The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1925-09-23
COMMANDER
OPPOSED AIR
VOYAGE, CLAIM
Commander LansdOwne Rec
commended Later Flight,
Testimony Shows
DISAPPROVED FLIGHT
Navy Officials Say Testimony
Places Department in
False Light
DISAPPROVED FLIGHT

Lakehurst, n. j., Sept. 23.-Np'-
The Shenandoah was ordered on her
fatal flight to the west on Septem-
Der 2, despite recon nendatlons OF
Lieut.. Commander Zachary Lans-
downe that the trip be deferred un-
til the second week in september.
This is shown by officials docu-
ments read into the record today Of
the naval court Of inquiry by Cap
tain George W. Steele, Jr., command
ant of the Lakehurst air station.
After the navy department had dis
approved his plan for starting at the
later period, Commander Lansdowne
made no further protest, Captain
Steele declared to the court.
Order Flight
The correspondence showed that
the department was very anxious TO
have the great arship visit state
fairs in Ohio. Indiana. Michigan.
Iowa and Minnesota during the first
two weeks Of September.
Commander Lansdowne revealed
that since there would not be time
to complete preparations at Scott
Field, Illinois, for the reception Of
the ship, he would suggest that the
voyage be deferred until the second
week.
The navy department disapprovcd
of this plan. and fixed the itinerary
which Commander Lansdownc under
took to carry out the schedule. The
trip first had been suggested for
July, but Commander Lansdowne OBJ
jected because that would be dur
ing the season Of thunderstorms in
OF this objection that the flight was
deferred until September.
Condition Satisfactory
After describing frequent inspec-
tions made Of the great airship and
particularly Of the metal structure,
Captain Steele told the court here,
condition at the time Of her depar-
turc was such that her departure met
with his entire approval.
He added the flight was under
taken by officers and men in the
very hopeful spirit of bringing the
utility and desirability Of this type
Of craft home to the people of the
country.
Claim Misapprehcnsion
Washington, September 23.-(R)--
Navy department officials said to-
day misapprehension evidently had
developed in testimony before the
naval court Of inquiry into the Shen-
andcah disaster a. Lakehurst on the
position Of Lieutenant Commander
Lansdowne in reference to the time
of making the flight.
These officials declared the dirigi-
bles commander, in suggesting a
date for the flight, had been actu-
ated by a belief that it would be i'm
possible for the Shenandoah during
the first week in September to take
in all the state fairs she had been
asked to visit in the middle west.
Suggested August
On August Lansdowne suggested
the flight be made the second in
stead of the first week in Septem-
ber, saying thereby additional time
would be gained for preparations at
Scott Field, Ill.,, and Detroit, to re-
ceive and land or moor the craft on
it's flight.
The department in reply pointed
out to him that the state fairs ran
for several days, and that by leav-
ing September 2 on the schedule ul-
timately adopted, most Of them could
be visited. The recommendation for
the second week in September was
disapproved, ranking officials of the
department said today, for that rea-
son and weather conditions did not
enter into the decision.