MITCHELL COURT-MARTIAL

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXII, Issue 19442, 30 October 1925, Page 6

MITCHELL COURT-MARTIAL

THE FIRST SKIRMISH. WIN FOR THE DEFENCE. Received Oct. 29, S’.3o p.m. WASHINGTON, Oct. 28. The defence won the first skirmish at the Mitchell cour -martial opening, when three of the original thirteen officers constituting the court were eliminated on the grounds of alleged piejudice. Frank Reid, a member of the House of Representatives, General Mitchell’s chief counsel, contended that recent speeches had proved them impartial. The hostile officers removed included Brigadier-General Albert Bowlcy, by vote of the court; secondly, Charles Summerall, president of the court, ranking Us a Major-General in the army, who nsked to be excused, declaring that General Mitchell’s previous charge—namely mismanagement of aviation in the Haiwaiian manoeuvres —was purely personal and untrue; thirdly, Major-General Fred Skiyden, superintendent of West Point Military Academy, who withdrew. Tho trial is proceeding in. an uncomfortablo old army warehouse.

After reading lengthy specifications based on General Mitchell’s critical speech, Mr. Reid challenged the authority and judicial power of the court, declaring thiat General Mitchell had not violated military law or the articles of war. He claimed that he Was within the constitutional right of free speech in expressing an opinion on a public question so important that President Coolidge called an inquiry.