Evening star., 1922-03-12
OPPOSES BUYING
FOREIGN A|RSH|PS
F. H. Rainey Advises Going
Slowly Before Risking
Lives of Flyers.
TO the Editor Of The Star:

To the Editor of The Star:
OF three hundred and sixty-five days
in the year not one passes without
leaving behind a record of some. dis
aster involving loss of life among
the crusaders of the air, who bear
aloft the banner of. progress under
which the world is moving forward
to more perfect civilization. Yet
despite these tragedies, which leave
in their wake darkened homes and
breaking hearts, the struggle for
achievement goes on. There is no
lack of bold spirits volunteering to
take up the fallen standard and carly
it forward. 1t is a recognized fact
that this service is beset, on all
sides and at every step. with danger
to all who enter the ranks, knowing
that the price of success must be
paid in human lives.
And occasionally with tremendous
force the conviction is brought home
to us that the price comes appallingiy
high. Such a case was that of the
fiery holocaust of the Roma. When
the giant airship started on her trial
trip. carrying a million feet of the
most inf1ammable and explosive gas.
she took with her forty-five men
destined to be victims, Prometheus-
r
venturers were not men whose life
work lay behind them; but they re-
joiced in the full vigor and pride of
active manhood. Some were in the
bloom of youth. others at the merid-
ian Of their powers; all trained and
efficient in their SPECIAL branch. the
flower of the service; and nearly
all died in torment.
Possible to Reduce Risks.
While danger is inseparable from
experiments with novel types of ma
chimes. dispassionate observers can
not help considering it possible,
through prudent foresight and con-
imize the hazards. If the ill-fated
monster had carried only a working
crew sufficient to guide and conrtol
her movements, many valuable lives
would have been saved to. carry on
the work for which they were best
fitted. To send with her more than
the requisite number would seem to
have been an unnecessary risk. No
chain is stronger than it's weakest
link. and it is more than proba Bile
that the craft, through some fault
of construction. or inherent defect
struction. This case furnishes
parallel to that of the monster air.
ship ZR-2, constructed in England
for the United States Navy. which
WAS wrecked last Angus Win lnc
loss of forty-four lives, although she
had successfully passed previous
tests. After long investigation by
a select committee of engineers and
of experts in air service. it is now
admitted that the wreck was caused
by some obscure fault of construction,
and that engineering science has thus
far been unable to find an accurate
method for solving some of the prob
lens involved.
With the evidence of these two aw-
full disasters before US it would seem
to be the part of wisdom to move
slowly before purchasing from
foreign governments, at enormous
cost. airships of unusual dimensions.
of novel construction or of untried
types. Officials who hold positions
Of responsibility in the aviation
branches of the government service
are in simple duty bound to care for
the welfare and protection of the
subordinates called upon to carry on
the active work of their departments.
1t Is a duty which they owe to them
selves. to the, service, to the cause
of humanity. FRANCIS H. RAINEY.