Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-02-16
SAYS CUT IN FUNDS
WILL MEAN DEATH
OF NAVAL AVIATION
Captain Craven, Director
Of Service, Doesn't Like
House Appropriation.
S6,9l5.431 is AMOUNT
ALLOTTED THIS BRANCH
Total Asked Was $4,000, 900,
Less Than Cost of One
Capital Ship.
CAN'T BUILD NEW AIRCRAFT
Project To Construct One Of the
Worlds I.argcs; Dirigib,cs viii
Have to BE abandoned.
$6,9l5.431 is AMOUNT
ALLOTTED THIS BRANCH
CAN'T BUILD NEW AIRCRAFT
Project To Construct One of the
Worlds Largest Dirigib,cs Will
Have to BE Abandoned.
ny JOHN GLEISsNEn.
United News Stnn Corrcspondruf.

WASHINGTON, Feb. l5.-Limi,nd
funds granted by the House for naval
aviation in the appropriation bin
just passed. means the virtual de-
struction Of the service. according to
Captain r. r. Craven. its director.
The controversy In Congress,
instead Of scrappine the capital shin.
appears TO have scrapped naval avia-
tt"n. without which the navy cannot
defend the country" said Craven.
Meanwhile. the army ard navy are
perfecting arrangements for an ac-
tual test OF the value Of the airplanc
as an engine OF naval warfare
Bombs are to be dropped on an obso-
lete vessel. This follows assertions
in the Senate by Senator Borah and
others that development; Of aerial
warfare has dctractcd from the va!u.
Of the capital ship, nnd extensive
hearings before the Military Affairs
Committee of the House to obtain
expert opinion on the dispute
S6.D15..i31 Appropriated.
The total for aviation In the House
bill Is s6.9l5.t3i. none of which is
Tot building new aircraft. Th..
amount asked was $4,000. 900. less
than the cost OF single carit;> shin,
craven pointed out that all the capi
tal ships OF the fleet might be rem
dered helpless. IL they encountered
an enemy which had succeeded in
developing naval aviation The
amount allowed for experimentation,
craven said. would prevent Develop
meht of a suitable plane for sea oper-
ations
The aviation service which tho
navy desires today. and which il
must nave. is IN arm which will as
sisi II 10 defeat The enemy AT sea -
sa'd Cra"en. explaining that tyne
oi plane able TO do effective work
away from land is yet 10 be devised.
lie pointed out also. that while no
provision for new building has been
made. measures have been advanced,
"a construct airplane carriers. ,o cos,
S35 900. 600.
Unless the Scnat. increases tho
naval aviation appropriations" said
Craven. I'VE will be compeJIed IN rc-
!inqu!sh Coco Solo. the naval air sta
'icn from which the air defense of
me iahama Canal is conducted .Ccs-
sation means exposure of tn. canal
to attack from the air And if at
TACK ever is made. il is certain to
be made first through air bombara-
ment.
Can't Maintain Units.
The aviation detachmcnts serving
with the Atlantic and Pacific Fleets
cannot be maintained. Present couip-
ment consists for the most sart or
planes left over from the war. I'm
der the bill. as it stands. we have
net sufficient funds to install mod
ern radio on these planes. The planes
themselves. for the most part will
nave TO be junkcd before the end of
the year
The project to construct one of
the worlds largest dirigiblcs in the
United states. work on which had
already begun. will have to he aban-
doncd. Competitions in naval air.
craft design which were entered into
by the American aircraft industry
Will he terminated. The result will
be serious embarrassment. possibly
fatal injury. to the lighter and
heavier-than-air aircraft industries
in the United States. to which we
must look for the development of our
designs and the manufacture Of our
equipment
Even the operation Of the great
rigid purchased abroad ut cost of
s2.500.00O will be limited to the At
lantic Coast, as the plans for an air
ship terminal in Southern California
will be killed. This means that the
Pacific Coast will be deprived of the
principal element in long distance
aerial defense