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REID EXAMINES FIRST WITNESSES Star - Nov. 6-25 Officers Go Before Mitchell Counsel for Advice Previous to Testifying. Subpoenaed withnesses scheduled to testify in behalf of Col. William Mitchell began to flow into the office of Representative Frank R. Reid of Illinois, chief civilian counsel, today for examination, while Col. Joseph L. McMullen, assistant trial judge advocate, was summoning the remaining names on the "partial list" requested by the defense Monday. This phase of the recess is about all that remains to be worked out [[?]] both sides, in a series of conferences, having virtually completed their other tasks. An agreement on who will appear in person, and on the stipulations, practically has been reached, it was said. In one or two cases, which were not revealed, there still is a question to be settled whether to use depositions or bring in the witnesses themselves. This matter has been so prepared, however, that the court can pass on it Monday morning without delaying the trial. Officers Appear. Up until noon Representative Reid has the following officers before him for examination: Brig. Gen. Amos A. Fries, chief of the Chemical Warfare Service; Comdr. Kenneth Whiting of the Bureau of Aeronautics, in charge of the work on the new carries; Maj. Gerald Brandt, Air Service officer on the general staff, and these officers of the Army Air School-Lieut. Col. W. E. Gilmore, chief of the supply division; Maj. W. G. Kilner, executive officer; Maj H. C. Pratt, chief of the training and war plans section; Maj. H. H. Arnold, chief of the information division, and Capt. Robert Oldys, training and war plans section. Representative Reid as yet has not determined the order in which the witnesses will appear. No intimation either has come from the prosecution that a movement will be launched to throw out the testimony of the witnesses on the ground that it is irrelevant, because it concerns the "truth or falsity" of the charges about which the War Department, in drawing up the proceedings, said it had no concern. Moreland May Act. If an effort is made Monday to prevent this testimony from getting into the record, under the rules Col. Sherman Moreland, the trial judge advocate, will make the motion. Should the testimony be accepted, then it would be up to Col. Moreland to present witnesses in rebuttal, which both sides believe will prolong the trial indefinitely. If the other course is adopted it is unanimously agreed the end of the week will see the conclusion of the proceedings. The Mitchell court-martial takes a recess to wait for witnesses, as it usually requires a week for the army to be mobilized. Post 11/4/25 -By ARTHUR BRISBANE- REPRESENTATIVE REID tells the court-martial trying Colonel Mitchell that not one of the 100,000,000 Americans believes that anything the colonel said about our air program was "said with a malicious and wicked intent." That's true. Fortunately it is ruled that Colonel Mitchell may summon witnesses, even including magnificent, lofty members of the Cabinet! It is hoped that he will call, if army and navy rules of fair play allow it, the men really responsible for our aircraft inefficiency in general, and for the ruin of the Shenandoah, with destruction of many lives in particular. Witnesses Herald 11/9/25 Photo by Harris & Ewing Edmonston, Photo [[images]] GENERAL AMOS S. FRIES (top), Lieutenant Colonel William Schauffler and the Reverend Ralph Updike, who probably will be called today to testify in the Mitchell court-martial. [[drawing]] Judge Plain CRISIS IN MITCHELL CASE MAY BE NEAR Star Nov 8-25 Admissibility of Testimony as to Truth of Colonel's Charges at Issue Monday. For the second time in the 10 working days it has been organized, the general court-martial trying Col. William Mitchell for statements declared prejudicial to good order and military discipline, will meet tomorrow morning at 10 o'clock under circumstances which indicate the crisis in the proceedings will be reached. Counsel for the defense will enter the court with a 78-page "opening statement," it was said last night, and sufficient witnesses to keep the stand occupied for an indefinite period. It is up to the court in the morning, however, to pass on the admissability of the testimony which has been prepared to substantiate the truth or falsity of Col. Mitchell's charges. The prosecution yesterday again rested, with the exception of rounding up a few delinquent documents asked for by the defense. An additional list of witnesses requested by Col. Mitchell had been received and disposed of either in stipulations or subpoenas and the burden last night was on the shoulders of the accused's forces, who were priming the witnesses for their testimony. Plane Builders on List. The persons requested in addition to those on the "partial list" of 73 names presented a week ago were: Lieut. Comdr. H. T. Bartlett, Naval War College, Newport, R. I., and formerly of the Bureau of Aeronautics here; Capt. B. V. Baucom, office chief of Air Service; Maj. L. H. Bauer, Mitchell Field, N. Y.; P. P. Campbell, Arlington, Va.; Lieut. Donald G. Duke, office chief Air Service; Maj. Leonard H. Drennan, headquarters, 6th Corps Area, Chicago, Ill.; Lester D. Gardner, New York City; W. L. Gilmore, Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Co., Garden City, Long Island, and the designer of the record-breaking Curtiss racers of the Army and Navy; Capt. George E. Hallett, Engineering division, McCook Field, Dayton, Ohio; Maj. Millard F. Harmon, Air Service officer of the Army General Staff; Gen. W. L. Kenley, Ponca City, Okla.; C. M. Keys, president, Curtiss Aeraplane and Motor Co.; Maj. Henry J. F. Miller, Militia Bureau, War Department; Lieut. C. N. Monteith, Air Service instructor at Military Academy, West Point; Capt. John K. Montgomery, Air Service Reserves; Col. O. O. Pierce, office Air Service personnel; Harry Short, civilian airplane expert and formerly engineer for Col. Mitchell's planes; Capt. Springs, Air Service Reserves, Fort Mills, S. C.; Otis Gilbert Stantz, chief radio operator, naval air station, San Diego, Calif; Maj. William Duncan Tipton, Maryland National Guard Air Service and reporter on the Baltimore Evening Sun; Representative Ralph E. Updike, Indianapolis, Ind.; Lieut. Harry Weddington, Kelly Field, Tex., and P. G. Zimmermann, Mytsic, Conn. Mrs. Lansdowne Heard. Included among the witnesses examined yesterday afternoon by Representative Frank R. Reid of Illinois, chief civilian defense counsel, were Mrs. Zachary Lansdowne, widow of the Shenandoah commander; Capt. Baucom. Lieut. Duke, Maj. H. R. Harmon, office chief of Air Service; Col. Pierce, Maj. Carl Spatz, office chief of Air Service; Lieut. Col. W. G. Schauffler and Lieut. Col. Harold E. Hartney, both of the Air Service Reserves and of this city. Maj. B. Q. Jones, veteran Army pilot and attached to the procurement division of the office chief of Air Service, has been designated "technical adviser" to the trial judge advocate, it was learned last night. Col. Mitchell also secured an additional member to his rapidly growing "of counsel" staff in the person of Lieut. Clayton L. Bissell, Langley Field, Va. Lieut Bissell was Col. Mitchell's aide when the latter was assistant chief of the Air Service, and his familiarity with his former chief's reports and their location made his presence here necessary. Eight stenographers now are employed by the defense and occupy the rooms in the House Office Building of Representative Reid, Representative Fitzgerald of Ohio and Representative Sproul of Kansas. No expense is being spared in working up the case and Col. Mitchell will foot the bill in the end. He cannot, however, under the law, compensate his counsel for their services. The Mitchell court-martial takes a recess to wait for witnesses, as it usually requires a week for the army to be mobilized • • • • –– By ARTHUR BRISBANE –– REPRESENTATIVE REID tells the court-martial trying Colonel Mitchell that not one of 100,000,000 Americans believes that anything the colonel said about our air program was "said with a malicious and wicked intent." That's true. Fortunately it is ruled that Colonel Mitchell may summon witnesses, even including magnificent, lofty members of the Cabinet! It is hoped that he will call, if army and navy rules of fair play allow it, the men really responsible for our aircraft inefficiency in general, and for the ruin of the Shenandoah,with destruction of many lives in particular.
