Evening star., 1923-05-10
SAYS nation FACES
CHALLENGE IN AIR.
Admiral Moffett Outlines
Problems of Service in
Q, St. Louis Speech.

Special Dispatch to The Star
ST. LOUIS, Mo. May l0.--The Chlteu
States today is confronted with
challenge in the air-a race for air
supremacy, commercially, industrlaltE
and as an instrument for nationai
defense, Admiral William A. MoHett'
chief of the bureau of naval aero
nautics, told the chamber or com
merce in an address here yesterday.
The nations of the world ana the
great minds of the world, he oe-
clared, recognize the fact that air
supremacy spells national security
France, said the admiral. has devel-
oped the most powerful air strength
in the world, while Great Britain has
of late years evidenced more concern
for aviation development than she has
for the strength and integrity of her
fleet
Service Inadequate.
OF the United States. however. Nd
miral Moffett said: I'VE have today
the best naval planes in the world
though they are relatively few IN
number. We have a comparatively
small Ds val-aviation force as regards
OerSo, Iel. AS regards ability, et1l-
cheney and high standards OF morale
they are the equal OF any similar 7
body of men throughout the world
But the aviation service of the Navy
is inadequate in size Ito serve our
best interests" he added.
In "rendering an accounting of your
naval-aviation service" the admiral
said" it is the aim of the government
to equip every fighting ship in the
Navy with aircraft, from the largest
dreadnaught to the submarines; that
the Navy is building the first rigid
airShip to be constructed in this
country: the catapult for launching
planes into the air from the deck of
hattleship has been developed here
that means for directing and con-
trolling the fire OF battleships from
the air have been successfully per-
fected: the torpedo plane has beer
developed to a high stage of efficiency
and that the Navy has saved several
millions of dollars by developing air
craft carriers through experiments ts
with the former collier Langley.
rather than make costly mistakes
with new types
supply of Helium.
The speaker said the United States
is the only country in the world hav-
Ing a supply of helium adequate for
an ambitious airShip program.
This supply is a natural resource of
1ncalculable value and "it would en-
able us to develop airships on scale
which would be impossible in any
other country in the world. Helium
in airships practically eliminates the
fire hazard and this hazard has been
the weakest characteristic Of airships.
The use of helium would be of tre-
mendous advantage in the develop
ment of commercial airship transpor-
tatlon. Immediate measures should
be taken by the government look ing
to a comprehensive program of con-
servation of this valuable resource -
within the past few years" Ad-
miral Moffett continued, Eve have had
the greatest full-Scale lesson in pre-
paredness in the history of our coun-
try. ! must point out the fact that
another such lesson which found US
unprepared in the air would probably
result in national disaster. In d ma
tlonal emergency we could not crea te
an air service overnight. The build
ing of air power is comparable to the
building of sea power. 1t is based on
years Of experience and training"