LIVELY ATTACKS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 7 February 1925, Page 5

LIVELY ATTACKS.

U.S. AIR POLICY. , NAVY v. ARMY FEUDS. by cable—cress association--copyright. WASHINGTON, Feb. 5. Representative McClintic made a charge in the House to-day that a deliberate attempt to mislead the American people respecting aircraft in warfare had been made by the Navy Department sinking the battleship Washington. Mr. McClintic alleged that it was the last word from the Navy Department that the ba.tleship was bombed from the air with non-explosive bombs filled with sand before the guns sank the vessel. Mr. Curtis Wilbur (Secretary to the Navy) denied the charge, also that an attempt was made to gag the naval officers testifying before the Congressional Committee. These are the latest developments in a lively controversy involving the whole policy of national defence. Congress, the Army and the Navy were drawn into a heated discussion over the importance of aviation in yvarfare, and there are numerous indications that President Coolidge will have to become , the final arbiter in the adjustment of personal and official feuds within the military and naval establishments arid point the way to Congress for appropriations. General Mitchell, assistant chief of the army air force, is undismayed by the attacks on the General Navy Board and general army staff because of the testimony given to the Congressional committees. It is announced that if required a colonel might resign from the army and run for Congress and continue the battle with the bureaucracy. • Perkins, chairman of the Aircraft Investigation Committee, of tile House, made a sensational charge against at least three officers of the navy. He asked to be excused from giving testimony in Congress through fear of vengeance when promotions were in prospect. Mr. Perkins asserted that, the careers of General Mitchell and Admiral Moffett, chief of naval aeronautics, were endangered owing to their assertion of the superiority of air fighting for. national defence. Mr. Wilbur replied by letter, stating that naval officers were free to express their personal opinions on the question of national defence, but not to reveal confidential information. Meantime the Naval Board, which reported to the President that the airplane was becoming increasingly useful as an auxiliary surface fleet, but was not comparable with the battleship in the first line of deefnee, faces a hard fight to maintain - its position, since Representative Curry, author of the Bill to establish, a separate air department, has issued a direct

challenge to the hoard and .umy_ general staff to meet the aeir service in tests under conditions of actual warfare * lor the substantiation or refutation of General Mitchell’s contentions. Mr. Curry said the sea dogs of the navy were attempting to subject- General Mitchell to humiliation and discipline but they were unable to refute a single fact brought, out by the aitservice officers.