U.S.A. AIR INQUIRY.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 19 December 1925, Page 5

U.S.A. AIR INQUIRY.

MITCHELL FOUND GUILTY. FIVE YEARS’ SUSPENSION IMPOSED. BY CABLE—PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT. NEW YORK, Dec. 17. Colonel William Mitchell, former- assistant chief of the air service, was found guilt3* this evening by* a genera., court-martial of having broken discipline by attacks on the aviation policies of the Air Department, following the Shenandoah and the San Francisco to Honolulu flight disasters. Sentence of five years’ suspension was imposed, but the sentence must be approved by President Goolklge. Meantime, Colonel Mitchell remains technically under arrest. The jury of generals returned a verdict of guilty alter 32 minutes’ deliberation. Colonel Allen Gullion, previously summing up the prosecution’s ease, characterised Colonel Mitcliel] as an egotistical, fiambuoyant, untruthful and destructive person, who should be dismissed from the army. Colonel Gullion.added: “Colonel Mitchell’s statements follow what may bo termed the Mitchell formula, viz. (1) an exaggeration of national defence, a matter closely approaching, a (falsehood ; (2) untrue and misleading statements for the deliberate purpose l of discrediting the army and navy officers thereby; (3) creating distrust in th c minds of the people regarding the War and Navy Departments; (4) egotistic self-deception regarding his experience and qualifications; (51 protestations of absence of self-interest and expressions of willingness to be and the expectation of being a martyr, all leading to (6) a united air service, with (7) Colonel William Mitchell as the only logical head thereof. Every demagogue followed a similar lorniiiln.” Colonci Mitehe l ! declined' to make an at guinentative speech, merely < Tecta ring that the case was the culmination of tile efforts of the general staff to depreciate the value of air power. Colonel Mitchell was then sentenced to suspension from the army for five years, involving the forfeiture of all rank, command and pay durino- the period. “ General Howze, who presided, declared that what the court-martial had considered was the brilliant record of the accused. Colonei Mitehe! l , after sentence smiled, Hiid shook hands with the jurors. LU -