announced on its return. But the
Manual for Military Courts Martha
provides If the accused is found gull
ty, the trial judge advocate submit.
previous convictions. IL any.
With this knowledge a practica
certainty, the crowded courtroom set
tied down for long wait. For two
hours the crowd milled about the
room and in the corridors. Col. Mitch
ell chatted with Mrs. Mitchell ant
the latter's mother and father ant
finally suggested they return to theil
hotel. Mrs. Mitchell did not 60. bu
her parents did. Representative Franz
r. Reid, chief civilian counsel, re
manned seated with the other mem
bers of the defense counsel for Ions
period and then mingled with tn,
prosecution and various Air Service of