Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-01-13
Air Service to Expand.

The appropriation for naval avia
ton would he increased under the bill
To permit the Navy Department 10
carry out a policy of expansion Of
heavier-than-air facilities, already ap-
proved by it.
No recommendation for q new
dirigible is contained in the supply
measure as reported. but today tn,
committee heard testimony by Sec
retary Wilbur and other department
officials indorsing construction Of Sucil
craft at a cost of $4,000 GOO o.
81 900 600. The ship would have
about three times the gas capacity
of the Shenandoah, or 5000, 0o0 cubic
feet.
1t was disclosed also that the de.
partment has before it plans by the
Airship Development Corporation
backed by Henry Ford, TO build q
much smaller all-metal Navy airship.
but Mr. Wilbur said there had been
no decision whether the projected
craft should he of the Shenandoah
or nletal-Covered type.
The Secretary told the committee
that the Navy general board regard
ed nghter-than craft as still III
the experimental stage, doubted Their
military value and opposed any ex
ed types of war craft, such as scout
cruisers or fleet submarines. The
board agreed. however, that for eN
perimentaI purposes the Shenandoah
should he replac ed
Regarding the muCh-diSCussed ques.
ton of the efficiency of the naval
air service the committee III report
ing the naval appropriation hill de
clared a very gratifying situation
had been found in this service al
though line officers should have more
instruction in aviation and provision
should he made TO supply greater
number of trained pilots in emer-
gencieS.
The committee left it TO the Navy
TO decide which warships should be
retired. 1t pointed out that Great
Britain now maintains on active duty
ONLY a part of her potential fleet.
Both Secretary Wilbur and Rear Ad
miral Hilary p. Jones, head of the
general board. told the committee that
dirigibles were of some value Tor
scouting. but the admiral added thai
he wouldn't favor taking lone penny
away from the fleet or heaVleT-than
air craft and giving it 10 the diriCihle
service.
Range Held too Small.
The scouting radius OF the Shenar
doah. the Secretary said. was too smail
to permit II to cooperate fully with
the fleet. 1t was for that reason that
a larger vessel was favored.
Ii was disclosed that the genera
board already had conducted many
experiments with a metal dirigible,
but had reached no conclusions.
The proposed economy steps We're
necessary, the committee said. and II
added that it was readily apparent
that naval expenditures are on an
upward trend"
Despite the reductions contemplated.
the measure recommended appropr
ations of S3l9419,000 for the Nav,
an increase of SIC. .556, 600 over the
amount carried in the last bill.
For naval aviation the bill recon-
mended S1S.674,000, an increase OF -
693. 900 over current funds. but a ue-
crease of S4l7.00O under the budget
estimate. OF this amount $4,000 ,00h
would go TO satisfy Obligations II
Cured under previously authorized
contracts, which would leave approx
iuatelv Si4,7O0.000 for new unoer-
takings in the next fiscal year. An
other contract authorization OF 81
700 600. however, would be authorized.
which the committee said would place
aviation funds for the next hScat
wear lust short" of Sl9.000,000.
OF the aviation appropriation 81,
O62 900 would be applied TO new an
craft and equipment. apart from air
craft for the airplane carriers sara.
toga and Lexington.
The $33 ,275,0 carried i'll the bill for
construction work is to be allotted -
follows: For completion Of the aircraft
carriers, IS 5000 900: for planes for tn"
carriers, SO. $50 900: for beginning work
on three new cruisers previously aH-
thorized, $1,000 900; for light cruisers
and gunboats under construction, Sl&.
OOO, 900, and for continuing Submarlrs
construction, SITE, 600.
Touches Upon Disaster.
Referring to the Shenandoah dis
aster, the committee report said thf
fate of the dirigible had not Influenced
its views as to the potentlallues o.
rigid airships for commercial. militarv
and naval uses. and it was not pre-
posing abandonment of iShter-than-
air development.
By abandoning the Jakehurst ste
ton and saving S717, 900 the commit
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