New-York tribune., 1922-02-24
Secretary Questions Ni'i-
larry Value Of Graft
Aficr Conference Will,
Chief OF Air Service
Critics Of Congress
Held UnjusliGcd
Charge Refusal of Appro-
I'ria,;on for FEcIiull,
Caused Tragedy Dcnicd

iron 7ae Jriouac's Washirotoa Eprcop
WASHlNGTON. Feb. % The air
ship Roma V-ill not be replaced by the
army Air Service. Secretary OF Weeks
iud'cptcd today The military value o.
such craft is doubted by the War
SECRETARY, who said:
~ very much doubt if there would
he amy justification for replacing tho
Roma, although J have not talked witt
my military advisers about this qucs-
ton a. yet
The statement by tho Nar Secretary
followed a long conference nc had With
Major General Ma on NJ. Patrick. chicg
Of the ais service. Who informed tho
Secretary OF tho details of the accident
gathered on his trip to Norfolk immo-
diateiy following the burning of the
airsnip. Confidence was expressed b.
Secretary Weeks that the special board
Of inquiry named to investigate the ac-
cidcnt would ascertain all the facts.
"Thcrc was a large number Of oyc-
witnesses to the accident.' Secretary
Weeks said, ''and it seems agreed that
tho ruddcr Of the shin had 50 turned
as to hang alongside the gas bag. pre-
venting the crew from properly maneu-
Ycring her. # the ship had gone a few
hundred feet farther and escaped con-
tact with tho hight tension wires proba
bly no one would have been injured' =
Drop TOO Short for Parachute
General Patrick told the Wa Sccrc-
tary that ever mau on the ship had
parachute strapped or his back. but
tho low altitude Of the ship when the
trouble developed in the control rud-
der made it impossible for the para
chute 10 open and break tho fail Of the
men.
Both Secretary Weeks and General
Patrick deprecated the disposition in
some quarters TO criticize Congress for
the accident
General Patrck's statement advanced
tho view that the Roma disaster would
no, have been prevented had helium
The nou- nHammable gas, instead Of by
d1ogen. been used in her envelope.
despite published reports to thc
contrary he said, "thcre is no dispo-
% t.Dii Vb Niit pdit u any III tbC afD1N
air service to place the blame for the
Roma accident at TIE doors of Congress
"Statements that failure Of Congress
to appropriate funds for helium pro
duction and tlat the lack OF hcliun,
caused the accident are not based on
tact. Congress appropriated liberally
for the development OF the processes
foT extracting heliuu during the war
and has since given al funds requested d
for further experimental work looking
to perfecting these processes.
"fhc Roma disaster would have hap
pcned just the same had the ship been
tilled sYiJh helium instead OF hydrogen
1t is true, however. that in all proba
biity the loss OF life might not have
been so great.
"A rigid investigation is Row under
va; to determine the exact cause OF
the accident AS soon as the board
completes its work public announce
mcnt VIII be made Of its iindinss."
Story Ship Was Unsafe Secuted
Commenting on tho report that Lieu
tenant Clifford Smythc. who vas killed
in the accident. had written 10 his
father that the Roma was unsafe, See
rotary Weeks said that the War De-
partment had received no report from
Ullc afialoI III support OF TINS cOnter-
tlon. There ia no report in the de
partment" Secretary Weeks said.
from any officer to the effect that the
Roma was defectivc.' lie added that
the department welcomed from any
officer, believing that any type OF air
ship Was unsafe or faulty, 4 clear
statement as to his views so that the
necessary precautions might be taken
to avoid using the craft until tho dr.
tects were corrected. The statement
attributed TO Lieutenant .Sm5the. See
letary Weeks said, would be nvcsti-
gated.
A contrary view TO that advanced by
Lieutenant Smythc was advanced to-
day by Thomas r. Darde.. a lieutenant
in the tank corps during the war, who
vas passenger on the Roma on her
return trip to Langley i'icld from
Washington in December. Dardcn
(Continued on gage threc)