New-York tribune., 1922-02-25
Cabinet Sees
Safe Ain'slnips
With fleIius,,
Lessons of Roma Disaster
Taken Up With View to
Developing Supply of
Nom E>plo si>c Gas
Zeppelin Now i'm Doubt
Cost MAY Exceed Sum Due
to United States Under
Rcpara'ions Agreement

WASHINGTON. Feb 24 The Rom'
disaster and its lesson in regard 20 th'
use Of helium gas IN dirigibcs wa
discussed at to-day's meeting Of tn,
President and his Cabinet Sccretar,
Of Interior Fall took with him into The
meeting q map showing gas fields IL
Pennsylvania. Ohio. Indiana. kansa'
aud Oklahoma which might in addition
to the Texas fields. furnish holum gas
He said later that Congress would be
asked 20 appropriate 100000 for pro
ductlon Of helium gas 1t was pointcc
out that the government owned plant
in Northern Texas where 400 o0C
cubic feet Of hclium gas was in stor
age, produced At cost Of about II
cents j cubic foot
Tnc question Of policy to be pursued
i'm the future with reference to con
structine huge dirlriblc airships was
taken up by tho Cabinet Army and
navy experts have conceded that lighter
than air craft we've desirable, IT was
brought out. and that undoubtedly their
use would continue. A difference of
opinion exists among the Cabinet mem
tejs as we'll as officers Of the army
and navy as to the prscticability of
great airship as p war machine. That
Congress will be asked for funds with
which to conserve and further develop
helium gas is assured Congress will be
ASKED also to continue the operation
of the plant ~ northern Texas.
Another development along sim-
lar line was the disclosure that diplo-
matte negotiations were in progress
tetweeu the Statc Department and the
Allied governments and Germany in
connection with the proposal that Coy
many should build q Zeppelin dirigible
alrship for the United States undc,
american separations allotments
While the Allied governments. through
the Council Of Ambassadors. have con
sentcd that Germany should construct
such ship. . difference has arisen as
10 whether the amount OF the Ameri-
can reparations allotment would cover
the cost Of the ship.
Cos: of zeppelins Double
Secretary DENLY Of the NAVY De
paftment made 1t clear to-day that an.
less tsc rcparatioNS figures would cover
the construction work, so that no add.
tonal expense TO the United States
government would be involved. The re-
quest of the Navy Department for the
Zeppelin would be withdrawn.
Under the terms Of the Treaty. ot
Versailles Germany vas required to de-
liver thirteen Zeppelin airships to ths
Allied and associated goVernmrnts tt
be rated among them. After de
livery OF SIX vessels to the Allied gov
ernments, however, the remaining sever
n Germany were illegally destroyed b,
t4f C'sTm rs. and the Ner rati"ps Com
mission has required that German,
should replace these seven either b,
construction OK Ill casn p@.1Meuts.
The German officials have now CON,
forward however, with a statement e.
10 the costs of construction OF a mod
ern Zeppelin for civil use. such as de
sired by the United States. This esti
mate, it was explained to-day. is create
than the valuation placed by the Rep
aratons Commission upon the tw
Zeppelins originally allotted to tn
United States but not delivered.
NEWPORT NEWS. Va. Feb. ga
unnamed soldier from among the dea
in the disas ter TO the airship Roma wa
selected as representative of all thos
who gave their lives in the fatal A Qh
for public funeral which was hel
here to-day. Resting III plain casko
undet the folds Of the flag on 2 grass
prominence in the center Of mug
hollow square. lie received for himsel
and the thjrtythree others who djed j
the disaster LAST farewell from hi
comrades and from others among whor
he had lived
Airplancs Shower Flowers
1t had been planned for Newpol
News and other cities near Lanele
f1eld TO do honor at a public funcra
Tor all the men who died when tn
great army airship Roma was dc
stroyed last Tuesday. but because man
OF the bodies. destined for homes i
widely separated parts Of the countr,
had been sent from the city earlier
was arranged for one body to represe}
al a. the ,ervices
Moving in funeral step to the strair
OF the Dead March in Saul. plavc
by 4 band from Langley Field. the prc
cession entered the square which ha
been ro7ed off on the Casino grounr
overlooking the James River. Gathere
about the square were thousands A
the body was laid on its natural cat;
falQue squad of airplanes from arm
and navy flying stations nearby swe,
IN great circles high over the fla
canopied coffin. swinging nearer ar
nearer to earth in ever smaller turn
Finally with mighty rosr the
sWoopcd one by one over the souar
scattering showers OF lilies al
crushed rose leaves
here was a short prayer by Cha,
lain Samuel J Smith. of Fortress MOI
roe, and another BY the Rev. j. z. I
Naherelly, of this city. Attorney Ge,
eral John Il. Saunders Of Virginia d.
livered culogy
During the services, which were a
tended by representatives of ever
mllltary. commercial and civic organ
zaiion and of the state and CITY 90,
crnments. every business in Newno
News remained closed Flags were ;
haiimast throughout the day
HAMILTON. Va, Feb. 24.-Positi,
denial that letter was written ]
Lieutenant Clifford z. Smythe. to h
nome IN Chicago, following the figl
OF the Roma to Washlnqton. in whic
It has been alleged the officer d
scrlbcd certain faults in the balloo
and declared II would be an act {
criminal nogNrcnce' 20 fly the III;
chime again without repairs. WAS mac
here tonight by Robert NJ. Smyth
la'ner OF the dead officer
Hcnbv Saws HcDort Of Effort