Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1922-02-24
THOROUGH PROBE
TO Result FROM
ROMA DISA5TER
Whole Question of Military
Value of Lighter Than
Air Craft viii Be InveSti-
gated BY Army.
(By The Associated Press.)

Washington, Feb. 23.-An in
quiry by the army air service into
the whole question of the military
value Of lighter than air craft is
expected to grow out of the Roma
disaster.
Officers OF the air service said
today that such an inquiry would
be necessary, because loss of the
Roma had entirely upset naval
training and operating programs
for that branch of the service.
From the inquiry, it is understood,
will come a decision as to whether
there is sufficient military value,
direct or indirect, in the employ
ment by the army Of dirigible air.
craft of great size to warrant rec
concentrations to congress for the
ACQUISITION of new craft of the
lighter than air type.
Secretary Weeks in this connec-
ton said today he had not dis
cussed with his military advisers
the replacement of the Roma, but
felt there was no justification for
asking the purchase or construc-
ton Of new vessel of the same
type.
No Structural Defect.
The war secretary after a con-
ference today with Maj General
Patrick, chief of the army air SER
vice, who had just returned from
Langley Field, where he made a
personal preliminary investigation
Of the disaster. was represented as
satisfied on the basis of present
information that the accident was
due to the breakage of elevating
rudder controls or OF the supports
for the elevating gear and that
there was no structural defect in
volved Of nature that probably
could have been detected in adj
vance. Mr.. Weeks said he would
have department records invosti-
gated fully to see what rerort had
been made by operating Officers at
any time as to the condition of the
ship.
He said he had no knowledge of
any complaint in connection with
the ability Of the crew to control
the flight Of the Roma eXcent for
the motor difficulties which led to
the replacing of the original Ital-
ian engines with American built
Liberty motors.
If any officer Of the Roma had
knowledge before the accident of
weakness Of the vessel or structur-
al or other defects which rendered
her in the least unsafe for opera
ton, Mr.. Weeks said 1t was the
duty Of that officer to report the
facts to his superiors for the pro-
lection OF himself and Of his as
sociates on the ship.
Congress- Not to Blame.
Secretary Weeks and General
Patrick took issue with published
statements seeking to blame con-
gress in connection with the Roma
disaster.
81 have noticed articles in the
press" said the secretary, IN a for
NAL statement, ain which congress
is blamed for the loss Of life ir
connection with the destruction o.
the Roma. Such an attack on
congress is unjust and in no sense
justified by the sentiment of Off
cials of the war department or Of
ficers of the air service OF the
armv. An investigation IL being
conducted to determine the cause
Of this most unfortunate disaster
and specific recommendations may
result therefrom."
MESSAGES OF sympathy at the
loss Of life in the disaster contin-
ued today to pour in at the war
department and President and
Mrs. Harding announced that the
state reception for officers of the
armv and navy set for tonight
would be postponed until April 10.