DEFENCE OF ISLANDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 18949, 21 February 1925, Page 9

DEFENCE OF ISLANDS.

OBSOLETE AMERICAN ARMS. CONTROVERSY OVER AIRCRAFT. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Reed. 9.5 P.m.) WASHINGTON. Feb. 19. General William Mitchell, Assistant Chief of the Army Air Service, gave further evidence to-day before the Aircraft. Committee of the House of Representatives. He asserted that there was an entire lack of co-ordination between the Army and Navy forces in Hawaii. He said Hawaii was a strategic point and must be maintained. The commanding General and the Admiral at Hawaii would not speak to each other, said the witness. The defences of Hawaii were now as " obsolete as bows and arrows." General Mitchell advocated the construction of aeroplane and submarine bases at Hawaii. lie declared that the Philippines could not be held for two weeks in the event of an attack by the Japanese. There are persistent rumours that General Mitchell will ho given the choice of resignation or reduction owing to his criticisms of the Army and Navy chiefs. Pacific naval officers, however, have endorsed his claim that aircraft are superior to battleships. This opinion is based on tests carried out at San Pedro. Five giant seaplanes dropped bombs on a moving target from an altitude of 7300 ft, Tho results are said by Lieut.-Commander Strong, who conducted the tests, to have demonstrated conclusively that the battleship is an easy prey for aircraft. The Secretary for War, Mr. J. W. Weeks, recently issued a statement to the effect that the department possessed 1200 serviceable aeroplanes. As a result the Aircraft Committee subpoenaed him to give evidence. This action drew from Mr. 'Weeks the admission that the Army possesses 25 aeroplanes of the most modern type among 1500 of all kinds..