Evening star., 1925-09-23
LANSDOWNE APPEAL
FOR FLIGHT DELAY
DENIED, CHIEF SAYS
Steele Tells PrObers Com
mander Asked Time to Bet
ter Mooring Facilities.
PLAN WAS OVERRULED
BY NAVY, WITNESS HOLDS
Officials Here Declare Weather
Conditions Did Not Enter.
Case in Any Way,
By the Associated Press.


LAKEHURST. \. j., September
23.-The Shenandoah was ordered on
her fatal flight to the West on Sep
temher ., despite recommendations of
Lieut.. Comdr. Zachary LansdOwne
that the trip he deferred until the
second week in September.
This is shown by official document
read into the record today of the
naval court of inquiry by Capt.
George w. Steele, jr.. comma ndant
of the Lakehurst Air Station.
After the Navy Department had
disapproved his plan for starting at
he later period, Comdr. Lansdowne
made no further protest, Capt. Steele
declared in court. The correspondence
showed that the department was very
anxious to have the great airShip
visit State fairs in Ohio, Indiana.
Michigan, Iowa and other Western
States during the first two weeks OF
September. Comdr. Lansdowne re-
piled that, since there would not be
lime to complete preparations at
Scott Field, H., for the reception
of the ship, he would suggest that
the voyage be deferred until the sec
Ond week.
July Flight Called OF
The Navy Department disapproved
of this plan, fixed the itinerary and
Comdr. Lansdowne undertook to carry
out the trip which first had been sug-
Eested for July. At that time Comdr.
Lansdowne had objected because that
would be during the season of thun-
derstOrms in the Middle West. and it
was because of this objection that the
flight was deferred until September.
After describing frequent inspec-
tions made of the great airship and
particularly of the metal structure,
capt Steele told the court that her
condition at the time of her departure
met with his entire approval He added
that the fight was undertaken by the
officers and men in the very hopeful
spirit of bringing the utility and de-
STABILITY of this kind of craft home
to the people of the country.
Capt. Paul Foley, the Judge advo-
cate. developed that Comdr. Lans-
downe's objection to an earlier flight
and his reasons for recommending
that the start be made in the second
week In September were because of ia
cilities for handling the ship at stop
ping places rather than weather con-
ditions.
Correspondence was introduced to
show that the mooring mast at De
troit, which the Shenandoah was to
use on the voyage. had been COM
pleted on August 10. Comdr. Lans-
downe had desired to have the Shen-
andoah make flight to Detroit to
test the mast, but his recommendation
was disapproved because the Shenan-
doah had moored at masts on the
Pacific Coast without previous tests.
Willing to Grant Plea.
The Navy Department did write.
however. that if Comdr. Lansdowne
regarded a trial flight as necessary it
would be ordered. Capt. Steele said
that Comdr. Lansdowne made no
further recommendation. and pre-
sumably was not convinced of the ne
cessity for a trial flight.
Turning the inquiry to predicted
weather conditions at the time the
flight was undertaken, Rear Admiral
Hilary P. Jones, president of the
court, asked if there was any doubt
in Capt. Steeles mind from a study of
the forecast that the fight should
have been started.
There was no doubt in my mind on
that point Capt. Steele replied. The
weather map was not perfect, but
very few are perfect from a flying
standpoint"
WAS there anything predicted on
the map which you thought would be
O. menace to the Shenandoah" asked
the admiral.
II saw nothing on the weather chart
which I thought could not be pa ssed
or avoided by the Shenandoah" Capt.
Steele replied.
Asked as to his opinion Of Comdr.
Lansdowne's ability a a flying officer,
Capt. Steele said he considered him a
very capable and careful handler of
arships."
The commandant added in reply
to other questions that he believed
Conldr. Lansdowne handled situations
with the Shenandoah in no way differ
ent from the very best Zeppelin. prac.
tice.
Rigid tests of samples Of the wreck
age of the airship Shenandoah by the
Bureau Of Standards. Washington
was ordered today. Samples of the
wreckage now here will he assembled
in the order of their place in the ship
for inspection by the court before the
tests are made at Washington.
The court also directed the prepara-
ton Of q blueprint OF the ship giving
the location of the various witnesses
ut the time they saw or heard the
first indications Of the breaking up
Of the craft SO as to ascertain whether
# Will be possible from the testimony
~ ueltllllllle tlt lOCdllOn Ol Inc 1lGSl
serious failure in the structure.
Cross Examination Delayed.
Before the inquiry can go much
further the court must take time
TO digest the testimony Of more than
a score of witnesses who have passed
before it in such rapid succession
during the two days of the investiga-
ton. The cross-examination of these
witnesses is yet to come.
Besides the narratives of the sur
vivors, the court has received the
opinion of enc expert as to how the
ship broke up. He is Comdr. Sidney
kraus, who was detailed in Germany
TO observe the building Of the Los
Angeles, and who personally ex-
annined the Shenandoah wreck.
Thinks Girders Failed.
His opinion is that the breaking up
of the big airship resulted from the
failure of one or more main girders
forward of midship His theory,
based on his examination and informa-
ton obtained from available sources.
is that subsequently the control car
broke away from the hull and swung