Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1934-07-19
D. c. LEGION MOVES
.TODEFENDFOULO|S
.|NOUSTER DEMAND
Starts National Campaign
Against Request OF
House Committee.
REFUSAL OF EVIDENCE
TO AIR CHIEF is SCORED
Veterans Cite McCarrs Ruling
on Purchases and Aviator's
Noted Record.

Washington Legionnaires have
launched a movement to rally the
American Legion nationally to the
defense Of MAJ. Gen. Benjamin D
Foulois. whose removal as chief Of
the Army Air Corps has been de-
manded by a House Military Affairs
Subcommittee.
The I'd Division Post No 28 Dis.
trict Of Columbia Department of the
Legion. today made public resolutions
condemning the congressional grouE
for having refused to make avail
able the testimony and evidence upon
which the alleged charges against
Gen. Foulois are based" and urging
appropriate action" by the national
convention of the Legion at Miami
Fla.
The reference to refusal of the
committee to make available certain
testimony and evidence has to dc
with a pending tilt between Foulois
and the committee over the air chiefs
request for testimony and records
given In executive hearings some
weeks ago
Reply Is Delayed.
Gen. Foulois has been delayed in
making reply to Secretary of War
Dern on the charges of dishonesty
and 'incompetency" because of reluc-
lance Of the committee to permit Foul
lois to examine secret and conf1den-
tial' records of the hearings.
The attitude of the committee is
said to be that the requested testi-
mony and other data we're received
behind closed doors in the interest OF
protecting secrets of the national de-
Tense and that, therefore, the infor-
nation cannot be turned over TO the
Army's aviation head.
Gen. Foulois has written a number
OF letters to the committee, insisting
that he be given the right to examine
'all the evidence" upon which the
committee based its sensational al
legations. All eight members of the
committee are out of the city and
Gen. Foulois is still waiting for the
information sought. Representative
William N. Rogers, Democrat, of New
Hampshire, chairman of the group, is
at his home in Sanbornville, N H. E
Original Military Pilot.
The resolutions of the Legion post
point out that Foulois is the original
United States military air pilot" that
he has made many noteworthy con-
tributions to military aeronautics
and that "by experience and training"
he is peculiarly equipped for his
present Office as chief of the Air
Corps"
The post called attention to the fact
that Controller General McCarl has
held that the method of procurement
for which Gen. Foulois has been criti-
cized was not In violation of law" and
the Legionnaires expressed implicit
confidence in the honesty, ability and
integrity" of Foulois,
The organization announced its
protest against the harasSment with
out Just cause of an efficient flying
officer and recognized authority in
aviation" and asserted the removal
of Foulois as head of the Air Corps
without just cause would be detri-
mental to the aviation defenSes of the
United States.
The post referred to the action OF
the committee in giving publicity tc
the various charges leveled at Fouloi:
and insisted that the latter be giver
"a full opportunity to meet said
charges before the proper authorities.