Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-08-25
DESTRUCTION OF
ZR-2 NOT WHOLLY
UNEXPECTED HERE

Continued From First ragcD
was disclosed by Lieutenant Com
mandcr I.ansdownc. who crossed from
England 10 America In the RIBS
cpoch-'naking trip two years ago.
Two weeks ago had "a feeling
that all was not we'll Lanrdownc
told me a few hours after tho disaster
was reported 10 the Navy Depart
ment.
4. :. Crew Confident.
That the American crew of the
%is-2. however. had entire confidence
in her and the builders is unqucs-
toned. Replying TO questions OF
correspondents. tho American navy
officers associated with the British
builders. were positive that the air
limited and that she would weather
any Kind Of atmospheric conditions
that might be encountered
officials here are divided as 10
whether huCklinG caused the cxplos-
ion Of hydrogen Eas. which brought
the hiS bag down in flames. or an
explosion caused the breaking In two
Of the vessel. Even II this is es,ab-
lished. it will prove difficult 10 de-
;orninc the actual contributing cause.
Already navy officials are interest.
ing themselves regarding the FRI.
which is being built In this country.
Practically all the material for its
construction has been contracted for
ana tho huge hangar. the largest in
Tho world. is hcing assembled at
I.akchurst, New Jersey. Opposition
by Congress alone can proven, the
completion Of tho American built
dirip!hle before next July. IL was
stated The navy asked for an ap-
preparation Of $1,000 900 for the IRIS
comrytion. hu, this was refused.
Money was available. however. for
materials. ana this was used Also
approximately 100000 appropriated
for aircraft purposes can be diverted.
ii is believed
l.. q. Loss Undrtr rmincd.
UntN details have been received
from London, the loss incurred by
this government through the dcstruc-
,ion OF the If-2 cannot he asccr-
tanned. According to the contract.
England was To receive the sum OF
s.. oO0,0O upon delivery W the ship.
Fart OF this sum has already been
paid over. Another stipulation in the
contract Is that. in ease OF accident
after delivery and before arrival Of
the IE-2 At it's destination, half al:
the loss is to be borne by the build
crS.
Consequently. Americas loss 1T tho
most. cannot he more than sl,000,Go0.
In event the British government has
insured the diriGiblc. even that loss
may he avoided.
Whether this money. or the uncX-
pended portion OF the S2,000,000 APP
propriated by Congress for the IR-2s
purchase. can be diverted to the cost
Of the ZR-i is n question
Fear that future alrship construc-
ton by this country may be hampcrcd
by the untimciy accident to the IR-2
is entertained in naval quarters. al
though 1t is pointed out that the loss
should he an argument in favor of
renewed efforts.
Ignorant of Tragedy.
Al the very moment that reports OF
the tragedy were coming over on the
cable. Admiral w. \. Moffht. ignorant
OF wh:t had occurred, was appearing
before the congressional committee in
an appeal for added authorization to
proceed with the navy's acronautic
program. Reside the completion of
the XR-I. an entirely new ship to re-
place the XR-2 should be started, Of
fcials believe.
The ZR-2 was to have been the
largest OF her kind. She was 100
feet long and her cigar shaped bag
was cighty-hvc feet in diameter rhc
gas capacity. 2,720.000 cubic feet
furnished a lifting power OF eighty
four gross tous-forty-iivc tons OF
which consisted OF crew. cargo. fuel
and arnamcnts. The RIB. which
twice crossed the Atlantic. had n gas
cap:(v Of 100000, while that OF
| tho Hn-t will he 100000.
/ The XR-2's motive power consisted
I Of six 350-II. T., Sunbeam CosSacE
| motors located in six separate power
| carriages and capable of driving tho
| huge craft at Il cruising speed of
| sixty miles per hour. with maximum
| speed of between seventy to eighty
| miles. Under favorable conditions
| she was expected to cross the Alta
tic in two days and still have enough
fuel left to proceed to the Pacific
coast