Salt Lake Telegram | 1939-01-27 | Page 1 | U. S. Bomber Crash Probe Reveals Sale 'Encouragement ' to France

U.S. Bomber Crash Probe Reveals Sale 'Encouragement' to France WASHINGTON, Jsn. 27 (INS) After a parade of high officials who sppeared at a hearing to "explain." "ex-plain." the senate military affairs committee announced today that it would "go to the bottom" in its investigation in-vestigation of tha presence of a French military observer on a bomber-type plane which crashed near Los Angeles.- As the senate committee heard Secretary of the Treasury Morgen-thsu Morgen-thsu and Secretary of War Wood-ring, Wood-ring, President Roosevelt la his press conference revealed that this government was encouraging the purchase of U. S. aircraft by Franca. Mr. Roosevelt said that the French orders for planes would bring Idle American factories Into operation and thus prepare them for turning out thousands of fighting fight-ing craft under (he administration's rearmament program. At the conclusion of the hearing of the senate committee Chairman Morris Shcppaxd (D., Texas) said: "We hsve just begun to Investigate Investi-gate and will continue until we get all the facts." The senate committee developed that the treasury, war and navy departments were "assisting" the French government in the purchase of planes In this country, Sheppard revealed. Many facts relating to these purchases, which will total t6S.000.000 at ths outset, are yet to be ascertained, he added. The committee was particularly Continued ex Pas a, Coluna a POLICIES BARED IN CRASH PROBE f Continue Float Pace One I concerned with the question of whether device baaed upon U. 8. army aircraft ecrta had been In-(tailed In-(tailed on the plan. Shappard said: 1 believe It wa definitely eetab-llahed eetab-llahed that the bombing alghu were not la th plan at th time of th crash," but I will try to ascertain whether there were In the plan latest altimeter devices and radio equipment. We are after tha facta. W want to see whether our laws are lu In protecting our military secrets and, if they are. to recommend recom-mend legislation." Oraig ta Be Heard Th aenate committee will hear Major General Malin Craig, chief of staff of tha army, tomorrow on the part being played by officials of the United States in facilitating th French purchase o fighting plana her. At hi conference the preeldent disclosed that the French government govern-ment had requested permission to make plane purchases and that the cabinet had agreed to grant It Contrary to report that th bomber was conducting secret U. 8. army teats, tha preaident said that the plane had not been accepted by this government. It will be several sev-eral months, ha aaid, before that particular type of light bombing craft will be approved or rejected by U. 8. military officials. Local Strewed Th plan, Mr, Roosevelt emphasised, empha-sised, took off from a municipal airport and not from an army field. Asked why th treasury department depart-ment should be involved In the purchase pur-chase of U. 8. plana by Franc, th preaident pointed out that the treasury department controls the procurement division of the government, gov-ernment, through which purchases are mad. Th senate committee already has questioned Major General Henry H. Arnold of the army air corps on th crash of the bomber In which tha pilot waa killed, but which Paul ChamldVn, representing the French air ministry, survived. Secretary Morgenthau testified before the committee on an invitation invita-tion extended by the treasury to Chemidlin to take tha flight, apparently ap-parently a connection with the "encouragement" "en-couragement" of French airplane purchase In this country. Secretary Wood ring followed h'm into tha committee' secret session to explain what part tha army played la tile rather unusual circumstances cir-cumstances surrounding the flight end Chemidlin' participation in it