Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1922-02-22
WASHINGTON
DAY BY DAY

Washinton, Feb. 22.-The terrible
disaster which befell the dirigible
Roma with its consequent loss of life
probably spells the deathknell Of di-
rigibles so far as the Army Air Ser.
vice is concerned, for it is not be-
lieved that Congress will be in any
frame of mind to appropriate any
further sums for such flying machines
While the original cost of the Roma.
which was purchased from the Ital-
ian government was but 100000,
the United States has spent probably
million dollars all told in having
the big flying ship transported from
Italy and placed in such shape for
flying purposes as to be used as 4
training shop for student officers and
men.
The explosion on the Roma recalls
the accident which happened to the
ZR-2 in England. This airship had
been purchased by the United States
and was on her final trial trip. She
exploded in midair' with loss of life
numbering AS.
The disaster TO the Roma has
shocked officers of the Army Air
Service and government officials gen
orally who have been particularly
interested in the big flying boat.
They had predicted great accomplish
ments for her but now their hopes
have all been shattered through the
wrecking of the giant balloon.
In an energetic attempt to check
to some extent at least the smugg-
ling of rum, narcotics and aliens INTO
the United States along both sides
of the Florida Peninsula and the
Carolina coast. government agencies
have combined for law enforce
ment program unique in American
history.
Conferences in Washington have
determined upon a plan OF action
which provides for simultaneous at
tack by land, water and air upon the
Twentieth Century freeboosters and
pirates who have made joke OF
previous efforts of Folstead law en-
! forcement,
Col. I. 3. Mutt assistant proh!bi.
tion Commissioner in charge OF Held
; forces recently sent to Florida
large detail of men. They are under
trained leaders and instructions to
! ferret. out the workings of the
smuggling system. Today 1t was
learned. this force has been supple
mented By aeroplanes drawn from
army stores and by submarine chas-
ers commissioned by the Coast
Guard.
/ For II years there has existed
under Virginia charter the Oriental
! University. founded by Helmuth p:
Holler. but the exact whereabouts oi
the school has never been known. 1t
has carried an extensive business IN
granting diplomas and degrees.
chiefly in the Orient. About all that
a Chinese student had to do was to
write to the university, enclosing the
! proper fee for registration. do a little
correspondence work and get the
degree. The State Department re-
Gently has received a number of l"t-
ters asking about the standing of the
university, but the Department never
was able to find out.
The Postoffice Dcnartment, how
ever, was able to find Holler VINO
was accordingly arraigned before q
u. S. Commissioner on charge of vi
olating the postal regulations. Ee
was released on $4,000 bond to await
trial.
While sub committee of the
Ways and Means Committee IS at
work drafting sales tax provision
to add to the soldier bonus bill,
Chairman Fordney and other leaders
of the Committee are busy analvzing
the strategic position of the bonus
bill at this time.
! There is no question but that such
analyses show the bill to be in bad
way, with little prospect that it can
be enacted into law unless someone
does what seems to be the impossi-
BILE and comes forward with plan
| for raising revenue that is unobiect-
/ ionable to majority or unless some
thing like S5,00O,O 100000 should un-
expectedly appear in the Golfers OF
| the Treasury Department.