Evening star., 1925-12-16

Service as provided in War Depart
ment plans and policies. drawn i'm ac-
corda nee with the provisions Of the
national defense act. is sound. The
fact that our Ayers held all the rec
ords Of every kind Of service except
that for speed. which only within
three months ha been taken from us.
confirms me in my Judgment that our
personnel Is excellent. | should like
10 call attention to the fact that these
records have been made in machines
W hich are now in commission.
Officers Not Muz,Ied.
"F'urt rthermore Gen. Mitchell has
given the country the impression that
officers Of the Army are mnzZled and
do not dare to express their views. n
any officer feels that way II is heCa use
he has not been informed of the policy
, Of the department. and he could have
obtained the information by making
1 the slightest inquiry. | quote for YOUR
information an order issued by my
predecessor in 1920 on that subject
and my own instructions to Gen. Pat.
rick when he became the chief Of the
Air Service.
The rule Of the depa rtment will
therefore. he that with regard To
policies and facts which the public
. interest does not require 10 he kept
. confidential. officers are entirely free
! 10 testify as 10 their opinions and
: beliefs when summoned before ap-
/ propriate committees OF the Sena e
and House of Representatives; on all
I confdr nj ial matters. the Secretary OF
/ War. or those specially designated bv
! him for the purpose will speak under
such So afeguards as the Secretary Of
/ War sees Al 10 impose. All other
! effort direct or indirect. on the pa TT
/ OF officers to influence legislat ton af-
| fecting military policy will Al once be
| discontinued and not resumed
My instructions We're as follows:
Recognizing the undetermined
value Of aviation in warfare and
wishing TO obtain the Judgment of
| anybody and everybody whose iudg
ment is entitled 10 consideration the
| hest interest of the Nation will be
! served by encoura ging officers in a n
unrestricted and sull discussion Of
| all points relating to avia ton. In
! testifying before Congressional com.
| mittees, IL their views are contrary
to the views Of the War Depa rtment
| they will state to rhe committee that
they are not speaking for the depart
ment policy. hut are expressing their
, own personal views. and should dc
! so without reservation.
! TN spite of and in the face OF
these instructions, which We're well
! known to Gen. Mitchell. as Gen.
| Patrick had discussed these instruc-
! tions with him before Gen. Mitchel
| testified these matters, Gen
! Mitchell. in testifying, Is reported To
have told the committee that it was
almost Impossible for it to. obtain
! correct informa ton from the services
on a.via tion because of fear of officers
/ that II they testified they would be
subject to indirect disciplinary action
| by their depa rtments. He further
! testified as follows:
Knowing full well the possible
/ consequences of any disa greement
with the views of the existing asen-
cies of the Government on this sub
1ect, ] have advised these officers in
the services to keep out Of the dis
cussions and let me assume all re-
| sponsibility.'
Went Counter to Policy.
obviously intending to give the
committee Of Congress and the coun
try the impression that in spite OF
the explicit Instructions of my prede-
cessor. published in the general or.
der quoted above, and OF my persona
and direct instructions to Gen
Patrick when he became chief of the
Air Service. also quoted above, these
officers We're placing themselves ir
ieopar rdy by expressing freely ant
fully their personal opinions regar rd
ing necessary development of tn.
Air Service. If Gen. Mitchell coun
seled officers not to give testimony
as he has stated under oath he did
he not only went counter to the
policy of the department. but he con.
fro I'D INV Ifnif Inc -
Gen. Patrick, which Gen. Patrick as
sures me he transmitted to Gen
Mitchell
''In his testimony. Gen. Mitchell hal
not only attacked the Navy Depart
ment and the active officers in tha
department. but his own department
and the officers who are now largely