U.S.A. AIR FORCE

Hokitika Guardian, 2 March 1925, Page 1

U.S.A. AIR FORCE

INQUIRY RESUMED

AUHTBALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION WASHINGTON, February 2G. The Air craft Committee has resumed hearing evidence.

Rear-Admiral Jones, of the Navy General Board, testified that he had endeavoured to counteract General Mitchell, on the Air Forces charges; but a representative of all the members of the committee, obviously supporting General Mitchell, drew several important admissions from Admiral Jones. The latter declared he did not believe that a two thousand pound bomb dropped from a plane would have any effect on the motive power of a battleship or on those of the personnel in enclosed station. Ho said:— 1 do not believe that a bomb landing within .30 feet of a vessel would do any damage. Be admitted that only one explosive bomb was dropped on the battleship Washington at the tests which bomb did not even pierce the deck. He agreed that aircraft had not been given a chance to demonstrate during the test. Admiral Jones cleejared the F.S.A. Navy w«s equal to the treaty in some units hut was below it in others, particularly in aernplaine carriers. Ho said additional carriers were tinder eon struetion. Admiral Jones agreed with General Mitchell that the Phiilipines could be taken by a foreign power in a very short time, but he criticised General Mitchell's statements regarding tho 1921 bombing tests. He said that certain people repeatedly impugned tho honour of the naval officer who conducted the test. . Tf anyone would want to know whether an aeroplane could put battleships out of commission, it would he the navy for its very existence depended on sucli knowledge. Captain Johnson, Assistant Chief of the Bureau of Aeronautics, testified that the Bureau asked for 22 million dollars, and was granted 19 million. Secretary Weeks gives evidence later.

ADMIRAL SIM’S VIEWS

WASHINGTON, February 28

Rear Admiral Sims (retired) who was Commander of the American Atlantic Fleet during the war, gave characteristic blunt testimony before the Aircraft Committee. He said he agreed wth GicieraJ Mitchell that the United States Air Forces should be increased, but he opposed any plan for the unification of the Army and Navy Air Services, claiming that it was necessary that the flyers operating with the Navy should be trained naval officers. In urging a, larger force of airplanes lor the Canal Zone Admiral Sims said that an adequate force would ensure the zone from air attacks and would defeat attempts to land troops. It could also blow up an approaching enemy fleet. “Aircraft,” lie said, “will hold the key to power in the next war. No fleet can operate successfully against a power in control of the air.” He declared that in 1921, .bombing tests showed conclusively that modern vessels could be put out of commission bv an air bombing.

Admiral Sims said the airplane was the outstanding war weapon of today. “When two fleets meet at sea, the one with the largest air force will triumph, as it can destroy the othci oir force and then bomb the ships at will.” he said.

Admiral Sims criticised the report of the Navy Board which placed tho battleship above the airplane. He said “I am not much impressed by that report. The day after if was issued, the Secretary for the Navy said ho heartily agreed with it. The opinion of the' Secretary of the Navy on a highly technical matter like ibis is not much.”

Questioned regarding his naval experiences, Admiral Sims said: ( My scivices consisted mainly of getting into trouble with the principal dignitaries. Many of my reports were burned by order of tbe Navp Department, I gained a reputation of being the best admiral in tbe British Navy. I received little aid from Washington during the first months of my command of the Atlantic Fleet. When 1 told them the truth about England’s dire condition, thev would not believe me!”

Representative Perkins (Chairman of the Committee) said: “Do you believe the battleship is the backbone of the Fleet ?’’

Admiral Sims: “Yes, hut I believe it has been broken. Tho capital fillip of the future will be an airplane enr-

Regnrding the Pacific, Admiral Sinus said : “Our position there is unfortunate. We will he absolutely hamstrung without a Pacific Naval Base. It is absolutely essential that the lines of communication he kept open, hut if (Juan Island were seized, wo could not go to the Phiilipines until we recaptured it. Wo could not go there sc long as another Power held it. as our whole line of communication would he lott open to attack. Admiral Sims criticised the United States for agreeing at the Washington Conference not to fortify Guam He declared, that, despite the Conferences, the race fur armaments was continuing and he said: “Britain has filty cruisers and Japan thirty, built ot building. Japan has laid down eighty thousand tons of submarines since the war.” F.S.A. AIR ENQUIRY. (Received this day at 9 a.in.) WASHINGTON, February 28. Mr Weeks. Secretary for War, giving evidence before the Aircraft committee declared that Senator Mitchell had violated the orders of President Coolidgc anil the War Department when he prepared articles for publication without first submitting them to the Department for approval. Air Weeks denied the Department had attempted to silence Senator Alitcholl. He also denied that he told Mitchell he would he transferred to a remote place or forced to resign. Secretary AY eeks said that neither the President nor he had the power to force Mitchell to resign. He admitted Mitchell was the best informed officer in the War Department regarding aviation. He also agreed that there way a shortage of planes.

The inquiry is nearing a close