Evening star., 1926-01-27
MITCHELL RESIGNS;
APPROVAL Of ACT
BELIEVED CERTAIN
Letter Gives No Explanation
and Final Acceptance Rests
With President.
MOVE COMES AS SURPRISE
TO CLOSE ASSOCIATES
News Given Out by Counsel at
Court Martial Without
Any Comments.

Col. William Mitchell. on this. the
second day of his five year sentence
Of suspension from rank, command
aud duty in the Army. submitted his
resignation effective February |. L"
the Adjutant General of the Army.
Mai. Gen. Robert &. Davis.
Early this afternoon the brief letter
had proceeded Through channels" as
far as Gen. Davis office. Secretary
"i War Davis had not been officially
Informed of Mitrhelrs action nor had
IL, received the letter for his consid-
GRAFTON. He therefore declined to
comment on the possibility of its ac
ceptance or rejection. Comment also
Was withheld at the White House
Acceptance Held Certain.
1t was deemed certain. however
hy military authorities that the resig-
nation would he accepted and the only
possible obstacle was the lack of eN
PLANTATION by Mitchell for his action.
The letter dated January 81. follows:
To the Adjutant General. Washing
ton. u. c.
Through Commanding General. Dis
trict of Washington:
Subject: Resignation
II hereby tender my resignation as
an officer of the United States Army,
to take effect February !, 1926.
'WILLIAM MITCHELL,
Colonel, Air Service
he letter was made public today by
Representative Frank +. Reid of Hi
noiS. chief civilian defense counsel be-
fore the Army general court-martial
Which tried, convicted and sentenced
the airman for violating the Ninety
sixth Article Of War. In announcing
the action by Col. Mitchell, Mr. Reid
said 1t was made public without com
ment from him or me-" He intimated
that both would remain silent until
the President had finally acted upon
the rendered resignation.
Air of Uncertainty.
Five days are allowed by Col.
Mitchell for every aspect of his latest
step to be scrutiniZed. An air of un-
certainty was indicated at the War
Department on the first report of the
flyers decision to leave the Army.
This dealt with the manner in which
the resignation would be accepted;
whether President Coolidge could ac-
cept it for the good of the service;
whether il could be accepted on its
lace. or whether it would be returned
t" the sender for some expla nation.
Mr.. Reid explained no reason was
auN dnced 1Of sending in the reSigna-
ti"n, ''as the War Department will put
that in"
u was argued in we'll Informed mill.
tAry circles that perhaps the request
I" resign would be granted without an
accompanying clause being added for
me good of the service" or other rea-
sons, as the officers record in the past
YEAR or more bears several black
marks These could speak for them
selves and infer that the resignation
was accepted for the good of the
service, it was contended.
The matter will be ironed out in this
respect if it is found to be a perrley
Ing problem, by Col. BIanton Winship.
acting judge advocate general. Col.
W lnshlp, an outstanding authority on
military law. served as the law mem
Der of the Army general court which
sentenced the accused airman. Be
cause of his intimate connection with
al phases of the Mitchell case" Col.
Ninship was unable to discuss TODAY
what the final outcome would he
Will Go to President
AS far as could be learned unoffi-
clally at the War Department TODAY
there Is no sentiment existing in favor
of recommending to President Cool
1dGe that the resignation be re jected.
When the letter reaches Secretary
tl'OntiD1e6 on rn1,,p,p