ARMY & NAVY: Mystery

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The House Committee, investigating into aviation (TIME, Feb. 16), suddenly ceased its inquiry. It gave as a reason that its funds were practically exhausted. Some people suggested that it had got word from higher quarters to stop proceedings; others surmised that it felt it was making a farce of its investigation. At any rate, it abruptly ceased its hearings.

"Mystery," the press murmured ecstatically. Then, equally "mysteriously," the committee voted to resume its investigation. The reason given was that a check-up showed that there were more funds left.

Before the interval in the inquiry, however, Brigadier General William Mitchell, Assistant Chief of the Army Air Service, chief advocate of a united Air Service, had made a number of sensational, if not astounding, statements:

"Capital ships are absolutely at the mercy of air attack, or any ships that float in the water are for that matter, and the only defense is air power."

"The only way that these ships can be kept at sea is with the loving care of airplanes and submarines. You must just 'baby' them all over the place."

"An air force could reduce our Pacific islands easily and we couldn't defend them with our present armament."

"So far as our plans for defense are concerned, they are the worst of any country I know of."

His parting shot at the Navy was an offer to show in an actual test what airplanes could do. He suggested that the battleship North Dakota be subjected to trial. (She must soon be used for target practice since she is outside the Disarmament Treaty quota.) He suggested that the Navy equip her with a radio control.

"We don't care what underwater protection there is. We will blow her out of the water.

"If we were attacking the North Dakota with heavy bombs, I am certain we could make 70% of hits."