Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1922-02-25
WILL ASK MONEY
OF CONGRESS To
CONSERVE HEL|UM
Roma Disaster Might Have
Been LesSened Had Air
ship Used Helium, Hard
ina and Others Believe.
lnr The Assnclated press.l

Washington, Feb. 24,-Believing
that the loss of life in the destruc-
ton of the giant airship Roma
would have been greatly lessened
had the great craft been filled with
helium instead of hydrogen gas,
President Harding and members ol
his Official family were understood
Ito have decided at todays caplnet
meeting to ask congress for a no
eral appropriation for production
and CONSERVATION of helium.
The matter Of increasing helium
production was said to have been
discussed by the cabinet for hall
IAN hour. Secretary Fall laying be-
fore the president and other mem
bers considerable data on the non
inflammable gas, and also tne
draft Of tentative bill to proVide
for increased production and con-
servation. Among the rented SUD
iects discussed, it was learned, was
the possibility of obtaining stores
of helium by the government from
the natural gas fields on puphc
lands.
Another development along sim
lar lines was the disclosure thdt
diplomatic negotiations were IN
progress between the state depart
ment and the allied governments
and Germany in connection with
the proposal that Germany should
build a Zeppelin dirigible airshlp
for the United States under Amerl-
can reparations allotment.
While the, allied governments
through the council of ambassa-
dors have consented that Ger
many should construct such ship,
n difference has arisen as 10
whether the amount of the Amerl-
can reparations allotment Wouid
cover the cost of the ship.
Secretary DENLY of the navy de-
partment made it clear today that
unless the reparations figures
would cover the construction work.
So that no additional expense 10
the United States government
would be involved the request OF
the navy department Tor the NeP-
pelin would be Withdrawn. =
Under the terms Ct the treaty OF
Versailles, Germany was required
TO deliver thirteen Zeppelin ar
ships to the allied and associatea
governments to be pro rated
among them. The United states
was to have received two OF these
ships. After delivery of six Vessels
to the allied governments, however
the remaining seven in Germany
were illegally destroyed by theI
Germans and the reparations com
mission has required that Germany
should replace these seven either
by construction or in cash pay
ments. The German officials have
now come forward, however, with
n statement as to the costs OF con-
struction of modern Zeppelin Tor
civil use such as desired by the
United States. This estimate. 1t
was explained today. is greater
than the valuation placed by the
reparations commission upon the
two Zeppelins originally allotted to
the United states but Wnich were
not delivered.
Secretary Denby has asked the
state department to conduct nego
tiations which will establish defi'
niteIy the cost to the United states
involved should the proposal tnal
Germany build a Zeppelin for the
American government be carried
out. IL that ost is greater than
the amount owed to the United
states by Germany for the two
craft destroyed Mr.. DENLY said TO-
day, he would recommend WITH
drawal of the equest for the new
airship. . .,..
Secretary Denby made 1t clear
that he was very much In DOUBT
as to tie military value
of large sized dirigible aircraft al
though he believes that the de-
partment should press forward con-
of the ZR-1 now building
by the navy. because of the engi-
neering and other valuable infor-
nation on the subject that might
be thus obtained.
The sympathy Of the French
nd nation for the rel
atiyes of men who lost their lives
in the collapse of the Roma was
expressed today by Ambassador
Jusserand.