AIR AND SEA

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLV, Issue 58, 7 February 1925, Page 5

AIR AND SEA

QUESTION OF SUPREMACY. HEATED AMERICAN DISCUSSION (By Electric Telegraph.—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. In the sinking of the Washington, Mr McClintic alleged that the battleship was bombed from the air with "nonexplosive bombs filled with Band before the guns sank the vessel. The Secretary for the Navy. Mr Wilbur, denied the charge, and also that an attempt was being made to gag nßval officers testifying before the Congressional committees. These are the latest development* in a lively controversy involving the whole pohev of national defence. The Congress, the army and the navy have been drawn into a heated discussion over the importance of aviation in warfare, and there are numerous indications that President Coolidge will have to become the final arbiter in the adjustment of personal official feuds Within the military and naval establishments and point the way to Congress for appropriations. General Mitchell, assistant Chief of the Army Air Force, undismayed by attacks on the General Navy Board and General Army Staff because of testimony given before the Congressional committees, announced that if required a colonel might resign from the army and run for Congress and continue the battle with bureaucracy. Representative Perkins, chairman of the House Aircraft Investigating Committee, said at least threo officers of the Navy had asked to be excused from giving testimony in Congress through tear of vengeance when promotions were in prospect. He &Ssert*d that the careers of General Mitchell and Admiral Moffett, Chief of the Naval. Aeronautics, were ending _ 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 personal opinions on national defence, but not to reveal confidential information. In the meantime the Naval Board, which reported to the President that the airplane was increasingly useful as an auxiliary to the surface fleet, but was not comparable with the battleship in the first line of defence, faces a hard fight to maintain its position since. Representative Curry, autilor of the bill, to establish a separate Air Department, has issued a direct challenge to the board and the Army General Staff to meet the air service in tests under conditions of actual warfare for the substantiation or refutation of General Mitchell's contentions. Mr Curry said the seadogs of the navy were attempting to subject General Mitchell to humiliation and discipline, but were unable to refute a single fact brought out by the air service officers.—A. and N.Z. cable.