Evening Star Newspaper, September 14, 1925, Page 4

it PN.INO. T NAY TRY | HAWAII HOP AGAIN Dnly Routine Repairs Are Needed to Put Plane Back in Shape. By fhe Associated Press HPNOLULU, September 14.—The disgosition of the undaunted seaplane PNP Ng. 1 was a leading subject of disqussion today by persons visiting Peal Harbor navy vard to view one of fhe most famous ships in the his- torg of the United States Navy though Comdr. John Rodgers is £tilf being guarded by physiclans and fridhds agalhst inquirers, it is under- stofd he belieyes that the seaplane in whith he made his flight by air and by kea could be repaired for another tripd from the Pacific coast to Hawall esire, aft- submarine R-4) Thursday and being towed into Nawiliwili Harbor, to effect repairs thege and fly to Pear] Harbor. No Structural Defects. examination of the plane shows there is mro structural defect. The repairs needed are to the lower wings, from which the fabric was cut to #ig a jury sail and to catch rain watpr, and to parts from which wood cut to provide fuel to run a still whigh furnished water and probably ing picked up by the that onl; y that these repairs routine, and that the of the ship is in perfect shape. Thel motors, which functioned perfect- 1¥ yntil the last drop of gas was ex- haugted, were undamaged except that the "starting gear was removed and that one generator was used as an anchor after the anchor had been lost in Nawiliwill Bay. One of the gas tanks was removed, but it remained in the plane. The repairing of all these is regarded as routine, and the vital parts of the engines remain in good shape. A movement is under way to request the Navy Department to order the PN-9 No. 1, after its useful days have ended, brought to Hawaii, where it would be placed in Bishop Museum or some other public place as a lasting memorial of an epochal flight. One of the messages of congratula- tion received b; Navy headquarters here was from Capt. Mide Mitsui of the Japanese cruiser Tama, which transported the body of Ambas- sador Bancroft from Tokio to the United States. Rear Admiral J. D. McDonald replied: “I wish to express my sincere thanks to you in behalf of the aviators and myself for your kind message.” The aviators spent vesterday in seclusion at the homes of friends, re: galing them with tales of thelr ad- venture. Flyers Entertained. Comdr. Rodgers has been inyited to eddress the luncheon of the Pan-Pa- cific Club today, and all five of the fly- ers were to be guests of Honolulu at £ community luncheon at the Young Root Garden, at which 500 persons are expected to be present. Navy officlals here have pointed out as an example of Comdr. Rodgers’ care for his crew an incident which occurred during the ceremonles on the Capitol steps. While Gov. Wallace Farrington was officlally extending greetings, newspaper and motion plc- ture cameramen completely surround- ed Rodgers and were snapping and grinding away when he stopped them. ““What's this? Why don’t you take & few pictures of the crew? . Here they are, all of them.” The naval aircraft tender Langley salled Saturday night for the main- Jand. Tt is not known at naval head- quarters whether she will be a sta- tion ship on the flight route if the proposed flight of the PB-1 from San Francisco to Hawall is started, this month. +- MITGHELL HOPE He WL TESTFY Holds He Is Vindicated by Coolidge’s Naming of Inquiry Board. By the Associated Press. SAN ANTONIO, Tex., September 14.—Hope that he would be called to testify to an inquiry by the aircraft ‘board appointed by President Coolidge was expressed yesterday by Col. Wil- ltam Mitchell, 8th Corps Area air of- ficer. He said he felt In a measure vindicated in his charges by the fact 1 President Coolidge has taken cognizance of the Air Service contro- versy. “I have knowledge of certain facts in which I am certain members of the aircraft hoard wilt be interested,” €ol. Mitchell sald. “Unless this board does call in those who can ‘perceive differences in the present administra- tion of the Air Service it will be im- possible for this body to study thor- oughly the major problems assigned it by the President. Recause I am sure President Coolidge is deter- mined to have conducted a searching analysis of the varfous plans of hook- ing up the Air Service with the broad scheme of national defense, I am hopeful those dissatisfied with the present arrangement will be given every opportunity to state the situa- tion as they see 1 President Coolidge’s action in nam ing the aircraft inquiry board was praised by Col. Mitchell as . ‘“‘cour- ageous and patriptic.” He said he felt certain “the -President’s - stand met with the approval of but few of the Army and Navy bureaucrats at ‘Washington In discussing the personnel of the atreraft board selected by the Presi- dent Col. Mitchell said: “‘Some doubt- less will say this board is not as rep- resentative of the various sections of our country as it might be, but I am confident of its integrity and am most hopeful much good will result from #ts inquiry and finding: ¥ LA GUARDIA OPENS DRIVE ON MEAT PROFITEERING By the Assoctated Pres CHICAGO, September 14.—A cam- baign against alleged profiteering meat dealers in New York was ini- Hated here by Representative F. H. La Guardia, Republican, New York. Data furnished by Chicago packers Bnd retail meat distributors here will used in the drive against the butchers, he sald. Mr. La Guardia, who has been on & speaking tour through Wisconsin for Robert M. La Follette, ir., for the Republican nomination for Senator, has gathered statistics which, he de- clared, “clearly prove that New York citizens are paying exorbitant prices for their steaks and chops. He sald that “if the New York retail butchers won’t agree meet our demands, they’re going to face a series of meat- less weeks”' . " THE MOFFETT OPENS BITTER ATTACK Navy Air Chief, Avoiding By the Associated Press. v With the broad question of the Na tion’s air defense organization to be turned over to a special board of in quiry, the specific charges made by | Col. Willlam Mitchell, former ass! ant Army Alr Service chief, against | the Navy's alr administration, have | drawn a verbal broadside from R Admiral Willlam A. Moffett, the Navy air chief. Replying ategorically to the | charges of Col. Mitchell respecting the Shenandoah and the flight of the PN-9 No. 1, which he quoted without the mentioning author’s name, and | of other critics of the Navy alr ad- | ministration, Rear Admiral Moffett | denied them with such emphatic char acterizations 4s “unqualifiedly filse,” absolutely false,” “‘unscrupulous self s” and “vultures.” “The most charitable way to rd these charges is that their au is of unsound mind and is suffering from delusions of grandeur,” Admiral Moffett declared. The Navy air chief's statement, f: lowing on the heels of the action President Coolidge in turning over to a special commission the broad ques tion of air defense policy 1o indicate that the admiral cards Col. Mitchell's specific charges 180 the Navy air administration as still | to be dealt with. Commission Meets Thursday That these charges as well g se ! against the Army air administr. § n will be considered further ma ) = to be dealt with by the commi ' which will meet with the P A\ at the White House next Thur regarded by most officers as unlikely What course the administration does purpose to take with regard to them may not be definitely diclosed, how- ever, before that time. | Asserting proponents of a unified Alr Service were using the “revolu: tionary methods of the Communists,” Admiral Moffett declared in his state- ment that charges from that quarter “have done more to retard aviation and hamper national defer than could have been accomplished Ly any other means."” He warned that the example of military officers “making a political ap- ! peal over the heads of Congress to the people’” might be the “‘opening wedge for military dictatorship in the United | States.’ 1 Answers Mitchell Charge. ! Taking cognizance also f the con- | tention of Col. Mitchell tiat the “di- lapidated” condition of their racing planes caused the death of two Army officers entered in the Dayton air races last October, Admiral Moffett asserted it was the duty of “a high-ranking Army aviator who was present” at the racing meet to prevent use of the planes if they were unfit. | “Responsibility lles with this man and he cannot evade it by trving shift the responsibility to the system, the admiral declared The immensity of the task confront ing the President’s aviation commis slon in the short time permitted if it is to have its report ready for Con- | gress in December, as desired by Mr. Coolidge, is becoming more and more realized. Technical studies, involving | past experiments in ship bombing and antl-aircraft developments and prob- ably requiring numerous trips to Army and Navy air centers. are as presenting & heavy talk in gauging the importance of aviation in war in the next 10 or 20 years. Col. Mitchell hopes that he will be given an opportunity to appear per- sonally before the commission and present his views. Discussing the forthcoming inquiry at his San Antonio, Tex., post yesterday. the air officer said he felt in a measure vindicated in his charges by the | President’s actlon in appointing the commission and that he has “knowl edge of certain facts in which 1 am certain members of the air will be interested. Text of Moffett Statement. The text of Admiral Moffett's state. ment follows “The time of national bereav when the heart of an entire is heavy with grief over the loss of 14 members of the crew of the Shenandoah, and when hope of the aft board | nent fon | with | the | get pubiictty. T | others, is absolutely false. een | | used instead of two. {over the se ON CHARGES OF COL. MITCHELL Naming of Army Officer Hits Back at “Unscrupulous Self-Seekers” and “Vultures” for “False Statements.” ultures swooping on their prey once it is down. “The most disturbing factor in the situation is the example of military officers in the employ of the Govern- ment making a political appeal over ihe heads of Congress to the people This might be the opening wedge for milit; dictatorship in the United tates. If personal political appeals of military demagogues are to go un- heeded, it bodes iil for the future of this republic. Denies Races “Framed.” “kq 1y stonishing is the fact that charges have been preferred by persons who have. responsibility for the shortcomings which they allege o exist It has been charged that Lieut. Pearson and Capt. Skeel were killed in dilapidated racing planes at the L racing meet if these planes were dilapidated It was the duty of a high ranking Army aviator who was present at the meet to ercise his authority and prohibit their use. This was not Responsibility lles this an and he cannot evade it by trying to shift the responsibility to the system It has been charged that an ar angement existed between the Army and the Navy that the Navy should take the races one vear and the Army should take them the next vear, there- nda and not serv ent is utterly and un ifiedly false. Tt is ridiculous on its but is at the same time charac tic of the pther charges. “The Army and Navy have been charged with making propaganda and seaking publicity by the very persons who 'are past masters of this. It is the business of the Army and Navy to keep the public informed of their ac- tivities. The public is entitled to know what its armed forces are doing, but the Army and Navy have not stooped to low sentimentalism or falsehoods. Blames Cyclone for Wreck. “It has been charged that the Shen- ndcah was going West on a propa- ganda mission to offset the adverse publicity caused by the failures in the Pacifie and the Arctic. This flight was planned for last Summer in response to numerous requests of the people of the Unitad States for an opportunity to see the ship. The trip was postponed at the request of Capt. Lansdowne ana final plans were in accord with his wishes “The Shenandoah had demonstrated that she was perfectly capable of han- dling herself in ordinary thunder storms. She was the victim of a cy lone which no man or material could S The devastation wrought by evclones on The cha land is evidence of this e in her valves had nothing to do with the accident. Capt. Lans- downe is dead and cannot arfwer thesa accusations, but those of us who are left will do so with all the energy at our command “It has heen Hawaiian flight charged that the was arranged to charge. like the This flight was planned to test the ability of the latest design of flying boat to operate at great distances over the sea with- out support of the fleet. The strategic | importance of linking San Franeisco | by air with the key of the Pacific is apparent to any one Flight Followed Test. urface vessels were foned as a safety precaution in case of emer- | gency, but the planes were to do their OWn nNAVIgating, using the surface ves sels ‘as a safety check. Had the flight | personnel not heen confident, as a re- | sult of previous actual tests, that they | would reasonably expect to complete the flight, it would have been | poned, exactly as the project was | poined last year when airplanes t for the purpose were found to lack ne ange. Comdr. Rodgers, in a state ment, has answered these charges in no uncertain terms. ‘The question has been asked wh, the destrovers did not steam at fuil | speed in the direction the planes were going. The answer is, they did. It has been asked why five men were The answer Is that Comdr. Rodgers knew they were necessary to safety on a long fight It has been asked why arrangements were not made to g planes in the air. The answer is, this is not a stunt flight. “Tt was not expected that additional zas would be required, but as a safety precaution station ships had supplies rescue of the crew of the PN-9 had about gone, was seized upon by the proponents of a separate air force as a fitting time, for the advancement of | their claimsfby an attack upon the agencles of the Government charged with the development of aviation “Before the Shenandoah dead had been burled, charges were broadcast | in the public press which, in the falseness and vindictiveness, are al.| most without precedent in the histor of this country. These ¢ s couched often in the form of que tions to protect the originators, are so palpably false as to make one wonder how they could have been seriously considered. i “Launched in a moment of great stress and intense emoton, they h done incalculable harm to the Nationl. It is only now that their absurdity is beginning to be understood. “These false charges are made in the guise of bringing about a reform in our system of national defense and of advancing aviatlon. As a matter of fact, they have done more to re- | tard aviation and hamper national | defense than could have been accom- plished by any other means. Attacks “Vultures.” | “Destructive criticism has shaken the confidence of the country in its government. Examples of disloval conduct have sown the seeds of dis- cord in aviation establishments. False charges have branded loyal servants of the people with the stigma that denial can hardly efface, The re olutionary methods of the Commu- nists have been invoked to overcome the opposition of loyal men who have sought to thwart the ambition of un- scrupulous self-seekers. ““The ambitions of these selfish men are as unbounded as their methods are unscrupulous. Their tactics are those of the demagogue. They like to pose as eagles soaring aloft with keen eye for the country's defense. They have really played the part of of gas and oil and the crews had heen trained in gassing at sea from surface vessels. The PN-9 has amply proved her airworthiness and sea worthiness. She represents a tre- mendous advance in aviation and her performance has justified her build ers Cites British Disaster. “False accusers of the Army and Navy blame these accidents on the stem and advocate a separate air force as a cure-all. The separate air force in Great Britain did not save the R-25. The French system did not e the Dixmude, nor the five French flyers who were lost at sea a few days ago. “Any tem loyally administered will succeed. The best system dis- rupted by disloyalty will fail. The most cheering part of the outcome of the flight is the striking example of loyalty and soundness of judgment on the part of Comdr. John Rodgers. “It has been charged that the acci dents to the Shenandoah and the PN were the direct result of in competency, criminal negligence and almost treasonable administration of the national defense by the Navy and War Departments. Such a charge is absurd in its very extravagance. ““The most charitable way to regard these charges is that thelr author is of unsound mind and is suffering from delusions of grandeur.” tralla are to be increased. TIGE GINGER ALE! NONE BETTER A. G. HERRMANN 750 Tenth St. SE. S IOBUBON PINDLER 801 11th St. NW. Main 2704 LEAN and PRESS ALL and DELIVER MEN’SSUITS .. .. 95 (Silks and Linens* Excepted) LADIES’ SUITS . . $1.50 S Rear Admiral William A. Moffett. COL. MITCHELL'S TRIAL TO WAIT APPEARANCE BEFORE AIR PROBERS (Continued from First Page.) interest of the Army Air matter should be fully inyestigated. 1t the presidential hoard should de clde to call Col. Mitchell, as is thought most Ikely, ir Davis would desire that the testimony received at public would gain the full benefit of all that was said The Secretary’ ter is based on be feeling in this mat- the belief that the charges that' have been made against the Alr Service from time to time since the war. and especially in the controversy stirred up in the last Congress, thzt public confidence in the service has been shaken to some extent. looks upon the board of inquiry as |affording a most favorabie | ity for the matter to be taken up in a way that will give the public full { information on the condition and ad- | ministration of the Army air arm. Grosner’s Fall styles FRICE. of and Service the | further n open hearing, that the In view of this condition Mr. Davis opportn- here’s where you save! EVTDNING STAR, WASHINGTON, D. C, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 1925. Expense of Survey Of Transportation Mounts to $70,000 The ultimate cost of the survey now being made of Washington's transpor- tation problems will be nearer $70,000 than the original estimate of $50,000, which it was thought the job would cost, it was learned today. The North American Company of New York, which has substantial in- vestments in local utilities, arranged to have the survey made in order to find out how existing facilities might be improved and also to study the possible effects of a merger of the street railway systems. In an effort to make the report as comprehensive as possible, and in fol- lowing many suggestions made to them by the Public Utilities Commis- sion and local traffic officials, the engi- neers have covered every conceivable phase of the city’s transportation sit uation. TWO DIE IN PLANE CRASH. Pilot and Woman Companion Drop 200 Feet to Death. CHICAGO, September 14 (#).—Cal- vin E. Workman and Miss Rose Podlesak, both of Chicago, were killed vesterday when Workman was piloting near Aurora crashed 200 feet. Workman was an aviation lieu- tenant in the United States Army Re- serve Corps. Hundreds of motorists saw the ac cident drawn all the fire of the critics and may be in a position to make con DAV HAY WIN CABNET ADVANCE Sagacity in Air Row Im- presses Coolidge With ! Merit in Post. | BY DAVID LAWRENCE. Dwight F. Davis, Acting Secretary of War, revealed himself as a shrewd counselor in the aviation contro- versy, and may have earned for him- self even more favorable considera- tion than before as a successor to Secretary of War Weeks. Mr. Davis brought persuasive ar. guments to President Coolidge urg- ing the appointment of a disinterest ed board to Investigate aviation, and although Secretary Wilbur of the | Navy Department thought the in. quiry superfluous, he readily agreed when he saw the objec outlined. Knew Congress Would Act. Mr. Davis knew that if President Coolidge didn't take the initiative and get the jump on Congress there would be an investigation, with the administration on the defensive. He knew, too, that Col. Mitchell's re- | marks could not be brushed aside as merely insubordination, for the flery colonel has a big following, not only in the aviation service itself, but with ex-service men whose imagination he has captured by his aggressive rethods. Coolidge was disposed to keep off and let the War Department vegular investigation and perhaps court-martial. but he was rged (o consider the fact that this ¢ | would only give Col. Mitchell and other | eritics an opportunity to on thelr verbal warfars. Mr. Coolidge took a leaf out of the book of ex- perience of the late President Wilson, .who when confronted with a some what similar upheaval in public opin- ion with respect to aircraft production, called in {mpartial investigators like Charles Evans Hughes and the public soon forgot about the affair, giving | only passing attention to the final re- port when issued May Kill O Critics. Congress, of course, will no: suaded from making a tho quiry into aviation, but the adminis. tration will have the benefit of a friendly board that will not seek to| embarrass it. When Congress does in vestigate, the administration will have wind out of the sails of the Inquisitors #nd eritics. Mr. Coolidge found mmission method a splendid stop- ap in the cuse of the agricultural dis. cussjon a year ago and recognized that time is a great healer of controversies. ‘The consensus of opinion here today, therefore, is that Mr. Coolidge acted wisely in accepting the advice of Act- ing Secretary Davis and that the Mis- sourian may have won himself a per- manent place in the cabinet by his ac tivity in this emergenc (Covyright. 1925.) Surprise the Folks While They're Away vigg @ room or two papered and painted. Few new shades and . draper. The cost is very slight. And you ured of “best Workmanship and materi No inconvenence or dirt. Why not see aboul it today? CORNELL WALL PAPER (CO. 714 13th St. N W. 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Daughtrey, 56 years old, and hie two little sons were drownea in Lit- bodies were recovered. 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