Evening star., 1922-02-23
ROMA DEkTHSD
TO HITTING WIRES,
PATRICK REPORTS
Air Chief Says Ship Could
Have Landed Safely m
Marsh Nearby.
REPORT CRAFT BEHAVED
BADLY HERE IS DENIED
General Absolves Congress From
Blame-Says Heium Would Not
Have Avoided Disaster.

Temporary diSab1ement OF the
mechanism Of the rudder of the Roma
was the cause of the wrecking of that
airship on the high-tension electric
wires at the Army base near Nor
folk. in the opinion of Maj. Gen. M.
NJ Patrick, chief of the Army air
service.
He returned today from Langley
Field and the scene of the wreck. and
reported verbally the results of his
to Secretary Weeks and Gen. Har-
bord, deputy chief Of staff. He told
them. in substance. that trouble with
the rudder caused the fall of the
it had not been for the interference
of the high-tension wires the ship
could have been landed in the soft
marsh ground a short distance be-
yond without the loss of single
life among the crew or passengers.
Nothing to BE Overlooked.
Gen. Patrick said that thorough
= Investigation of the accident is under
way and that no circumstance that
may have a bearing on it will be over
looked. There were many eye-witnesses
to the destruction of the ship, he said.
and the personal examination OF each
and all of them will take some time
final report of the official investigating
board. That board was appointed by
Gen. Patrick Immediately following the
accident, and already has accumulated
mass of important evidence. The
board consists of Majs. Davenport
johnson, John H. Jouett and John T.
McNarney of the air service.
President Is Informed.
After hearing Gen. Patrick's pre-
1iminary report on the disa ster. Sec
retary Weeks went to the White
House and informed the President OF
the latest developments. The Secretary
of War has written personal letters of
coincidence to the next of kin Of the
officers. enlisted men and civilians
who lost their lives in the wreck of
the Roma and has approved plans for
the transportation and burial of the
bodies.
blame for the disaster which over
took the giant Army airship Roma
does not rest with Congress, Mai.
Gen. Patrick, chief of the air service.
declared in a formal statement today
upon his return from Langley Field
where he conducted a personal in
vestigation of the accident.
No Blame ON Congress.
Despite public reports to the con-
trary," Gen. Patrick said, there is
no disposition on the part Of any one
in the Army air service to place the
plame lOr the Roma accluent at tne
doors Of Congress.
Statements that failure of Con-
gress to appropriate funds for helium
production and that the lack of he
lium caused the accident are not
based on fact. Congress appropriat-
ed literally for development of the
pI Iocesses Of extracting helium dur
ing the war. and has since given all
funds requested for further expert
mental work looking to perfecting
the processes.
Losses Might Have Been Less.
1.-The Roma disaster would have hap
pened just the same had the ship been
filled with helium instead of hydro
gen. 1t is true, however, that in all
probability the loss of life might not
have been SO great.
"A rigid investigation is now under
way to determine the exact cause of
the accident. AS soon as the board
completes it's work public announce
ment will be made of it's findings"
nrn1rc Surp WAC rrHIsArr