U.S. AIR FORCE.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18548, 25 November 1925, Page 9

U.S. AIR FORCE.

TRIAL OF COLONEL MITCHELL. (BY CABLE—PBES3 ASSOCIATION—COPTBTOHT.) (AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION.) (Received November 24th, 8.15 p.m.) WASHINGTON, November 23. Colonel Mitchell,. testifying before the Court Martial, maintained a defiant attitude, repeating many of his previous assertions, but he caused a tremendous surprise by • declaring that there were no facts in his statements, but merely opinions. Despite this, he said ho would prove that his statements wero v not exaggerated, nor coo* veyed a false impression to tho people |of the United States. regarding 1 defence. | Tho prosecution attacked Mitchell's I charge that tho Hawaiian Fleet j Manoeuvres cost 80,000,000 dollars, dei daring that tho Commanding Admiral hod loiwited that tho manoeuvres cost only 550,000 dollars above the regular Fleet expenses. Colonol Mitchell stated that the Hawaiian flight seaplanes wera good for nothing, and disagreed with the ! prosocirtion' s contention that of nine, j one proved itself a valuable seaplane I during the nine days' drift in the | Pacific. j The prosecutor asked if Colonel Mitchell offered himself as a better judge of the Hawaiian flight/than Commander Rodgers, whereupon Colonel Mitchell replied: "I do." The prosecution announced that it is prepared to prove that Colonel Mitchell gave inaccurate testimony to the Congressional Committees.

[Colonel Mitchell, whose charges of inefficiency against the United States Air Force led to an investigation by a Board appointed by President Coolidge, is being tried by Court-Martial for insubordination J