The Union Daily Times

BEGIN TESTIMONY AGAINST MITCHELL

Washington, Dec. 7.—(By the Associated Press).—Prosecution counsel in the army court martial of Colonel Mitchell rested the navy's rebuttal to the air officer's charges of incompetency late today. Tomorrow the court will take up the army phase of the trial.

On hand, and waiting to be called to defend the War department and army from Colonel Mitchell's attacks are some 20 or more high ranking officers, more than half of whom are generals. An unofficial list of these, made available tonight named the following: Major Generals Hanson E. Ely, head of the Army War College; Mason M. Patrick, chief of the air service; Dennis E. Nolan, deputy chief of staff; W. W. Ireland, the surgeon general; Charles P. Summerall, second corps area commander; Robert H. Allen, chief of infantry; Merrit C. Davis, the adjutant general; George C. Richards, former chief of the militia bureau; Malin Craig, chief of cavalry; Frank W. Coe, chief of coast artillery; and Terence C. Williams, chief of ordnance.

Brigadier Generals James E. Fechet, assistant chief of the air service; and Hugh Drum, assistant chief of staff were included. Also about ten other officers whose experience from time to time, spread over air service and operations specifically involved in the Mitchell trial.

Selection of these high rank officers to testify against Mitchell is regarded as an evidence of the weight the department attaches to the controversial points involved in the trial and its determination to crush to the best of its ability his charges of incompetency in the naval and military neglect and all-around conduct of the defense that led to his court under the 96th article of war.

Only four witnesses were called today to wind up the navy testimony which is to be supplemented with some documentary evidence later. They included Lieut. Commanders H. S. Frost, Chas. P. Burgess and Captain W. H. Stanley.