New Britain herald., 1923-12-26
SHENANDOAH TRIP
 ID POLE DETAILS
Home Base and Auxiliary Ships
 to Be Used

Washington, Dec. 25.-Rccommen
 dations that the navy's polar cXpIo ration flight be attempted during thu coming summer with the dirigibl' Shenandoah and using Nome, Alaska as the main operating base arc con
 tained in the report of the spccia board of naval officers headed b! Rear Admiral William A. Moffett chief of naval aNiatio~. The rcpor was made public today by Secretary
 3enhy who has approved it subiec to possible later notifications.
 In its study. the board emphasized that the mission of the expedition would he exploration Of the north polar regions" rather than a dash foi the pole. The detailed plan of oper- ation worked out therefore contem- plates numerous flights by the sben- andoah on mapping and chartinE cruises to establish the practicahtlity O. transpolar air route" from west crn Europe to Japan lover the top of the world"
 Use Tanl<cr>. planeS, Moorinc Mast.
 Recommendation was mad" that two vessels. preferably tankcrs, equipped with moorins masts, siN planes equipped for landing on ice or water, a permanent mooring mast al Nome and moorinc facilities at cer- tain other northern points be em- ployed.
 ''The ships. with three planes each. will go to Nome and to Spitzbcrgen. where preliminary nights for acroog ical observations will be made" the report said. When all is ready. the Shenandoah will fly to Nome by way Of mooring masts at Fort Worth. San Diego, Puget sound and Nome base ; thence northward for the accom- plishment of this mission. The OK ploratiou Of tho north polar region shall include systematic search of tho unknown area north Of Alaska.
 "The board considers that with all thu ships, the Shenandoah and the planes equipped as recommended and provided in ample time, the Arctic exploration is feasible and practicable during the summer Of 1921 without undue risk to personnel or material" |"
 Selection of the Nome base was made because ice conditions make it available to shipping as rule during the first week in June. The distance 10 the pole from Nome by way of Cape Prince of Wales is 5G0 nautical miles. At a speed Of B knots. the Shenandoah will have a safe cruising capacity Of i.s5o nautical milesswith 2 l5 per cent margin of extra radius.
 To I~e Hclium Gas Imitation.
 Plans for using ;he Shenandoah call for helium gas imitation. removal Of one motor to provide living space for the crew, nsr ot water recovery" 10 compensate loss CT weight through consumption Of fnel and reduction of ballast by $500 pounds.
 Nomc's proximity to he oucNplorca area and to American bases was pointed out. as well as the fact ina, t is American territory has some lo- cal facilities and has good communi- cation with the south. The plan to supplement tho base with two vessels equipped with mooring masts ii was added, was duc to the fact that sach sscls might select place moro sheltered than Nome where the Shrn anloah could lie in bad weather, and hecausc floating base could h" pushed forward to iha edge Of the pack ice. reducing the distance to iho ground to be explored.
 The second tanker equipped with uI moorlng mast will be sent to Spitz- l.orren on inc opposite side of Inc polo for nsc tn tho event that tho Shenandoah, after reaching the pole, shou face strong winds from the south on a return trip to Nome p which event she could go 10 Sitzbcr. gen. travelling with the wind.
 An additional standby tbrcc- point moorinc at Point Barrow clos cal 10 the pole. is also recommended. i 10 bc used in case Of emergency. Rec omn1cndation is made that the coast guard cutter Bear b" stationed at Point Barrow during the flight, with as many men iron, inc Nome base as can be bcrthod in her for the pur- | pose Of hauling the Shenandoah down 1 for rcfueling" should the need for this { base arise.
 Have ZR-3 in Rescr,r.
 The board also recommend that the | IB-3. inc Zeppelin now building for | navy in Germany. stand by al Lake . hurst \. J.. in reserve and that ad- , vance parties br sent for sociological ! N ork 10 seward and other mort horn . Alaskan points as soon as possible.
 Among inc necessary new equip ment to be installed in inc Shunsn- Ioah, the board found that radio
 
 mum range would bc necessary. as well as magnetic, radio and 'gyro" the radio compass beinc intended 10 permit the ship 10 take .ompass bearings from transmitting stations in America and Europe for he purposc Of locating herself ac- .arately while in tbc polar regions.
 { southern ro1Ite across the United States on the way 10 Nome was se- cetc1 for inc Shenandoah bccausc lircct flight from Iakchurst tO Scat- Ie would require thc ship 10 cross .hc Rocky mountains at an elevation ,f more than So0o feet. Al that cic- -ation. data attached 10 fhe report lhoNs. helium gas expands 23 per ncni. which would compel the "valy- ng or release Of enough gas 10 pro- eel the ship against the bursting Of fer gas chambers. The southern outc. by pay of Fort Worth and San | tiero. presents Go serious difficulties s to attitudes. v Secretary Dcnby. in a statement ealing with the purposes Of the I light. said the value of an expedition [ Q fhs Arctic regions could bs out med under three main divisions [ ..t.at,- ..~u1oraffon scisnfifif. it,..,sstf- ! {