The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-03-17
FEUD OVER HELIUM
STIRS WASHINGTON
Bureau Of Mines and Navy
Clash About Discovery of
Non-Inflammable Gas.
BRITISH SHARE SECRET
Would Have Made Balloons Of
Allies Immune From Fire
IL War Had Kept On
BRITISH SHARE SECRET
speciar DespotcA to TIE sus.

specidI Despatch TO TIE SuN.
wAsHrNoToN, March ia feud be-
tween the Navy Department and the
bureau Of mines has developed mere over
tho production Of hellum, the new ~
nammable gas. which /, going to revo-
Iutionizs the work OF the dirigible bal
loon. Secretary Daniels has called d.
rector Van H. Manning of the bureau
of mines to account for having experts
in Europe cooperating with the British
In using helium for dirigibles for COM
mercial purposes and to-day the Navy
Department issued q statement chang
ing the bureau Of mines with having
abandoned the work Of producing helium
during the experimental stages and
claiming credit Tor having brought about
continuation OF this work which now
proves 80 important
When this statement was called to
the attention OF Director Manning. he
at once hred back the charge at the Navy
Department and made no effort to con-
ceal the fact that he regarded the state
ment as unture and Furthermore that
the Navy was attempting to claim credit
to which II was not entitled.
I'VE are more interested than ever in
the subject, and any one who says we
ever thought of stopping the work>makes
. misstatement." DR.. Manning said.
objected to Stopping Work.
The Navy Department statement says I:
During the experimental period OF
this work the Bureau of Mines, as
Stunning that the plants designed by
the organization would be in success
full operation, advised that the expert
mental work on the two commercial
plants should be stopped. The War
and Navy Departments and particu-
larry the Naval Bureau of Steam En-
cheering. which was concerned with
the production of helium, insisted ON
the contrary upon a continuation Of
the experimentation OF these plants.
Their Judgment was vindicated within
o few weeks when It was shown that
helium could be produced in guam
tity at a reasonable price at both
these plants"
Helium is the new non-infiammable gas
which can take the place of hydrogen in
all types of balloons 1t completely elimi-
mates the danger of fire and incendiary
bullets fred into the gas bag make no
impression. 1t permits dirigibles or
Zeppelins to be completely remodelled
30 as to have the passenger carrying
part close against the gas bag instead
of hanging separately.
1t enables guns to be used and all
manner of electrical apparatus to form
part of the structure which was COM
pletely out of the question when in
fiammable gas had to be used. In short
helium admittedly makes the dirigible a
most valuable war weapon and increases
its usefulness a thousand fold for peace
purposes.
Immunity From Foes Fire.
1t is admitted that IL the German
Zeppelins mad used helium all manner
Of destructive work might have been
carried on with impunity. Franklin
Roosevelt Assistant Secretary of the
Navy. says the only means of bringing
down a helium filled dirigible would be
for an airplane to crash its way bodily
through 1t. He added this:
IF the war had lasted until next
spring the British and American
Governments would have sent helium
hlled airships over strategic points in
Germany, each capable of dropping a
total Of ten tons or more of high
explosives either in a single uemen-
dous discharge or in a number OF
smaller ones during its passage over
q fortress or city. These airships
would have carried batteries amply
sufficient to repel airplane attack"
Ho WOTh Oh pTOuuClnB
has been carried on secretly by thu
Bureau of Mines during the last stage.
of the war. The discovery of helium II
Kansas. Oklahoma and Texas was due t.
experts OF the Bureau of Mines. TIVE
big plants are located now in Texai
engaged In producing helium in guam
tity. The process Is roughly as follows
Natural gas is collected and com
pressed and cooled down in the sam'
kind of apparatus used to liquify air
AS the cooling process continues every
thing Is liQuified out long before thu
helium. The regular hydrocarbon serie
making up approximately 20 per cent. o
the natural gas liquifies first and thel
the nitrogen, constituting about 80 pc
cent. Is condensed at a temperature o
1s5 degrees c below zero. 1t require
268 degrees c below ordinary zero t
liquify helium. 30 this gas remains to b
collected when other elements have beel
liQuihed.
ma