U.S. AIR FORCE

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 25 November 1925, Page 5

U.S. AIR FORCE

COURT MARTIAL CONTINUED. DEFENCE’S ALLEGATIONS. MITCHELL’S DEFIANT ATTITUDE. BY CABLE—PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT AVASHINGTON, Nov. 23. Colonel Mitchell, late assistant chief to the Army Air Force, m giving testimoiiy before the aircraft court-inai - tial, maintained his defiant attitude, repeating many of his previous assertions, but he caused a tremendous surprise bv declaring that there were not facts in his statements, but merely opinions, despite which he said he would prove that the statements were not exaggerated nor capable of conveying a false impression to the people of the United States regarding defence. The prosecution attacked Co lone. Mitchell’s charge that the Hawaiian fleet manrouvres cost 80,000,000 dollars, declaring that the commanding admiral reported that the maiueuvrcs cost only 550,000 above the regular fleet expenses. Colonel Mitchell stated that the Hawaiian flight seaplanes were good for nothing, and he disagreed with the contention of the prosecution that' PN9I proved itse'f a valuable seaplane during* its nine days' drift in the Pacific.

The prosecutor asked .if Colonel Mitchell offered himself as a better judge of the Hawaiian flight than Commander Rodgers, whereupon Colonel Mitcheff replied : “I do.” “The prosecution announced that it was prepared to prove that Colonel Mitchell gave inaccurate testimony to the Congressional Committee.