Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-08-25
Navy Still Has
Faith in Type
of DirigibLe
Special TO Indiana Daily Times
and Philadelphia Public Ledger.

Special TO Indiana Daily Times
and Philadelphia Public Ledger
WASHINGTON, Aug. 25.-In the alb
senee Of detailed information on the sx-
pIosIon which wrecked the dirigible ZR2
at Hull, England, Navy officials. includ
ing Secretary DENLY and Admiral Moi
felt chief Of the Bureau Of AerOnautics,
declined to speculate on the cause OF the
accident. Both officers indicated def
niteIy. however, thst spectacular destruc-
don of the big airship had not shall ken
their faith in the type as an important
and necessary arm of naval warfare. The
disaster, II was stated authoritstiTely,
viii not cause abandonment Of the Fri,
sister ship Of the ZR-2, now partially
com pleted at the Navy hangar at Lake
hurst, y j. Construction Of Fri will
continue, Admiral MOffett said, with the
hope Of completion in July Of next year.
II is even possible Congress viii be
asked to appropriate 81 coo 900 needed to
finish the job an item which was struck
from the general Navy appropriation bill.
Funds for naval aircraft development are
in hand. however, to continue the con-
struction OF the Fri, but at q slower
rate than desired By the department
The Navy Department announced that
Ii had been decided not to hold an AmeTi-
can court Of inquiry into the explosion
Of the IRA but that rs the ship was
under British jurisdiction, It would be
left to the British officials to make an
investi Cation
4 court Of inquest viii be held over the
dead Americans, however. IN. accordance
with naval customs, to establish how they
met death and that they died IN line OF
duty.
The confidence the Navy imposes In the
practicabiIity Of the giant rigid type Of
airship apparently IS due TO tie progress
which has been made ii this country in
the development of a nOnindammable gas
which is efficient as hydrogen in lifting
power. Helium thus far has been found
only in the United States, which Giyes
this country an advantage in the handling
Of the d.rigible. The highly in1Rmmable
character of hydrogen coupled with the
fact the British were forced to use tbs
element 70 lift their diriglbles IS one Of
the reasons ascribed for the recent deci-
sion of the British air ministry 10 bUl9
no more aircraft OF the rigid type. q,
NOT HELIUM GAS
ENOUGH N NATION.
Despite expressed confidence Of Secre-
tary DENLY and Admiral MOffet in the
rigid airship and limitations that the
Navy Department would not permit the
accident TO the ZR2 to change their
plans for adding at least one glsnt dirigi-
bic to the Nays air force both &C
knOwledged there was not enough helium
gas in the United States at the present
time to a. an airship Of such proportions
The ZR2 was 10 have been brought TO
the United States with hydrogen and
probably would have used that quickly
inhammsble gas on her proposed flights
across the country.
There was considerable uncertainty AZ
the Navy Department as TO whether the
United States or the British construction
firm would sustain the loss of the ZR2
The contract for The purchase Of the ship
by the Navy called for the payment Of
lump sum Of 100000 II the ship be
came a total loss after It was delivered 70
its American crew and before arriving tn
the tinted states this country was 10 bear
one half the loss Of 81 600 900. As the ship
vas wrecked on a trial flight while IN The
hands Of the British builders it is as
suued the United States viii not be re-
quired 70 bear any appreciabie portion Of
the loss Secretary DENLY said he did
not care to discuss that phase OF the ac-
cideut until he had received a full report,
or learned whether the ship had been In
sured. Lloyds recently asked the Navy
Department if insurance was desired on
The ship for the trans Atlantic fight and
was told none would he taken out
Whether the British builders had the ship
Insured for her trials is not known here
To IS possible Secretary DENLY said, that
some American money already had been
expended on the ship.
The transatlantic flight Of the ZR-2
was set originally for today and an
nouncement that she would take of
from Hovden. England, where she WIS
built and head out 70 sea was made by
the Navy Department Aug- t. Failure
OF the builders TO get her in shape for
her trial fights over England and dis
covery Of faulty construction in the big
bags supports or girders, caused delay.
Weather conditions also fnterferred with
plans for the trials and the ship, thor
oughIy overhauled, was not permitted to
20 mp until Tuesday.
-Copyright. Philadelphia Ledger Co.