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MITCHELL IS TOLD OF ARMY CHARGES 

Star - 10-5-25

Colonel Silent After Session With Nugent—Reid to Be His Counsel 

By the Associated Press.

Col. William Mitchell of the Army Air Service reported today at the Inspector General's office of the War Department, where disciplinary proceedings against him are under consideration. 

The case at this stage is in the hands of Col. George A. Nugent of the Inspector General's office, and the purpose of the visit was to furnish the colonel with copies of proposed charges against him growing out of his San Antonio statements, which precipitated the present aviation inquiry.

Before any charges are made Col. Mitchell will be given an opportunity to make any reply he desires in advance. Col. Nugent's recommendation as to further proceedings will be made after he has considered what Col. Mitchell has to say. 

Hall May Sit in Court.

Any court-martial would sit in Washington and indications are that Maj. Gen. Summerall, commanding the Second Corps Area, New York, would be senior officer and president of the court. At least one air service officer senior to Col. Mitchell is expected to be a member of the court, and Col. C. G. Hall, Army observer on the Navy airship Shenandoah at the time of the disaster to that craft, appears to be a likely selection, as the only other two officers of the air service senior to Col. Mitchell are Maj. Gen. Mason M. Patrick, chief of the air service, and Brig. Gen. James E. Fechet, Col. Mitchell's successor as assistant chief.

Col. Mitchell spent about 20 minutes in Col. Nugent's office and waved aside questioners when he came out. 

"I haven't a thing to say," he said. "Ask them." 

He went to the office of the Judge Advocate General before he left the building.

Formal Action Delayed.

Formal action to convene a court martial probably will not be taken before next week as Secretary Davis will be away this week on an Ohio River inspection trip.

Col. Mitchell has retained the services of Representative Frank R. Reid of Illinois to head civilian counsel to defend him before any disciplinary proceedings the War Department may institute against him. Col. Mitchell, in announcing this today from the office of Representative Reid , also said Col. H. A. White of the Judge Advocate Generals Department and on duty at San Antonio, would be his military counsel. 

"All we are doing is for the country," said Col. Mitchell. "I am ready for any eventuality that may come up. Everything we do is for the betterment of the national defense." 

Promises Further Moves.

The present agitation by Col. Mitchell and his followers for a reorganization of the Nation's defense system is only a "curtain raiser," the fiery airman told newspaper men at a conference last night in his suite at the Willard Hotel. 

Ignoring references to the impending disciplinary proceedings of the War Department, the colonel declared the question of defense plans is "vital" and holds the interest of every American. "We have just begun to fight," he declared, adding that the word "we" did not imply the existence of any organization, because "that is what we want to keep away from. If there is an organization for this purpose it will get into the political category," he said. 

The purpose of the conference, Col. Mitchell said, was to "stress" the value of the plan he has advocated for the creation of a secretary of national defense, with subsecretaries for air, land and water. Such an organization, he said, would prevent a deadlock on aviation matters, where as now there is an "interlocking directorate" on matters pertaining to hte [[the]] air.

Aeronautics, under the proposed plan, he said, would have an equal voice with the "land" and "water" branches, and would eliminate any "tie votes." Comdr. John Rodgers of the Hawaiian flight advocated such a department, Col. Mitchell said, although he admitted in detail the naval officer's plan differed. President Harding's reorganization plan, while calling for an amalgamation of the Army and Navy, did not make provisions for the air, but eventually would have included that branch, the colonel said. 

Declaring he had not been invited to attend the American Legion convention at Omaha as the guest of the Legion, Col. Mitchell said he had planned to go with one of the local posts. He will communicate with "one or two" of his friends there, he said.

Col. Mitchell also expressed unconcern on the probabilities of being called before the naval board of inquiry into the loss of the Shenandoah.

Representative Reid of Illinois, a member of the House aircraft investigation committee last Winter, arrived in Washington yesterday and spent the day with Col Mitchell "on various matters." Neither the colonel nor Mr. Reid would divulge the nature of their discussions. It is known, however, that Col. Mitchell has solid support from Mr. Reid and his constituents.

Attorney for Mitchell

[[Photograph]]

Chicago Journal - 10-7-25.

Congressman Frank R. Reid, Aurora, Ill., will act as chief defense attorney for Col. William Mitchell, suspended air officer of the Eighth corps area, in his impending military trial for scathing criticism of the army service administrations, the flyer has announced. Representative Reid, a member of the house aircraft committee in the last congress, would head the colonel's civilian counsel, to be supplemented by attorneys chosen from among army air officers.

'BOMBSHELLS IF I'M TRIED'--MITCHELL

N.Y. Amer 10-6-25

Fighting Aviation Colonel Foreswears Compromise on Arrival at War Building

By Universal Service.

WASHINGTON, Oct. 5.--

"Everything I've done or said has been for the benefit of the whole country. I and those who stand with me, are ready for anything that may come.

"There will be no avoiding of any position, no compromising in any way, shape or form."

That was Col. William Mitchell's formal statement today after he had reported to the Inspector-General of the army for an investigation preliminary to a probable court-martial for his statements regarding America's air defense.

RECORD WELCOME

Many officers have climbed the steep steps of the State, War and Navy Building, but few have been greeted there by as large a battery of camera men and correspondents as waited for Mitchell at 10 o'clock this morning.

Once in the Inspector-General's office, Colonel Mitchell snapped to attention saluted, and waited until Colonel Nugent spoke. The latter presented him with a slip of paper. containing a copy of the charges against him. 

Mitchell glanced at it, shoved it into a pocket, snapped to attention again, saluted, about-faced and walked out.

PRESERVES SILENCE.

Once outside, while the cameras were playing on him again, he said: 

"Not a word to say now, but plenty if they court-martial me."

Then he added:

"Oh, yes, if they try me, I'll have Congressman Frank R. Reid, of Illinois, as senior civilian counsel, and Colonel H.A. White, Judge Advicate-General of the Eighth Corps Area, headquarters at San Antonio, as my senior army counsel."

The investigation may last three weeks.