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[[Column 1]] CURB ON MITCHELL, ASKED BY PATRICK, UPHOLDING VIEWS Wash. Star 11/20/25 Colonel Right, But Used Poor Judgement in Making Charges, Chief Wrote ----- LETTERS IN OLD ROW READ BEFORE COURT ----- Service Head Behind Aide in All Matters Except Attack on Superiors ----- The defense for Col. Mitchell entered the last stages of its case in the Army general court-martial proceedings today when it introduced into the record subpoenaed documentary evidence leading up to his dismissal as assistant chief of the Air Service and which brought to light for the first time the recommendation by Mar. Gen. Mason M. Patrick, chief of the Air Service, that his assistant, then a brigadier general, be "admonished" for giving the impression that Air Service officers would be punished for testifying their true belief before congressional committees. Ge. Patrick, however, in his communications to the War Department vigorously upheld the accuracy of Gen. Mitchell's testimony before Congress. The evidence was in the nature of correspondence between the Secretary of War and Gen. Patrick calling on Gen. Mitchell to explain certain statements he had made before the House military affairs committee and the Lampert select committee last February. Gen. Mitchell's replies also were read, together with indorsements of transmittal by his chief. Documents Read. The documents were read into the record by Col. H. A. White, military defense counsel, which required about and hours and a half. The morning session was void of the usual bristling arguments between counsel and heretofore startling testimony offered by defense witnesses. The defense exhausted its regular list of witnesses yesterday afternoon and Representative Frank R. Reid, chief civilian defense counsel, announced in open court today that the accused would take the stand in his own behalf probably Monday morning. This statement differed from one made by Mr. Reid yesterday, when in replay to a question from the prosecution he said Col. Mitchell would not testify. Only one witness remained in the witness from, Chief Petty Officer Collier, a Shenandoah survivor, who was subpoenaed to recite the statements he made to Maj. Frank W. Kennedy, the first Army officer to arrive on the scene of the disaster. Three Letters Cited. Three letters in all were read by Col. White to show the War Department had called upon Gen. Mitchell to explain his testimony before Congress and to give his replies with the indorsements of Gen. Patrick. The first letter calling for explanation declared the air officer's testimony was of a character "to reflect on the War and Navy Departments." The testimony charged "conservatism" in the Army against aviation: "needless exposure of live" by naval order in the battleship bombing tests and that "vested interests were holding back the development and progress of the air service." Gen. Mitchell's lengthy reply was transmitted to the Department by Gen Patrick without comment. The second letter received by Gen. Mitchell called for explanation that high ranking Army and Navy officers had given "false testimony" before these committees with the view to misleading the members. Gen. Mitchell's reply cited statements by Admirals Jones and Straus, Secretary Wilbur and Brig. Gen Drum which he declared to be inaccurate. [[Column 2]] Upheld Mitchell. Gen Patrick, in his indorsement to this letter, declared the statements of these officers were "replete with inaccuracies" and upheld Gen. Mitchel's contention that they were not correct. He added, however, that he believed their testimony was due to "ignorance" and that Gen. Mitchell's charges that they were "falsified" were unwarranted. "I therefore recommend," Gen. Patrick said, "that Gen. Mitchell's attention be called to this, and that he be ordered to refrain from such assaults on witness in the future." The third letter of the War Department demanded an explanation of Gen. Mitchell's publics statements that sever officers of the service had confided to him their desire not to testify and of his warning to "not enter the controversy, but leave it to me, as I will take full responsibility." Gen. Patrick's indorsement said that Gen. Mitchell understood fully he was authorized to set forth is own views, but that he did give the impression that the War Department would punish officers who testified contrary to its policy. Gen. Patrick thought that "poor judgement" was exercised by Gen. Mitchell in this respect, and recommended that he be "admonished." Beyond that he thought no other action need be taken. Col. White then read in to the record a War Department press release, dated June 7. 1925, containing Maj. Gen. John L. Hine's opinions on the Hawaiian maneuvers, in which he declared too much faith must not be placed on mechanical instruments of warfare, but instead the defense must be on mobile troops and aircraft. The purpose of this was not revealed. Reads Press Release. Another press release, dated October 20, 1925, and captioned "Trial of Col. Mitchell" was read into the record by Col. White to show that the press relation section of the War Department operates for "propaganda purposes." He pointed out that Col. Mitchell was ignored in the release, but that he the sketches of the court members, military defense counsel and trial and assistant trial judge advocates were given. There still is a mass of documents on the prosecution's desk which must be read into the record. it is understood. There were indications that if this task is completed this afternoon and several stipulations are agreed to that the court will be ready to hear Col. Mitchell Monday. Voluminous reports and correspondence in connection with the plans for bombing to obsolete naval vessels and two Shipping Board crat, as directed by Congress, was read into the record by Col. White. The correspondence, most of which passed between the Secretary of War and the Secretary of the Navy, brought to light the inability of the Army and Navy to co-operate in carrying out the tests. The Navy advised the War Department repeatedly that it had no obsolete vessels available and finally offered to antiquated merchant ships as substitutes. These were turned down by the War Department as being unsuitable. Showdown Asked. Finally, the records showed the chief of the Air Service sought to have a showdown with regard to the whole matter, and recommended to the Secretary of War that if the Navy could not furnish the vessels, as directed by Congress, the President himself should be assigned to designate them, and if the latter was unable to reach a decision, that Congress be asked to change the law to permit another type of vessel used. IN response to a suggestion by the court the complete reports of the so-called Lassiter and McNair boards, covering separate investigations of aviation, were turned over to the court for inspection. [[Top right]] TWING BROTHERS' RESEMBLANCE FOOLS COL. MITCHELL AT TRIAL Wash. Star 11/20/25 Left to right: Harry Short, civilian employee of the Air Service; Col, William Mitchell and George Shrot, Harry's brother. His name was George Short. He had come over from Baltimore Friday to attend the Mitchell trial in the Emory Building. He was standing in the corridor, before the court opened, wondering if Col. Mitchell would take the stand that day or not, when the colonel himself walked up to him and began bawling him out in an astounding, incomprehensible manner. "Look here, Harry," Col. Mitchell burst out in a tone of sharp reproof, "when are you going to get that shipment of china for me?" George's name being George, and having not the slightest idea what hte colonel was upbraiding him about or why, George protested vigorously. "You have made a mistake, colonel. I am not Harry. I am George," expostulated Mr. Short. "Well, well!" That's a good one, George," laughed Col. Mitchell. "I thought you were Harry. I can't tell the two of you apart." Col. William Mitchell, defendant in the biggest court-martial in history, had not gone crazy from the strain as observers had the right to suspect. He had merely made the oft-repeated error of mistaking George Short for Harry Short, his twin brother. Harry is Mitchell's airplane engineer, hunting companion and civilian aide. harry has been present at several sessions of the trial, but Brother George didn't get a chance to see the proceedings until Friday. [[Bottom right, column 1]] TEXAS TURKEY GIFT OF 'GANG' TO MITCHELLS Herald - Nov 21-25 ----- Bird Becomes White Elephant as It Nears City Because Their Landlord May Frown ----- By DIXIE TIGHE "Have you an apartment for two and a turkey?" Mrs. "Billy Mitchell" and the colonel may soon be apartment hunting in that fashion. A Texas bred and well-fed turkey in en route to Washington as a Thanksgiving offering from the "boys" in the Lone Star State to the "Flying Colonel" and his wife. EVERY BITE A WISH A letter announcing the turkey, which in some way is related to a "white elephant," had been dispatched, reading: "We are sending a Thanksgiving turkey (live). In each mouthful is a good wish for Mrs. Mitchell and yourself. We won't send a big, old tough one but one that is young and tender." The turkey donors are cowboys. Sending a turkey is a small indication of what they would do, if they could. As a sample: "If the brunch could do any good by standing back of you with Winchesters while you are telling the court about the negligence in the Air Service, we would like to be called as witnesses or guards. Even the sheriffs and game wardens wish they could back you up." [[Column 2]] A rather paradoxical and versatile farewell concluded the letter. One line admitted that if the cowboys were "any hand at praying," they would do so. A postscript suggested a more martial manner of winning the fight. Anyhow -- a live turkey, with young lungs, will soon be crying a lusty "gobble, gobble, gobble," either on the front lawn of the Mitchell's apartment house -- or where? WIFE STANCE PACE Mrs. Mitchell, mysteriously betraying not the faintest sign of fatigue after the many, many days of the trial, is still by her husband's side in the courtroom. Those, however, of the army women, whose interest is far from so definite, have dropped out. Yesterday, practically none were there. Reading of the stipulations is perhaps responsible for the slump in feminine company. Hours of reading of the most technical papers without hope of sensation has killed the enthusiasm. Mrs. Mitchell in Drive To Aid Ill Veterans Mrs. William Mitchell will head a drive for suits and overcoats for soldiers confined at Walter Reed Hospital, Mount Alto Hospital, St. Elizabeths and the Naval Hospital. Mrs. Mitchell said there was [[illegible]] need for 200 overcoats and [[illegible]] suits for the boys. Mrs. Mitchell will devote all her spare [[illegible]] to the cause. Gifts should be sent to any one of the four hospitals or to Charles Kohen, at American Legion headquarters, on Fifteenth street.
Transcription Notes:
There are some notes written in pencil that I can't quite make out.
There is a tear in the paper on top of one of the author's names. A letter is missing.
Towards the bottom left, a piece of paper from another page (presumably) is sitting on top of some of the text, blocking it completely from view.
[[Image description, top right, a black and white photo of three men. The two on the sides look nearly identical and are wearing formal clothing. The one in the middle is wearing a military uniform. Below the photo is a caption.]]
