The Court-Martial of Billy Mitchell Page #11

proclaimed your vision,

might you not say

that you have

overstated your case,

and, upon sober reflection,

things aren't as bad

as you said?

Most certainly not.

I meant every word of it,

and I still do.

Then I submit,

Col. Mitchell,

that you are guilty

of the most flagrant

disorder...

to the prejudice

of good

military discipline.

I don't agree.

Col. Mitchell,

is it, uh,

is it your desire today

to remain in the army?

- It is.

- And should the occasion

arise in peace or war,

and you thought

your superiors wrong,

would you rush

to the newspapers...

with attacks

against their behavior?

Objection. That question

is ridiculous and outrageous.

The witness is being asked to

speculate on his future conduct.

Why not? Why not,

if the witness

can speculate...

on the future conduct

of the world

and its armies?

The issue bears

on the only question

before this court--

Col. Mitchell's

qualifications to remain

in the United States Army.

I'll answer that, Major.

I don't know

what I would do tomorrow.

Then you don't know

if you could behave

as an army man.

- I didn't say that.

- Are you ready...

to give

unquestioned obedience

to your superiors,

even though you may

consider their conduct

negligent and incompetent?

I consider myself

a good soldier.

Oh. Well, now,

then you

have changed from

that William Mitchell...

who denounced

his superiors in Texas.

- I have not changed.

- Oh, then you still

insist upon...

your right

to break an army rule.

- I didn't say that either.

- I am merely trying

to establish...

your exact feelings

on the question

of insubordination.

Col. Mitchell,

what is

the first duty...

of a soldier

to his superior?

- We've been over that.

- Are you afraid

of the word, sir?

- What word?

- The word that

answers my question,

in all

the armies of the world,

is the word "obedience."

You're trying to quibble me

out of the army.

You know better than

to call me disobedient.

Col. Mitchell,

why didn't you

resign from the army...

and conduct your campaign

legitimately

from a civilian position?

Because

I'm an army man, sir.

And do you consider

your statement in Texas

justified?

Objection.

The witness is being asked

to pass judgment on himself.

- I'll answer. My--

- Col. Mitchell, you don't

have to answer that question.

Objection sustained.

In view, then, of your

present opinion...

that your superiors

are negligent

and incompetent,

could you give them

unquestioned obedience...

should you be

returned to duty?

I ask the court

to instruct the witness

not to answer that question.

I'll answer

that question too.

You have asked me

to state that I am unfit

to remain in the army...

because I have

incurred the hostility

of my superior officers.

I can't admit that,

and I won't.

I've been wearing the uniform

of the United States Army...

most of my adult life,

and I've worn it

with pride.

But if being a good soldier

is your kind

of good soldier,

of being unable

to think for himself

and say what he thinks,

of being narrow

and blind...

and insensible

to a higher duty,

you can have the uniform

and all that goes with it.

[ Spectators

Chattering Loudly ]

If trying to do something

for your country,

if fighting

to correct injustice...

is being a bad soldier,

then I'm glad

I'm a bad soldier.

This issue goes far beyond

being a good soldier in--

in his sense of the word.

It goes beyond

blind obedience...

and depends on--

on a man's faith...

in his knowledge

of what is right.

If being

a good soldier is...

submitting dumbly

and passively to--

to injustice, indecision

and complacency, then I'm--

[ Voice Breaking ]

I'm glad I'm a bad one.

[ Spectators

Chattering Loudly ]

Billy.

Thank you, Col. Mitchell.

That's all. No further

cross-examination.

The army rests its case.

Does the defense

wish to make

a closing statement?

The defense

has nothing further.

The court will retire

to consider its finding.

[ Spectators Chattering ]

[ No Audible Dialogue ]

Stand up when

the court enters!

The court

will come to order.

The accused will stand.

Col. William Mitchell,

the court,

in closed session...

and upon secret

written ballot,

two-thirds of the members

present at the time

this vote was taken...

concurring therein,

finds you, of all specifications

and the charge, guilty.

[ Spectators

Chattering Loudly ]

Order in the court.

The court,

again in closed session...

and upon secret

written ballot,

two-thirds of the members

present concurring therein,

sentences you to be

suspended from rank,

command and duty...

with forfeiture of all pay

and allowances for a period

of five years.

The court is thus lenient

because of your military

record during the World War.

The court has adjourned.

Do you have a statement

to make, Colonel?

Will you remain in Washington?

[ Reporters Shouting ]

No comment.

How do you feel about

the army now, Colonel?

The army owes me nothing.

I owe the army everything.

What do you intend

on doing--

[ Shouting Continues ]

Ten-hut!

[ Heels Click ]

Thank you, gentlemen.

Russ.

Carry on.

[ Airplanes Passing Overhead ]

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