The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1926-01-27
ACCEPTANCE
RESTS WITH
PRESIDENT
Resignation Put in Single Sen
tence-tO Take Effect
February l
FUTURE PLAN UNKNOWN
Neither Mitchell Nor His
Counsel COmment-White
House Silent
FUTURE PLAN UNKNOWN

Washington, Jan. 27.-LP)--Colon-
el William Mitchell resigned today
from the army.
The convicted air officer. under
sentence of five years suspension
from the army because of his critj-
cism OF government aviation policies,
put his resignation lin this single
sentence:
II hereby tender my resignation
as an officer of the United States
army. to take effect February 1,
1926"
The letter was dated today and
addressed to the adjutant general Of
the army through the commanding
general Of the district of Washing
ton.
Whether the resignation will be
accepted had not been fully develop
ed. Some army precedents indicate
that in the case Of such Withdrawals
from the army they should state di-
rectly that the resignation is sub
mitted "for the good Of the service"
The final decision will rest with
President Coolidge, who two days
ago approved with notifications the
sentence of the court martial. He
colonel to five years suspension. but
reduced somewhat the courts finding
that he should be without pay or al
lowances during the period.
Might Go On Lecture Platform
1t is the belief of Colonel Nit
chell's friends that if he is permit
ted to step out Of the army he will
accept an offer to continue on the
lecture platform his crusade for
reorganization of the national de-
Tense to give more prominent place
to the development of air power
Should the president return the
letter of resignation because Of Col
ohcl Mitchefl's failure to say he il
leaving "for the good Of the service"
there is considerable doubt where the
succeeding developments might lead.
1t is the impression Of the colonel's
intimates that he would stubbornly
resist any effort to put him in
position of saying that the armed
services would be improved by his
withdrawal from them.
His partisans also point out that
the right Of the president to refuse
to acc"-4 the resignation of m army
officer in peace time never has been
teSCeO IN the courts.
By precedents of many years
standing, however, this right has
come to be generally recognized and
some war department officers believe
it would survive the test Of litiga-
tion particularly in the case Of an
officer who is under sentence for
dicial to good order and discipline.
Long A Storm Center
These officers argue that Nit
chells supporters would be at u
great disadvantage in making such
a test by virtue of the fact that the
colonel long has been storm CEN
ter in the army. Some years ago
he engaged in a serious controversy
with his supporters, and only last
spring he was refused reappointment
As assistant chief Of the air service,
with the rank Of Brigade General,
because the ofricera over him re-
garded him as lacking ia the ability
to cooperate in carrying out military
policies.
The case came to it's climax. how
ever, when he issued his statement
at San Antonio last fall, after the
wreck Of the dirigible Shenandoah.
assailing the war and navy depart
ments and accusing his supporters Of
"almOst reasonable" conduct of the
aviation services.
A general court martial after
weeks of testimony found him guilty
of all of the charges of breach Of
discipline preferred against him, and
the sentence was approved by the war
department board Of review before it
came before the president.
Reid Announces Resignation
The resignation was announced to-
day by Representative Frank r.
Reid OF Illinois, chief defense coun-
sci for Colonel Mitchell during his
court martial trial. Neither he nor
the colonel would comment on the
action which had been momentarily
expected since the president approx
ed the courts sentence with modifi-
cations.
For the time being comment also
was withheld both at the war depart
ment and the White House. 1t is
expected, however, that I decision
will be annouced shortly.
Would Give Civilian Rights
Acceptance Of the reaignation by
the president would automatically
commute the sentence and give Col
onel Mitchell full civilian rights.
War department officials have in
dicated they would recommend nc
ceptance II Mitchell would make II
plain that the resignation was for
the good Of the service"
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