Evening star., 1925-09-13
LACK OF CASH, ANSWER
TO MITCHELL CHARGES
War and Navy Departments to Blame
Congress and Budget Bureau for
Aircraft Delinquencies.

business, our aircraft industry is IAN
gushing and may disappear.
The Lassiter board urged that steps
be taken without delay TO remedy this
disastrous situation. 1t warned Con-
gress that "the appropriations now be-
ing made for the Air Service are In
adequate" even for the reduced peace
establishment of the Army. or even
for the necessary annual requirements
therefor. These requirements called for
1855 airplanes, 10 airships and %
balloons.
DemobiliZatiOn of Service.
Even had these been provided for in
1928 the LasSiter committee ex-
pressed the view that mo relief could
be expected before 1926" II they were
not provided for, 1t was the boards
belief that the Air Service will, in
effect, be practically demobilized at an
early date" The minimum peace es-
tablishment in material and person
mel TO meet the War Department
mobilization plan requirements for an
adequate Air Service was $500 air
planes, 20 airships and 3S balloons:
and 200 officers. $500 flying cadets
and &c, 900 enlisted men.
Leading members of the military af-
fairs committees OF the Senate and
House are acquainted WITH the con-
tents of the Lassiter report. 1t re
ceived the approval OF Secretary
Weeks. 1t left no doubt of the Army's
activity and thoroughness with regard
to aviation. But the budget and Con
gresS between them made hash OF all
plans to put military aviation on the
proposed comprehensive scale.
Defense Of the Navy.
The Navy will present the same gen
eral sort of defense against Col. Nit
chell's charges. Exactly a year ago
this month, President Coolidge order
ed Secretary Wilbur to review the en-
tire question of aviation, with regard
to naval development. The President
wanted light on the value of aircraft
as a weapon of adequate defense at
sea in substitution for expensive sur
face craft. The Secretary of the Navy
referred the subject TO special board
consisting of seven admiralS and the
comma ndant of the Marine Corps.
They held daily hearings lasting from
September 80 to December 1. Scores
of witnesses were heard, including
the most distinguished aeronautical
officers of the Army and Navy. and
civilians from the aircraft industry.
Col. William Mitchell, then assistant
chief of the Army Air Service. was
one of the principal witnesses. While
the Navy special board adhered to the
theory that the battleship is still the
backbone of sea power, IL recon-
mended
That a progressive and ade-
quate airplane building program
he authorized to insure to the fleet
a complete outfit of up-to-date
planes, with 80 per cent replace
ments in reserve. as we'll as the /
necessary training planes. at a
total expenditure for the first year
of $40 O00, 900
President Coolidge asked the special
board to reconsider it's various recon-
mendations, on the ground that IAN
expenditure of that magnitude was
not warranted at the present time"
But the board resubmitted, without
change, its recommendation for a
great naval airplane program. After
consideration of both reports, Presi-
dent Coolidge urged Congress to make
appropriations, which left wholly out
of account the plan for a systematic
airplane program.
Charge Deliberate Misleading.
These-the proofs that they have
tried and failed to secure the adop-
ton of genuine Air Service projects
will be among the principal facts the
War and Navy Departments will
bring forth. In addition, they will
show, contrary TO the Mitchell charge,
that as matter of principle. the
recommonda tions of the practical fly
ing men are carried out. In the case
of the Army, the round-the world
flight is ipstanced as case in which
the aviators themselves made their
own plans, and then were allowed to
execute them. The gallant exploit of
Comdr Rodgers nd his fellow naval
aviators came about in the same way.
Interference with Air Service plans by
"higher-ups'' will be shown to be the
exception. and not the rule, in both
the Army and the Navy.
On one point both services have
their jaws set. They say thew can,
and will. show that nearly every speci-
Gc charge leVeled against them by
Mitchell Is not only without basis in
fact but deliberately designed to mis-
lead. They court searching inquiry
in every direction.
Copyright. l925D