Evening star., 1925-09-05
NAVY WILL PRESS
AVIATION PROGRAM
Plans for Lighter -Than-Air
Craft to Be Guided by
Funds Available.

Whether another dirigible will be
built to replace the Shenandoah is
declared by Secretary Wilbur to be
purely budget question.
While he declined to comment upon
the assumption of President Coolidge
at Swampscott that the Navy would
want to replace the lost air cruiser,
Mr. Wilbur let it be known that the
department would not be deferred by
the loss of the Shenandoah in pur-
suing its hghter-than-air program.
Limitation on that program, he assert
ed, would be determined primarily
by financial considerations.
The Navy Department, however, is
convinced, he said that in it's pro-
gram the heavier-tha craft are
entitled through demonstrated achieve
ment to priority in the expenditure
of moneys, and that the lighter-than-
air craft must be content with what
is available for them after other needs
are cared for. This decision was
reached, he asserted, before the acci-
dent to the Shenandoah, in connec-
tion with budget problems.
Iakehurst Closure Likely.
Although Mr.. Wilbur refrained from
announcing what was in prospect for
the naval air station at Lakehurst,
n. j.. he indicated that the Budget
Bureau would determine its fate
through the estimates it approves for
the fiscal wear 1927. The position of
the department in this respect has
been determined but not made public
There have been indications, how
ever. that with the fund the Budget
Bureau is disposed to allow the Navy
the Los Angeles will be tied up in Its
hangar and the station closed or put
on a decommissioned, skeleton basis
for an indefinite period.
While it is realized that under such
a plan the dirigible might deteriorate
in idleness, Mr.. Wilbur said the Navy
would be less disposed than ever to
lease it for private commercial opera
ton with the Shenandoah gone. The
Los Angeles, under the terms of its
construction in Germany, cannot be
used for military purposes, but II Is IN
the custody of the Navy, is the only
rigid dirigible it now has in any form,
and it is assumed by officers can be
used in limited way in observation
problems so as to develop its capacity
and provide training for crews.
Fate Up to Congress.
THE Lakehurst matter" Mr.. Will
bur emphasized, will be determined
bv Congress and appropriations. We
already nave u6l6IullIleu HOW VIC VIII
present the matter to the budget.
The heavier-than-air craft are en-
titled to the expenditure of available
money, if we can't use both.
The Navy, ne said, needed money
for it's building program, particularly
as it affects aviation, scout cruisers
and gunboats, with preference given
to completion of work already begun.
In so far as aircraft funds are con-
cerned, he asserted, preference would
be given to the building of planes for
training purposes, the finishing of
work already under contract and the
replacing of equipment. The lighter
than-air service, he emphasized, would
be last in the matter of building.
While eager to continue it's work
with lighter-than-air craft, the Secre-
tary said no definite decision had been
reached by the Navy as to their mill
tary value and they were still regard
ed as merely experimental.
Their promise in the field of scout
ing was so bright, however" he add
ed, that we wanted to continue the
experimental work.
Military Value Undetermined.
The Shenandoah had maneuvered
with units of the fleet considerably,
but Mr.. Wilbur said the reports he had
seen of those tests warranted no def
mite decision as 10 the military Value
of the craft.
Whatever the effect of departmental
and budget polices on Lakehurst, it
was said the accident to the Shenan-
doah and the notifications of policy
in respect would have no effect on
Hawaii, where a mast has recently
been erected. Whether a flight will be
attempted there with the Los Angeles
was too far in the future to say, Mr..
Wilbur declared. The Los Angeles is
now undergoing repairs which Wal
keep it out of active service until De-
cember, and meanwhile a shortage of
helium to initiate her has developed
from the Shenandoah disaster.
The Navy expects to submit revised
estimates for the fiscal year 1927 to
the budget late next week, and is un-
derstood at present to be concerned
primarily with the aviation and build
ing items. 1t has reduced it's original
estimates by more than $40 900 900 to
around $500, 600, 900, and that figure is
held to leave little over the sums actu-
ally required for maintenance and
operation for expansion of aviation or
new construction