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o8 3 MITCHELL ENDURES BITTER CROSSIRE War Department Examina- tion Precipitates Charges and Counier-Charges. A general melee of fast-flying ac- cusations and recriminations, charges and counter-charges furnished an aft erncon of unprecedented activity for the spectators in the courtroom of the Mitchell trial yesterday, when Col Mitchell was subjected to bitter cros examination by the War Departmen The excitement was enhanced by the occasional mixing in of R sentative Frank R. Reld, chief for the accused, and Col. Winst member of the court® The la valiant efforts to serve in the arbiter, and by sheer force of opinion managed to break up thre ening verbal encounters ber counsel. The court itself developed a ca nerves and Brig. Gen. Edward L. King, the most nervous member of the cou displayed his frayed condition on two occasions during the day, when ordered news photographers ejected from the room. It was the third time since the trial started that Gen. King had manifested his strong disiike for Photographers, and he made known his animosity in no unc n tones. Effort to Discredit Witness. A major part of the cross-examina- tion of Col. Mitchell yesterday after noon was devoted to an attempt to discredit the credibility of the witness before the court. Maj. Allen Gullion and Maj. Francis B. Wilby, the two “big guns" rushed to the front of the prosecution by the general staff when it appeared Col. Shern land, the trlal judge advocate, was in need of immediate assistance. They conferred time and again before the assaults on the good h of the accused were launched. Maj. Gullion came out openly and announced to the court that it was his intention to #show that Col. Mitchell, who has charged that high-ranking officers of the Army and Navy have given f: and misleading information to co mittees of Congress, himself has com- mitted the same offense Maj. Gullion declured the accused had made charges inst honorable officers, had maligned their motiv and attributed to them unworthy ends. “We intend to prove,” he e: plained, “that he has made inaccu rate statements to committees of Con- gress, but we are not going to attack his_veracity at this time—only h credibility Statement Is Disclaimed. An effort was made to draw from the witness the adn sic that, after viewing an exhibition ing Field of the Loenir 1 plane of the type taken to the by the Navy, he had complimented Grover Loening, the designer and builder, and had declared it would be excellent for exploration work. Col. Mitchell disclaim 3 such a convers: 1d_ added: didn't consider the ship adequate f any service duty, as it had not been thoroughly service tested. I don't see how 1t could have been possible for me to have told Loening it was a plane for the Arctic.” Now, colonel,” continued Maj Gullion, “there are a great many of- ficers in other arms of the service for whose judsment vou have great re- spect. Suppose all had idezls on the improvement of their services, do you ze how much it would cost to them out?" “That has nothing to do with air power. 1 n't answer a question of that kind," he replied. Line of Questioning Shifted. The phrases i shifted to the negligence” and administration” Departu questioning “criminal nable which were emplo} ber 5 statem asked Maj. Gul . “There are two definitions,” respond- ed the witness. “One is the Constl. tution definition about giving aid and comfort to the enemy during and the other is to give up or bef the Nation. they don't give the proper place to air power in the development of the national defense.’ “You've used the words ‘almost treasonable administration.” Do you think a fair interpretation would be that you meant the criminal offense of treason?"’ “Tou." The witness then was called upon to explain the phrase “‘ashamed of the cloth he wears,” which appeared In the San Antonio statement. Jol. Mitchell declared it referred to offi cers of the Air Service “and not of the Army.” They are *'subjected to the worst example of command ever known to any nation, he declared, adding, “High ranking officers make inspections, ask foolish questions -and show they know nothing about the subject. BURTON LAUDS LOCARNO PACTS AS AID TO PEACE Tells Washington Study That Re- cent Agreement Is Most Valu- able Sinoa War. The Locarno treaty was described as the greatest step toward peace since the World War by Representa- tive; Theodore 1. Burton of Ohio, in an address before Washington Study at Rauscher's yesterday. Mr. Burton's talk launched the sea- son series of discussions on national problems before Washington Study. A ban on the use of poison gas in war and publicity for arms traffic, supported by the Uni s lauded as two beneficial s by the epeaker. He also urged membership in the World Court for the United States, declaring this country has reached the point where it must de- clde whether law or force is to be invoked to settle internationtal dis. putes, RADIO CALLS WITNESS TO MITCHELL HEARING Col. Thurman H. Bane, U. S. A, Retired, Monterey, Calif., on ‘Way to Washington. By !it Assoclated Press. MONTEREY, Calif., November Col. Thurman Harrison Bane, U. S. A., retited, departed for Washington in response to a radio message directing him to appear as a witness in the court-martial of Col. William Mitchell, The message, signed by Col. Moreland, trial judge advocate of the court-mar tial, said that Col. Bane was expected to testify regarding supposed inter ference with the engineering division of the Army by Col. Mitehell while Col. Bane was commanding McCook Fleid, at Dayton, Ohio. Col. Bane retired «n December 17, 1922, after Col. Mitchell is supposed to have demanded that the Govern- ment use an airplane known as the Thomas Moore type, and Col. Bane resisted the demand. Members of Col. Bane's family here said they were not advised as to just in what manner Col. Mitehell is supposed to have interfered with the engineering division. he | an More- | ¢ knowledge of | nts, | 1 believe the departments’| system is almost treasonable in that | Greatest Thrill in Recent ___(Continued from First Page) “Do you knnw the number of fly. ing hours per fatality in 1921?" “I haven't the records " “If 1 said 934 hours of flying was done for its fatality In 1921 would | you be surprised | Says He I “I haven't the d “Do you w the numbe: | ing hours per ratality in 19 “I1 don’t remember any of ‘Do know there are 1, | “Idon't know { “Do vou knov the number of flying S per ity in 19237 t itheut refe to ing my ey were! 2,046." “I don't know." don’t know." | “Does the number 3,365 coincide with your recollection? W w the number in 1925?" emember." “1 don’t remember." Declares Statement Misleading. not know that every year 1925 there was an in of flying which 550 per cent in that “Do y from 1821 t creasing {amounted to time : Mr. Reid objected. and Col. Winship sked that the question be put in an- her way ‘Do you know the number of flying hours in the Air Service has increas ed from 934 to 5,269 per fatality in the last five years?"” “I don't know without referring to my nc , and T will that that is a very misleading s ; you prepared um not prepared to say it is not but it is very misleading.” “Do you know the percentage of fncrease in safet “There is none STE0 There is a decrease in 34 hours , doesn't in percent- 1921, there were that i age 0 per | T4t does not. It is Says DH Is Improved. “Since there were five times as many accidents five ago in new equipmen there are what ' and uns , does the eq is fe plane: pment now { fauity?” | “It indicates that five years ag were doing more military work than at the present time. The change in design of the DH has imyp 2 plane, but they still are tins. Are you prepared to say there is an increase of safety of 500 per cent?” I am not.” “Do you know the flying hours per fatality in foreizn services? “I know someth y about them in their relation to the United 4 “Is it not a fact that, ac hed statistics, S sS4 in the A n Alr S | than in England's air force Here Mr. Reid objected unless he the published statistics Gullion declared to be confides The paper was given to Mr. Reid and the entire defense 1sel examined it, following which Mr. Reid announced his objection still stood, as there was no source of information in the statement and no way of checking its llion then promised to desired formation i i could which see 1a, Denies Safety Here Greater. He asked Col. Mitchell if he the ratio of safe fyin ountry, France and Italy g favored the American alr force. The witness replied that Statement was not “a fact. “Do you base vour information on ltalk in the club or from reading ewspapers?” “No. It is based on personal ob- fon of their organization—air- equipment and meteorological ices.” four personal is more valuable ¢ “Yes. | They may fiy their lives and never do cross-coun- | try work.” Maj. Gullion produced an Air Serv- ice report under date of October 24, - on preventing accidents in the Alr Service. It was signed by the Chief of Alr Service. Mr. Reid ob- jected to it, and Col. Winship sus- tained him, admonishing Maj. Gullion | that he could not be expected to offer a paper in court which is not sub- ject to cros amination He gested that Maj. Gen. Mason M. Patrick, who signed the documents, be put on the stand on that particu Jar subject, and Maj. Gullion replied: “We'll produce Gen. Patrick.” Hits Types of Plane. “In your statements of September 5 you stated our pilots know they are going to be killed if they stay in the service and have to fly the old flam- ing_coffing ked Maj. Gullion. “I did,” replied Col. Mitchell. What planes were you referring to Aming coffins'?" new “You said yesterday, I believe, that the DH's and JN's (@ war-time pri- mary training plane) are dangerous “I said nothing about JN's. Ho they are dangerous. It consti criminal negligence to keep fly ing ships of that kind. They should have been done away with right after the war. Maj. Gullion produced a crash-board report on the death of Capt. McAvoy near Langley Fleld, Va., March 10 >f this year, which laid the blame of the accident on low flying during a fog. Blames Faulty Equipment. He asked the witness if this crash was due to faulty equipment, and Col. Mitchell replied: “Absolutely. The plane was a DH. It did not have fog- fiying equipment, radio equipment to get bearings and navigating equip- ment.” “Have you any direct knowledge of the crash?” I have no direct personal knowl- edge. The simple fact that it was a | DH plane is enough : | “Then you set your opinion above | that of the board of officers who in- | quired into the crash?” | “I do.” | Maj. Gullion then read from the re- ! | port which said the exact cause “w hot ascertainable”’ and that the pilot, Lieut. Col. W. G. Schauffler of this | city, was flying low in a fog, “display- personal | | it crashe If | equipment | no evidence “Do vou know the number in 19247" | THE EVENING STAR, WASHINGTO! 'COURT STOPS EFFORT TO SHOW MITCHELL PLAGIARIZED IN BOOK Days of Trial Comes in Prosecution’s Attempt to Prove Charge That Colo- nel Appropriated Data of Other Officers. Brig. Gen. Edward L. King, now court. with that report?” Neverthe it linger had faulty DIl is prone to tehing fire when ad had proper would by shows ( equipment. stalling and bt The also cd he he possibly ¢ with it.” Plane Burst in FI You are not unmindful that the d, acting under their cath, sub. ribed to the statement ‘there w mechanical or struc gotten aws mes. 1 failure. the next Reid. iitlon mbustion wi 1ct with the ground.” laughed I 1] rds of DH s. Do you set up you judgment of th d at the o,” replied the Attac Read sentence, rupted il acquiesced and r instantaneous he court . Mitchell the fire Continue Maj. Gullion continued to dings of boards of inquir; hs of other pilots, in whi the followir il ir death Lieut. Noble t Kelly Field. in 1924 Watson, at San n May of this year ind Lieut Edw d the into the read the q findings . but none a ctive equ thro of pro the reiterated in s opinion” that tragedies col of *“flaming officers by t pointed out often over the protest of the prosecution that these men were DH rplanes, wk v stalled and extren which we have be to have n up than who were Mitchell hir the court as a better jt reason fc ‘duly co before the the the DH Maj. Gullion rapid succession X le 24 could the fects or lac n each Instance Col he could not g his recof oted figure: res meant noth ad his data. Grilled on Gag Charge. The line of questioning then turned to the charge of Col. Mitchell that officers of the Air Servjcq are “bluffed and bulldozed thuat they not tell the truth in a 3 cases, fearing that they will be to the most out-of-the-way pl “Do you refer rc the Army asked Maj. Gullion “l refer to myself,” replied Col. 'hen vou mean that you dare not tell the truth,” pursued the prosecu- tor. “No. T refer only to the part about being bluffed and bulldozed,” Mitcheil ined. Then in this statement in which you mention airmen you meant only yourself?” Gullion, “I meant myself principally,” said Mitchell. “As far as I am concerned, 'Ll tell the truth, but the other offi- are afraid.” hen are these others you speak ilty of perjury or faise swes ing before these committees?” de- manded the assistant judge advo- cate. Mr. Reid immediately interposed caustic objection to such a question, whereupon Maj. Gullion explained to the court that the witness has said that these officers dare not tell the truth, and since they testified before committees, he wanted to know it they were lying in so doing. Objection Sustained. Mr. Reid objected again and Col. Winship agreed that the question was not_proper. “You see, Maj. Gullion knows so little about these congressional pro- ceedings that he isn't able to talk about them intelligently,” exclaimed Mr. Reid. “He doesn't seem to knos that in most cases the officers brought before these committees are not sworn."” Maj. Gullion then said: “You have just testified that you were afraid to tell the trut “I did? Never,” said Col. Mitchell. Al‘ol Winship said he didn't recall his saving anything like that and Maj. Gullion agreed to withdraw the question. ou say that the airmen are bluffed have | CROWD ROPED IN AT WITCHELL TRIAL Good Old Navy Hemp Stretched About Space Re- served for “Gallery.” | | Fearful lest the everincreasing crowds at the Mitchell trial become unruly and press out of bounds, the !War Department today resorted to cowboy methods and literally tled them down. Requisitioning several hanks of old-fashioned hemp rope, that smacked of the Navy, in accordance with a co-operative understanding al- ady shown to exist between the | neral ff of the one and the gen- | eral board of the other, the doughty 1bers of the courtroom guard slipped_a bowline-and-a-bight around a sturdy plllar at one side of the room and heaved her ho completely | around the ‘‘gallery.” After testing its double strength | with a couple of Lealthy swings on | it, the guard signaled that the trial | could begin with immunity. Suggested by Howze. Tt see vesterd tators s that the afternoon jammed out experiences of when the spec-| of the hypotheti t aside for them by the and pushed gradually » of the heavy cross- | the front, impelled the roping-in | ran, fire of artillery Gen. Howze to Su plan n became so marked » courtroom had to use unication hard by, tside the building waited im- crowd of unfor- vho arrived too late. Space Filled Early. there came early sufficient more than fill the section when the doors ed at 10 o'clock, and as the | on a group of chilled but | hopetul nd women braved the frigid air at TFirst and B streets in nticipation of be imitted. The 1 steadfastly to ease any however, ite the fact outside, 1 their own How of ( Congress: day wore men un M aesistant ind ady | admitted | in his st nt| Nlowed to enter in her Apparently Vice President ver is going to depend { wspapers for his “observa- | the majority of | vou meant that rincipal How do reconcile your statement of r t you were afraid to assertion now the truth?” in- and bulldozed in then you say to apply to yourself quired the prosecu I made no tested the witne “Of course, he never made such a ement as that,” shouted Mr. Reid, from his ct To say he Ise and misleading. Winship Backs Defense. wrangle be- Mitch afraid to tell the truth. Maj. Gullien insisted that such a statement was in | the record and Mr. Reid defied him to point it out. Col. Winship joined in the controversy on the side of the de- fense. Gen. Graves, member of the court, wa t sure that the law mem- ber had remembered aright and he| suggested that recess be taken so that the stenographer’s notes could be examined. This was done. The stenog ead the record which showed Col. Mitchell's words to have been “not entirely to myself,” in referrir to officers who were afraid to tell the truth. He further amplified this when the stenographer finished reading, by declaring: “I| made the nent September 5th that in the majority of cases airmen were bluffed and bulldozed and afraid to tell the truth. I am one of the minority. I am not biuffed or bull- dozed, although it has been at- tempted. Sees Self Disciplined. “Do you consider you were an outof-the-way place charged in your statemen 0 told the truth would be? I ce inly do, s influencing power development is concerned,” id Col. Mitchell. Maj. Gullion drew a picture of the great military activity around Antonio, Tex.. and on the Mexican border and asked if the witness still thought it was an out-of-the-way place. “It is, as far as developinz air- power before Congress and the De- partment is concerned. I had no com- mand there at all ‘Is it custom: to have commands' “1 was assigned so I wouldn't have a command.” This line of abandoned and Col h statement,” pro- a lively for staff officers questioning was itchell's b our fuel engineer and recommend substitute. or judgment.” g | "‘IS.D\':‘ u agree with that?” ‘i “No. | Says DH Plane at Fault. | Maj. Gullion then read another re- port on a fatal accident and explained | his object as being due to the desire | | of the prosecution that all crashes | Were not the result of faulty equip- | ment, as Col. Mitchell had charged. The second report dealt with the | death of Capt. D. W. Bedinger of | Fort Riley, Kans., whose DH plane spun to the fleld as he took off and made a right bank. The report said there was no evidence of mechanical or structural failure and added that the craft exploded on impact with the grownd. The report as submitted | Ly a board of officers was approved We have a suitable substitute for Anthracite for every type of heating equipment. We will be glad to ad- vise you at our office, or will have inspect your plant to you a suitable { into libel | that “Capt. Mustin of the > D. ¢, TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 1925 “Winged Defense,” published shortly after he was relieved from duty as Brigadier General and assistant chief of the Afr Service, was taken up. “Did you write pages 102 to 1052” asked Maj. Gullion. Mr. Reld demanded it be produced for observation, and Col. Mitchell replied: “I did.” “In your San Antonio statement you said, “Whenever I make a state- ment it always is authentic’ Now, read to the court the marked places, Mr. Reld suggested that Maj. Gul- lion read, and the trial judge advo- cate took up the book. He sald he was reading from page 102 of the book, “Winged Defense,” by Willlam Mitchell. They (referring to the Germans) started the war with a total of 40 submarines. It was a good start, considering the design and construc- tion,” Turning to the witness, “You wrote that?" “Yes. Quotes From Capt. Hart. Maj. Gullion then took up a pam- phlet and read exactly the same words he had read from page 102 of *“Winged Defense,” and in & loud and rapid volce declared: “T just read part of a lecture delivered at the Naval War College by Capt. Hart, U. S. N.’ M Reid was on his feet with an objection, but Maj. Guilion, who had reached the highest peak of enthu- m since he began cross-examina- virtually shouted over Mr. Reld's he sald: tion prote “I'm golng to show the accused cribbed page after page of this book.” The courtroom was thrown into a furore, and Mr. Reld shouted to the court “Now, he can't get away with tha It shiows how much he knows of th ase. He wants to try a copyright here.” Maj. Gullion Interrupted by recall ing the accused’s words in the Antonlo statement that “whenever make a statement it always is au- thentic.’ Col. Blanton Winship, seeing the proceedings rapidly spinning out of control, entered into the argument and demanded: “What of this refers to_the issues in this case?” Maj. Gullion replied that when Mr. Reid put Col. Mitchell on the stand he sald: “There's a witness I don't care who under the sun cross-examines him.” He added, “I'm c: xamining him to show he didn’t write the book." The spectators by this time were ex- periencing the greatest thrill of the morning session if not the entire court- martial proceedings when Col. Win- p again took the matter in hand. Defense Carries Point. “This seems to me t lateral. If this court matters it 1gh. use wo reg: nd mitig: efense. The defe: to prove the tr statement. I'm offer show his tements are ready to pass that ques. said Col. Wi ip. addressing the president, and he ruled that the objection of defense cc sel be sus. tained and the court held that the pamphlet not be introduced in evi dence. The court settled down and Maj. Gulllion again took up the question- ing. “Did you write all other pages in this book?" “They are under replied the witness. “Have vou given proper credit in footnotes to the bibliography Mr. Reid declared the book was in evidence and spoke for itself, Maj. Guliion then said he would introduce it in evidence, but Mr. Reid objected, adding, “Of course I would like to have the court read it.” Book Refused in Case. The eoure refused to accept the book idence. 'he questioning not offered th of his proof to ot true.” witnesse: my signature,” in then switched to Mitchell’s statement of September 9, in which he ref ed to the recom mendations of some air board having been “squashed,” and Maj. Gullion asked the witness if he had referred to the so-called Crowell board. Mitchell said that was true, “That board recommended a united air force,” Mitchell explained, adding avy sub- scribed to the principles of a united air force, but with reservations as far as the Navy was concerned.” The prosecution then proceeded to question the witness regarding the work of certain types of airplanes that he had recommended the Government develop. Maj. Gullion endeavored to ve Col. Mitchell say that these types were actually worthless and un- sound, but Mitchell strenuously de- fended them before the court. The prosecution asked Mitchell if he realized that to carry out all of his recommendations the Nation spent a total of $6,292,278.35, and Mitchell re- plied that he didn't know that, but it was a good investment. Grilled on Phraseology. “You have used the term ‘we in the COL COOLIDGE ABLE TO TAKE SHORT WALK Leaves House for First Time in More Than Week-—Sileat on Coming to Capital. By the Assoclated Prei PLYMOUTH, Vt., November 24— Col. John C. Coolidge, father of the | President, who has been seriously il here with heart disease, came out of his home for the first time today in more than a week, gave a brief inter- view and was photographed. The 80-year-old patient was fully | dressed, and although a stiff wind was blowing and the day was bitter cold, he walked unassisted from his | porch to the lawn, where he con-| sented to pose for pictures. | “Are you expecting to go to Wash- ington for Thanksgiving?” he asked. “I'll let you know,” conie answer. Then he insisted on walking across the road and inspeciing the woodpile alongside of the community church. Col. Coolidge wore a gray suit, black topcoat and an old brown felt | hat. He carrfed a 1 After | shaking hands with newspaper men | he walked to the lawn, where he posed with Mrs. May Johnson, his nu! for photographers. Then he posed’ alone. Col. Coolidge admitted congratulations on hi he did not teel as wel Among those in th Maj. Jame Coupal Pearsons, son-in-law General. Sargent. was the la- in answer to| and € of Attorney | State Theater Opens. CHAPEIL HILL, N C., ovember 24 (P).—What is s to be the first | State-supported theate.: in the Nation dedicated to the development of na- tive drama was opened here last night. The first performance was given by the Carolina Playmakers, the group which Introduced folk | play-making into North Carolina | seven years ago, giving impetus to a movement which has since spread | over the Nation. —_— the witness, shaking his head. | “Of whom is this fraternity com- posed 7" “Of people who fly in the alr—ever body.” “Hov re the funds raised?"” no funds e ‘we' who d put the matter up to Congress stated in your & Antonio c! ‘Oh, m of ituation with the air policie dictated non-flying officers you far 3 the Wa “To some e by criticize the or; dep ab 0 some extent Shows Board Personnel. “Do you know who joint aer a1l boa “Not ali of them, but T believe th are two representatives of the service on it. | Gullion here named six Army ibers of the boa one capacity or branches o asked Mitc represented er, the var Army and g if he did not t qual! polic cause these me: ated | ir srvices he | da't call them flying officers, re rking: “It's easy enough for anybody to zet a trick license to call thems. ing officers by taking a in X Col. Mitchell said was some such order he be shown it “Yes, that's it, unfortunately,” re-| marked the witness. “It isn’t the paper it's written on. It of the most dangerous documents that could be gotten up for E defense.” this order origi t Aeronautical Bo i Maj. Gulllon. faybe it did, but they aren't fiy clieved ther nd asked that wor with ate SAVINGS DEPOSITS MORRIS PLAN BANK Under Supervision J. S. Treasury air fraternity,’ " said Gullion. “Is this an organized fraternit Unfortunately, it is not,” replied Special Purchase Scores of the Better Grade of $ O’Coats $29.75 Many New Arrivals Have Just Been Added 1408 H ST. N. W, r@smmvg 1325 F STREET INTENDED fo.g¢f a Scfe for these papers/ HE fire came too soon and the firemen came too late. Precious records—the work of years—many that never could be replaced — black ashes! All over the country, daily, valuable records are going up in smoke. Here's a case in Birmingham, Ala. 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