Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1922-02-24
CABINET DISCUSSES
ROMA DESTRUCTION
NEW AIR PLAN SEEN
Secretary Fall Offers Pro.
gram for Developing He
Iium Gas Fields.

The Roma disaster and possible
necessary changes of aircraft policy
resulting therefrom were understood
to have been discussed at today's
cabinet meeting.
Secretary Fall on entering the meet
ing said Congress would be asked
through the War and Navy depart
ments for an appropriation of s5.000.-
900 for production of helium gas. the
non iuflammable gas used for dirigibles
The Secretary took with him into the
cabinet meeting a map showing gas
fields in Pennsylvania, Ohio. Indiana
Kansas and Oklahoma, which might,
in addition to the Texas fields. furnish
helium.
The value and Importance of helium
has been attracting the attention of
the several government departments.
Experiments in the extraction of
the gas have been conducted Jointly
by the Army. Navy and Interior de-
partments. Secretary Fall said The
government has a plant at present
operating in northern Texas where.
the Secretary said, about 2.4OO. 900
cubic feet of helium gas is in stor-
age, produced at a cost of about Is
cents cubic foot.
Favors Other Plants.
Secretary Fall declared that the
government hoped to be able to
bring the production of helium gas
to the. point where it would be avail
able for commercial purposes in use
in the lighter than-air machines. He
expressed himself as in favor of es-
tablishing other plants similar to
that at Fort Worth, Tex Mr.. Fall
had with him a tentative daft of
bill covering this subject
Out of the Roma disaster may come
an entirely new program for the de-
velopment of lighter-than-ai craft in
the Army air service, for the loss of
the big dirigible has completely up-
set tr8ning and operating plans for
that branch of the service. One of the
first results of the wreck is expected
whole question of the military value
of lighter-than-air craft.
There were no structural defecls in
volved in the wreck of the Roma
which could have been detected in
advance, according to the opinion ex-
pressed yesterday by Secretary of
War Weeks following conversat ton
| with Maj. Gen. Patrick, chief of the
air service, on his return from Lang
!. ley Field. where he conducted per-
sonal preliminary inspection of the
wreck. His opinion. as outlined by
the War Secretary, was that the acci-
dent was due to break in the mech
anism of the elevating rudder.
No Complaint From Crew.
Maj. Gen. Patrick told the Secre-
tary there were no Indications of
complaint by members of the crew
of the Roma of their inability to
control the ship. Motor difficulties
had been remedied by replacing the
| original motors. with American-b built
Liberty engines. he said.
(! Messages of sympathy from all over
| the country were received yesterday
| and today by officers of the air serv-
| ice, and those from abroad included
| one from Gen, H NJ. Trenchard, chief
| of the British air service, and one
from the German chancellor. Ambas-
! sador Ricci of Italy. in statement
made public by the State Depart
| ment, said:
THE tragic end Of the brave men
who, in the performance of their
| duty, lost their lives will be mourned
| by all in my country, and / wish to
| express our heartfelt condolences to
| their families. / beg to extend my
! governments and my personal SYM
! pathyS to Secretary Weeks and the
Army air service"
/ Condolences on the Roma disaster
were received today by President
Harding from King Albert of Bel
| gium, it was announced at the State
Department.
! -rro srrryrDar crDrrNrc