Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-02-02
Mitchell Rearing
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lie In San Antonio last September,
which led to his conviction and SEN
tence by a court-martial for insub-
ordination, was a bristling denuncia-
ton of existing defense policies.
Striking out against military bu-
reaucracy", he declared "our govern
ment has become one of bureaucratic
domination"
At the same time he announced
that he would tour the country for
the next three months to carry
Straight to the people" a picture of
the true condition of our national
defense" This, he said, he could do
better as a citizen than "by remain
ing muZzled in the army.
Army and navy bureaucracies, he
charged, "have consistently and pur-
posely misled Congress and the people,
- have manipulated the laws so
they can cotrol the armed forces even
against the action of the president
himself, -" have intimidated,. bull
dozed and attempted to coeree officers"
Characterizing 1.-The military bureau
cracy" as "one Of the greatest menaces
to our free institutions" he asserted
that the bureaucratic party" was
more powerful than the Democrats and
the Republicans, more powerful than
the influence of any creed or sect or
religious order"
The statement failed to disclose
Mitchells future plans. He explained.
however, that he intended to visit his
old home in Wisconsin on the expira-
tion of his lecture travels, and In a
year or SO intended to leave the United
States for a hunting expedition into
Africa.
The statement reviewed Mitchell's
service of nearly IS years in tho army
and said:
THE United States remains today
unorganized for modern defense In
spite of the expenditure of neSly
$500, 600, 900 for aviation since the war
and the loss of scores of our airmen,
we have no real military air force
for the protection Of our great coun-
try. We are left hopelessly behind In
our civil and commercial aviation and
we have no plan or system whatever
for furthering and developing this
most important agency.
"This condition is due to the blind
opposition of the regular army and
navy 1bureaucracies that have abro-
gated to themselves the policy of
standing squarely in the way ofeany
progress, and constantly advocate
the theories of the bow and arrow
men of barbarous age. Calling to
their aid the instrumentalities of
propaganda and unionized control,
they have consistently and purpose
ly misled congress and the people
as to what this country needs to
insure its security. They have in
trenched themselves behind bu-
reaucratic system run by self-perpet-
uating oligarchies. They have ma
nipulated the laws so that they can
control the armed forces even
against the action of the President
himself. They have coerced, bull
dozed and attempted to ruin patri-
otto officers who have disagreed with
their views and who sought to bet
men of the armed services know is
necessary.
due to military bureaucracies,
our land and sea forces, composed
of splendid men, are shaken in
their conception Of duty, lacking In
confidence in the army and navy as
institutions and dubious of their own
future. The inexcusable losses to
our air and sea forces are examples
of inefficiency and negligence in
spite of the vigorous white washing
attempted by the army, navy and
executive boards.
when the actions of the army and
navy are brought into question they
themselves are the sole judges of
their shortcomings.
'The military bureaucracy, resist
ing all innovations. has become such
that it is impossible to secure any
needed changes in the system. The