National Affairs: Shenandoah Inquiry

After taking testimony for 13 days at Lakehurst, N. J., the Naval Board of Inquiry investigating the causes of the wrecking of the Shenandoah, moved on to Washington for further hearings. At Lakehurst 36 witnesses had been heard, including 28 survivors of the wreck (the 29th being still in hospital too ill to testify). At Washington, examination of technical experts and others was taken. There were two incidents at the opening of the Washington hearings:

1) The Board requested the War Department to direct Col. Mitchell to appear before it. This was done because in the language of the Court Col. Mitchell had made certain public statements indicating that he was cognizant of matters that might prove of value in fixing the cause of the disaster and the Court felt it was entitled to whatever information he had.

On the day set Col. Mitchell appeared with his counsel, Representative Reid of Illinois. As the Court was about to swear him, Mr. Reid objected. The Court was surprised. It was discovered that Col. Mitchell, while directed to appear, had not actually been subpoenaed. So a subpoena was promptly served on him. He still declined to testify, saying in a letter to the Court and to the War Department: “I am advised by my counsel that it would be inconsistent with my legal rights and might jeopardize my case should I be required to testify before the Naval Court on matters likely to be the subject of inquiry in a possible court martial proceeding.”

The Court which had assumed that he would be glad to testify, was taken aback and notified the War Department of his refusal. The War Department did nothing, since it had directed Col. Mitchell to “appear” and he had done so.

2) Mrs. Margaret Ross Lansdowne, widow of Commander Zachary Lansdowne, was also called because she had declared that Commander Lansdowne had objected to the flight. She appeared in weeds, read a brief statement and was excused without examination. Her testimony introduced no new facts, was merely her interpretation of the correspondence between Commander Lansdowne and his superiors already in the record.