Evening star., 1921-09-17
SAYS j. s. MUST AID
PLANS FOR A|RSH|PS
Advisory Committee Would
Buy German DirigibIe to Re-
place Lost ZR-2.
Procurement of a dirigible Of the zep-

Procurement of dirigible Of the Zep-
pelin type from Germany IL possible. to
replace the lost ZR-2, and continuation
ing at Lakehurst. N. j., was recommend
ed today to President Harding and Sec
retaries DENLY and Weeks by the Of
fetal national advisory committee for
aeronautics.
Continued production Of helium, the
new gas used for initiating airships. also
was recommended by the committee.
which is composed of Army and Navy
officers. Charles F. Marvin. chief Of the
weather bureau; Orville Wright and
DR.. Charles. D.. Waicott. sserstAsy Of
the Smithsonian Institution. chairman
The committees recommendation
were formulated at q meeting Sep
tember Is, at which the destruction
of the ZR-2 In its relation to the
future of airships in the American
naval and military establ }shments
was discussed. After this discussion
the committee formulated it's recom-
mendations, which held:
Would Develop Airships.
THAT the development Of rigid air.
ships should be continued in this
country. That sufficient funds should
be devoted to experimental work for
obtaining definite information re.
garding the strength qualities of ma
terials and girders used in the con-
struction of airships. and for the de-
velopment and checking of the
theories used in the general design
of airships; and that the present
program for the construction Of the
airship ZR-1 and for the production
wpytA
renewed vigor. and that the govern
ment Of the United States should Sc
cure a recent type of German rigid
airship, preferably directly from Ger
many, to fill the vacancy in the pro-
gram caused by the loss of the IRE"
Program IL Conservative.
The committee declared 1.-The pres
ent program of the United States in
regard to the construction of rigid
airships can be regarded only as ex-
tremely conservative"
Referring directly to the loss of
the ZR-2. the committee Informed the
that 1.-The conclusion is certain that
whatever was the primary cause Of
the accident, the use of hydrogen was
contributing cause to the great loss
Of life"
The committee then pointed out
tnat america possesses tne OnlE
large store of helium which is known
to exist. by the use of which airships
can be more successfully developed
by America than by any other country
for commercial as we'll as military
purposes
"It would be contrary to the true
American spirit" the committee add
ed, in referring to the ZR-2 disaster.
"to abandon a conservative program
because of one serious accident. when
it is possible by studying the cause of
the accident to profit by any mistakes
that were made"
Point to Development.
The committee pointed to develop
ment of rigid aircraft by Germany and
England, declaring:
Rigid airships have been primarily
developed in Germany as a result of
persistent efforts which could not be
dampened by failure comparable to
the recent destruction of the ZR-2.
and the practical application of such
airships to useful purposes of war and
of peace has been exemplified by the
Germans.
= 1.-The English have prosecuted the
development of rigid airships with
considerable success. patterning after
German designs"