Viewing page 38 of 75
This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.
[[5 items, all newspaper clippings]] [[item 1]] [[label]] Extract from DAILY TELEGRAPH London Date: 10 NOV 1925 [[/label]] AMERICAN AIR FORCE - SENSATIONAL ALLEGATIONS - WASHINGTON, Monday. At to-day's hearing in the court-martial on Colonel Mitchell, of the American Air Force, Mr. Frank H. Raid, [[sic]] member of the House of Representatives, declared that he would prove that the airship Shenandoah was not in a fit state when she went on her fatal western trip, that those who arranged the Hawaiian flight of the P.N.9 were incompetent, that the Government aviators took unnecessary hazards and that many were killed as the result, that the bulk of the present equipment of the Army Air Service was obsolete, and that there was not a single pursuit 'plane fully equipped for war Service.—Reuter. [[end item 1]] [[item 2]] [[label]] Extract from NATAL ADVERTISER. DURBAN, S.A. 11 NOV 1925 [[/label]] SHENANDOAH UNFIT? - Startling Allegations by American Officer - COURT-MARTIAL SITS AT WASHINGTON - WASHINGTON, Nov. 10. The court-martial of Col. Williams Mitchell, ex-Assistant Chief of Air Serives, [[sic]] on a charge of violating service regulations by censuring the administration of the Air Force, particularly in connection with the loss of the airship Shenandoah, continued yesterday when sensational statements were made. Two days after the loss of the Shenandoah Col. Williams issued a statement charging the War and Navy Departments with "incompetency, criminal negligence, and almost treasonable administration of national defence." He said all aviation policies were directed by non-flying officers knowing nothing about flying, and that "the lives of airmen are being used merely as pawns in their hands." He deplored the fact that weather bulletins were not available for airmen, although they were issued "for the benefit of onions and cabbages." The defense made a series of sweeping charges when the case was resumed yesterday. Mr. Frank Reid (a member of the House of Representatives) asserted that the Shenandoah was in an unfit state when she started on her fatal trip. The War Department, he declared, possessed only 69 aircraft, of which 60 were used for training purposes, and not a single pursuit plane was fully equipped for war service.—Reuter's Special Service. [[end item 2]] [[item 3]] [[label]] Extract from THE FRIEND, BLOEMFONTEIN, S.A. 12 NOV 1925 [[/label]] U.S. AIR FORCE TRIAL. - High Officer's Outspoken Criticism - VIOLATING REGULATIONS - WASHINGTON, Nov. 10 — The Court Martial of Colonel Williams [[sic]] Mitchell, ex-Assistant Chief of Air Services, on a charge of violating the Service Regulations by censuring the administration of the Air Force, particularly in connection with the loss of the airship "Shenandoah," was continued yesterday, when sensational statements were made. Two days after the loss of the "Shenandoah," the accused issued a statement charging the War and Navy Departments with "incompetency, criminal negligence, and almost treasonable administration of national defense." He said that all the aviation policies were directed by non-flying officers knowing nothing about flying, and the "lives of airmen are being used merely as pawns in their hands." He deplored the fact that weather bulletins were not available for airmen, although they were issued "for the benefit of onions and cabbages." Sweeping Condemnation The defense made a series of sweeping charges when the case was resumed yesterday. Mr. Frank Reid (a member of the House of Representatives) asserted that the "Shenandoah" was in an unfit state when she started on her fatal trip. The War Department, he declared, possessed only 69 aircraft, of which 60 were used for training purposes, and not a single pursuit plane was fully equipped for war service.—Reuter. [[end item 3]] [[item 4]] [[label]] Extract from NATAL MERCURY. Mercury Lane, Durban, Natal, Date: 12 Nov 1925 [[/label]] U.S. AIR SERVICES - Sweeping Charges Against War Department - The Mitchell Court-Martial Washington, Nov. 10—The Court-martial of Colonel Williams [[sic]] Mitchell, ex-Assistant Chief of Air Services, on a charge of violating service regulations by censuring the Administration of the Air Force, particularly in connection with the loss of the airship Shenandoah, was continued yesterday when sensational statements were made. Two days after the loss of the Shenandoah Mitchell issued a statement charging the War and Navy Departments with "incompetency, criminal negligence and almost treasonable administration of national defence." He said that all aviation policies were directed by non-flying officers, knowing nothing about flying, and that the "lives of airmen are being used merely as pawns in their hands." He deplored the fact that the weather bulletins were not available for airmen, although they were issued "for the benefit of onions and cabbages." The defense made a series of sweeping charges when the case was resumed yesterday. Mr. Frank Reid, a member of the House of Representatives, asserted that the Shenandoah was in an unfit state when she started on her fatal trip. The War Department, he declared, possessed only 69 aircraft, of which 60 were used for training purposes, and not a single pursuit plane was fully equipped for war service.—(Reuter's Special Service.) [[end item 4]] [[item 5]] [[label]] Extract from DAILY TELEGRAPH LONDON. Date. 29 OCT 1925 [[/label]] MITCHELL COURT MARTIAL. - A DRAMATIC INCIDENT. - FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT NEW YORK, Wednesday. Official and social Washington crowded the court room to-day when Colonel Mitchell, the critic of the Government's air policy, was brought to trial before thirteen army officers in one of the most dramatic courts martial in American history. Colonel Mitchell's counsel, Representative Frank Reid of Illinois, dumb-founded court officials when he challenged the right of three officers, including Major-General Charles Summerall, president of the court, and first ranking officer in the U.S. Army to judge his client on the ground that they were biased. Colonel Mitchell added a charge of incompetence against Summerall, and there were tears in the aged general's eyes as he rose and asked to be excused. General Summerall admitted criticising Colonel Mitchell's view, and said he had always considered him as a friend until that moment. He left it to the men he had commanded in France to vouch for his competency. Colonel Mitchell is being tried for alleging general incompetency in teh conduct of the nation's military affairs, and for using language in his advocacy of a separate Air Ministry which, it is declared, violated good discipline. [[end item 5]]
