U.S. AIR STRENGTH.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18569, 19 December 1925, Page 17

U.S. AIR STRENGTH.

CHARGE OF MISCONDUCT. (BY CABLE—PRESS ASSOCIATION— COPYRIGHT.) (AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION.) WASHINGTON, December 17. Colonel Mitchell has been adjudged guilty of misconduct in connexion with tho charges . agaiiist the Air Department's administration. [Colonel Wm. Mitchell, former Assistant Chief of tho U.S. Air Service, charged the War and Navy Departments with incompetence and criminal negligence, as a result of .which he was court-martialled for insubordination.]

FIVE YEARS' SUSPENSION. PRISONER UNPERTURBED. (Australian and k.z. cable association.) (Receired December 18th, 9 p.m.) NEW. YORK, December 17. A jury of generals returned a verdict of guilty after thirty-two minutes' deliberation. Colonel Allen Gullion, previously summing up the case for the prosecution, characterised Colonel Mitchellas an egotistical, flamboyant, untruthful, destructive person who should be dismissed from the army. Colonel Gullion said, "Mitchell's statements follow, what may be termed Mitchell formula; first: exaggeration of national defence matter closely approaching falsehood : second: untrue, misleading statements for the deliberate purpose of discrediting the army and navy officers, thus (third) creating distrust in .the minds of people regarding the War and Navy Departments ; fourth : rgotistic self-deception regarding his experience and qualifications; fifth : protestations of absence of self-interest and expressions of willingness to be, and expectation of being a martyr, all leading to (sixth) a united air service with (seven) William Mitchell as the only logical head thereof. Every demagogue followed a similar formula.

Colonel Mitchell declined to make an argumentative speech, merely declaring that the case was the culmination of the efforts of the general staff to depreciate the value of air power. Col. Mitchell was sentenced to suspension from the army for five years, involving the forfeiture of all rank, command, and pay during that period. General Howze, who presided, declared that what the court-martial had considered was the brilliant record of the accused. Col. Mitchell, after sentence was passed, smiled and shook hands with the jurors. UNDER ARREST. (aIUTBB'S TBLZOEAMS.) (Received December 18th, 9 p.m.) NEW YOKK, December 17. Col. Mitchell was found guilty this evening by general court-martial of having broken discipline by attacks on aviation policies following the Shenandoah and San Francisco-Honolulu flight disasters. The sentence of five years' suspension imposed on him must be approved by President Coolidge. In the meantime, Col. Mitchell remains technically under arrest.