The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-01-18
BIG DRIGIBLE'S
 CREW PRAISED
 FOR ITS SKILL
Coolidge, Denby And Other High Officials
 Send Congratulations

WASHINGTON, Jan. 17.-Mes- sages of congra tulation from President Coolidge, Secretary Denby, Mrs, Den by, as sponsor of the ship. and many other high government officials were showered today upon the officers and crew of the navy dirigibie, Shenan- doah, for their gallant and victorious battle against last nights storm.
 President Coolidge, in a message to the officers and crew, said: T. II congratulate you most heartily upon the fine exhibition and skill dis played by you during the storm which caused the U. S. s. Shenandoah to be cast adrift from her mooring Wednes- day night and upon your skill to re- turn to your base"
 '~ Navy officers generally were jubi- lant at the splendid showing made not only by this first American,built rigid dirigible, but at the pluck and skill of her crew. The outstanding impress sion among all government officials was that the accident had served to make it certain that the Shenandoah could and would successfully nego- tiate the exploring flight through the arctic regions which has been planned for her.
 Views Are Conflicting
 Some conflicting views were ex- pressed at the capitol. however, on the experience of the dirigible. Represen- tative French, republican, Idaho, chairman of the House appropriations committee, subcommittee on naval af- fairs, declared that it would tend to diminish congressional criticism of the proposed flight to the north pole, while in the Senate there was de- bate which regarded the test in the storm as adverse.
 Senator Dill, democrat, Washington, urged that the polar flight project be abandoned, while Senator King, demo- crat, Utah, asked that the naval af- fairs committee inquire into the ad- visibility of restricting appropriations for building such aircraft.
 There will, of course, be a court of inquiry to determine just what hap pened. In the case of the Shenandoah, however, as a welcome relief to naval officers in the cycle of misfortunes to navy craft that has marked the last few months, there is no question in- yolved which requires determination of the responsibility CT any officer and his possible punishment. The real pur- pose of the board will be to examine closely into questions as to the proper mooring equipment for the big airship to reduce as far as possible the chances that she might break away from mooring mast at any future time.
 Secretary Denby and Rear Admiral William A. Moffett. naval air chief, issued statements today through which ran the spirit of elation with which the navy has read the story of the Shenandoah's battle with the storm. Both were emphatic in saying that the airship would make the projected northern flight.
 Message From Denby
 Following is the text of the mes sage sent to Lakehurst by Secretary Denby:
 '"The department commends most highly Lieut-Commander Pierce, the officers and men of the Shenandoah and also Messrs. Heinen and Burgess, for their conduct and handl lg of the !. ship during the swift gales of Wednes- day night. The department feels that it was due to their skill and airman- ship that the Shenandoah has been successfully conducted through this severe test of her qualities"
 Mrs. Denby sent the following mes sage:
 Commander Pierce, Officers and Crew
 of the Shenandoah
 Please accept the sincere con- gratulations of the Shenandoah spon- sor on your splendid service in so successfully handling your ship under the, most trying conditions. l am