Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-07-02
Congress to Be Asked to Pro-
vide Funds to Develop
Aerial Navigation.
ARMY AND NAVY ANXIOUS
TO PIONEER IN AVIATION
Expeditions to North Pole and
Europe Privately Financed-Of-
ficials Discuss Rewards.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

Army and Navy officers are hope
ful that one of the concrete achieve
ments of Comdr. Byrd's transat-
lantic flight will be to persuade Con-
gress that the time has come to ap-
propriate funds for further expert
ments instead of depending on the
generosity of private citizens.
Although flights by dirigible and
airplane have in the past been re-
garded by many members of Con-
gress as stunts, Comdr. Byrd has
succeeded in emphasizing. the scien-
tific Importance of better informa-
ton on conditions in the air. The
Government for many generations
has recognized its obligation to chart
the seacoast and locate ocean cur
rents as an aid to ship navigation
Now it is felt that the Government
may undertake the task of develop
ing aerial navigation, cooperating
with other nations so that airways
may be lighted properly, or such de-
vices introduced as will enable visit
ing planes to land not only with
safety to the aviators, but to the
persons on the surface.
Flights Privately Financed.
Ever since the Navy wanted to send
dirigible to the North Pole and the
plan was abandoned because of pos
sible criticism in Congress there has
been a certain feeling of hesitation
about undertaking hazardous flights.
Comdr. Byrd, for example, was OBJ
liged to ask leave of absence from the
Navy when he went to the North
Pole. That expedition was privately
financed. just as was his transatlantic
journey.
The Army flyers who went to
Hawaii under the auspices of the War
Department really established some
thing of a precedent. for not since the
round-the-world flight had there been
any lengthy journey officially spon-
sored by the Government. The trip
to South America was accomplished
in short hops.
Both the Army and the Navy are
anxious to pioneer in untried paths so
as to determine the maximum utility
of air craft. The reason for this is
that private capital cannot always be
found to undertake apparently profit.
ment comes to the rescue, commercial
aviation will not progress as RAPIDLY
as is desired from the viewpoint of
national defense. Despite the tradi-
tlonal confidence in other weapons of
warfare. the Importance of finding out
Just what the airplane and dirigible
can do from defensive as we'll as an
offensive standpoint is beginning to be
regarded as paramount
Discussion Over Rewards.
Both the War Department and the
Navy Department officials realize that
If any of the hazardous experiments
should result in tragedy they would
De bitterly criticized and yet they know
that unless funds are available for re-
search the instruments and devices
necessary to aid navigation in the air
may not soon be perfected.
There is a good deal of discussion
here as to the reward that should 60
TO the individual flyers who distin-
Suish themselves in the various ex.
piolts. which are developing the
science of aviation. Published reports
that Col. Lindbergh might decline the
Congressional Medal of Honor if II
should be rendered him are accepted
as plausible because technicallv he
did not face the enemy in the sense
IN which other medals of honor have
been awarded. A suggestion is being
made that Congress might amend the
aW so as to establish a Congressional
Medal of Honor for peace-time achieve
ments, which aid the cause of nation.
al defense.
Copyright 1927