Evening star., 1923-09-18
Success of HeIium Seen
AS Boding Well for Aircraft

Helium spells safety in the air.
That is one point which practically
every American editor emphasizes ire
discussing the performances of the
.ZR-I, the latest addition to the
American aerial fleet and the biggest
rigid type lighter-than-air craft now
in service. ~, 49, =
The fact that a German expert, the
man whom rumor has had IL was the
master mind behind the famous air
raids on London by the Zeppelin
fleets during the world war, was in
the cabin on the initial flights and
acted as second in command, so far
as actual exercised authority. was
concerned. Is dismissed as an inci-
dent. What counts. as the editors
seem to see it, is that the. Navy has
shown that IL is possible to fiy an air
vessel of the rigid type in this coun-
try with non n-eXplosive helium gas
and have her make a record of per-
formances that must give all Amer
leans thrill.
: X Il X
This nation has virtual monopoly
on heIium, it is pointed out by the
Cincinnati Enquirer, which goes on
to say that 'it is of the greatest i'm
portance. from the standpoint of ma
tional defense. that this monopoly be
retained and that no helium be ex-
ported" A further plea that the
Army and Navy give up entirely the
use of inflammable gas in favor of
helium is voiced by the Portsmouth
Va. Star. I'VE have had evidences
sufficient to convince the authorities
of the necessity of such action" says
this newspaper. THE terrible dis
aster at the Army base. when the
great Roma, purchased for the Amer
lean Navy from the Italians, fell in
flames. resulting in horrible deaths
to the number of practically. her
to have caused the uee Of inffanma Bile
gas to be banned for all time"
Some editors disagree as to, the
value of an airship like the FRI in
instance. holding that Its value is
doubtful" while the New Haven,
Conn. Register believes that this
type of airship is destined to take the
place of the modern ,dreadnaught of
the seas" The Boston Transcript,
ship has an important place. to fill
both in commerce and in war. Be-
cause of its ability to travel great
distances without stopping, it is pre-
Il
means of communication between the
continents" continues the Transcript.
There has been of late "a reaction
against excessive depreciation of
lighter-than-air craft. as dangerous.
unwieldy, more vulnerable and less
efficient than the airplane," says the
Philadelphia Evening Bulletin, which
adds that 1t now ''is being more gem
orally recognized, that for observation
work and long g-distance transports
= g-s~ L. NfK,,sa n
field of service" Rigid airships, like
the zR-1. will be the capital ships of
the air navies, the Arkansas Gazette
believes They will be attended" it
argues, "by bombing and torpedo
craft. whose duty it will be to protect
sea as well as capital ships high
above the earth"
$50 much is at stake in the launch
ing of one of these enormous ma
chimes, both in cost and in the pos
sibility of loss of life. that the public
regards every new initiative warily,r
says the Buffalo Evening Times.
none the less, the achievements of
building and trying the capabilities
of the ZR-1 are of kind which the
country may well take pride" The
Dayton. Ohio, Daily News indorses
this sentiment, pridefully comment
ing on the fact that the success of the
trial flights "attests to the genius of
american brains, because the ZR-1 is
an American-built machine, and
Yankee workmen constructed as we'll
as designed it.
The success of the ZR-1 means that
"another chapter has been written in
the story of American aeronautical
a aI41 49,,
IN. HI Union. and TO this the Newark
Evening News heartily agrees. In
cidental1y, the New York Herald.
speaking of the wonderful fight of
the ZR-1 over the metropolis, de-
clares New York paid more atten-
tion to the dirigible than it did to
the eclipse. The Navy was kind
enough to send its dirigible around
at high noon when every one is ready
for bit of air, anyhow. ZR-1 is a
mans dream come true through the
iabors of many men. Even the hum
blest human being watching her at