Evening star., 1941-06-29

Gen. Billy Mitchell faces the
in 1925 for INSTRUMENTATION" At il
Gen. MuchePS right is former r
ro,U are relatives OF the defendant
7 INDER congressional pressure IN be-
half of the late Brig. Gen. Billy"
MitchelTs pet scheme, the establish
ment of a separate air arm Secretary
of War Stimson on June 20 ordered the
creation of a unit called the Army Air
Forces and embracing all military avia-
ton in a single unified organization
It will have a semi-independent status
like that of the Marine Corps in the
Navy Although the Army compro-
missed the Navy is continuing an all
out fight against the McCarran bill to
separate the air forces from the old line
services, on the ground that 1t had As
lief be robbed of its destroyers and SUBJ
marines as be deprived of its own avia-
ton.
While American air chiefs are strug-
Cling today with problems which Gen.
Mitchell besought them in vain to face
20 years ago. belated honors are Begin
ming to be paid to his memory. A new
airport at Milwaukee. in his home State
of Wisconsin, is to be named Mitchell
Field But this is commercial and not
an Army port.
And it is interesting to note that one
of Gen. Mitchell's chief defenders at
the famous court-martial in 1925 vas
the airman who has just been elevated
to chief OF the Army Air Forces-Maj
Gen Henry H Arnold.
He was then Maj. Arnold. Taking
the witness stand in behalf of Gen.
Mitchell, he testified that of SIT OFF,
GERS and men killed between January /,
1919, and July 80, 1925, 507 met their
deaths in obsolete planes.
Pursuit Plans Declared Unfit.
Another high-ranking air officer
Brig. Gen. Carl Spaatz, assistant chief
of the Army Air Corps. who was then
major, told the court the Army did not
possess a single pursuit plane fit for
war and the pursuit squadron had no
range for gunnery practice.
What has become of the judges,
prosecutors and other witnesses who took
part IN the trial and conviction Of
Gen. Mitchell. then assistant chief of
the Air Service? To what extent do any
of these men now hold positions in which
they have authority to influence the
course of national defense?
Though Gen. Mitchell died five years
ago, and though the sessions of the
court, being public, were copiously de-
scrlbed IN the press, records in the case
are still withheld as confidential by the
Office of the Judge Advocate General.
In consequence the present article is
based to some extent on newspaper re-
ports. Should injustice unwittingly be
done, 1t may be charged to the writer's
inability to gain access to official docu-
ments. The findings, on the best in
formation available, are given herewith
OF 10 officers who sat on the famous
tribunal. five are dead. The others have
retired, the last in 1884, and none has
been recalled to active duty. One Of
their number, however, Gen. Douglas
Macarthur, who served as Chief Of Staff
from 1880 to 1884, is Field Marshal OF
the native army which the Philippine
government is training in preparation
for independence. AS such, in case OF
war with Japan, he might play stellar
role in the defense OF the islands.
Gullion Judge Advocate General.
Maj. Allen w. Gullion, who was
Mitchells chief prosecutor, is today Maj.
Gen. Gullion, Judge Advocate General
| in supreme charge OF the administration
OF military justice.
Army and Navy officers who testified
| against Gen. Mitchell, and in that de-
| clude the following survivors with their
| present rank and posts:
1t Gen. Lesley j. McNair, Chief of
Staff, General Headquarters; reputed
brains of the Army.
1t. Gen. Hugh AsDram, commanding
| the 1st Army, Governors Island, N. Y.
Maj. Gen. George " Strong, command
ing the 9th Army Corps, Brownwood,
| Tex
Brig. Gen. Francis B. Wilby, command
| ing the 1st Corps Area, Boston.
| COL Jarvis j. Balm, staff officer,
I'd Army, Memphis.
| Capt. John T. G. Stapler, chief of
staff and aide to the commandant,
Sd Naval District, New York.
Capt. Kenneth Whiting, general in
spector of naval aircraft, Eastern Divi-
| sion, New York.
Capt. Holden C. Richardson, in charge
| of litigation, Bureau of Aeronautics,
Navy Department.
Comdr. Frederick w. Pennoyer, jr,
| commanding the Support Force Atlantic
| Fleet.
| Apparently no officers of the Navy
appeared in Gen. Mitchell's defense.
| On the other hand, several young mill
| tary flyers boldly risked jobs and careers,
| defied the caste then ruling the Army
and testified publicly In his behalf.
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