U.S. AVIATION DISASTERS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 10 September 1925, Page 5

U.S. AVIATION DISASTERS.

SEARCH FOR -MISSING ’PLANE

THE SHENANDOAH INQUIRY - ,

BY CABLE—PBESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT WASHINGTON, Sept. S.

Mr Wilbur has announced that .the United States fleet returning from New Zealand has been ordered to spread fanwise on approaching the Hawaiian Islands in the hope of finding a trace of the. missing PN9I. He declared! that the search would continue. while a shred of hope remained. The destroyers which wert searching Hawaiian waters have beeii ordered to cover again the area already combed. The War Department has begun an official investigation of the charges by Colonel William Mitchell, former as-sistant-chief of the Air Service, that the War and Navy Departments have been guilty of incompetency and criminal negligence which, is almost treasonable. The administration of national defence has printed the following on the Shenandoah and PN9I dististcrs* It is understood that the court-mar-tial trial of Colonel Mitchell on a charge of insubordination is inevitable. The. °War Department will attempt to exclude all evidence and argument on the basic aircraft controversy on the grounds that they are irrelevant. Colonel Mitchell is believed to desire a trial' in order to focus public attention on the aircraft dispute, perhaps leading to a sweeping Congressional inquirv. He is expected to use every effort to inject the air policy into the trial as a vital part .of the defence, alleging sabotage in aviation development bv the two departments. Meanwhile Senator King, of Utah (Democrat) has prepared a resolution asking for a Congressional. investigation of the entire naval, air and sea policy.