Evening star., 1928-02-14
Watching With Interest"

Edward P. Warner, Assistant Secre-
tary of the Navy for Aeronautics. be-
lieves that the construction in England
Of six dirigibles designed for regular
mail and passenger carrying service
across the Atlantic will give momentum
TO the birth of an international air
merchant marine" The United States,
said Mr.. Warner. will watch with in
terest the developments Of the British
project" and he thinks that AS soon as
one nation has opened the way. COM
nercial interests Of other leading pow
ers will recognize the possibilities and
the advantages of this mode of trans
portation. 1t would be more in accord
ance with the traditionally pioneering
spirit of America. however. if the
United States were found to be opening
the way instead of watching with in
terest the experiments OF somebody else
Mr.. Warner, perhaps, let one cat. al
least, out Of the bag when he mentioned
the fact that American capital is at
disadvantage because of lower con-
struction and maintenance cost Of
dlrigibles in Europe. He suggests. for
this reason. that 1t might be advisable
for the Government to loan money, at
a nominal rate Of interest. to encourage
construction OF commercial dirigibles by
private concerns. But II this proposal
has evidently been found not feasible
for application TO building an American
merchant marine of the sea. will it gain
favor in the construction OF a merchant
marine of the air?
Right now our Government is doing
little or nothing to encourage private
enterprise in the lighter-than-air field
Of aviation. 1t led the way In the use
Of commercial airplanes by establish
ing and operating the efficient air mail
service. But many believe. with Mr.
Warner, that from a sound economic
standpoint the dirigible is destined te
be the commercial air vehicle OF the
future for ng-distance over-water
fights" Yet today the Los Angeles
constructed in Germany. is the one
craft in this country's possession which
is al all representative OF the type
which, 1t is believed, will be the air
liner OF the future. Because OF this
fact, and possibly because Of the tragic
fates Of the Shenandoah. the Roma and
the ZR-l. the Los Angeles Is fair
weather ship which seldom cruises far
from home.
Congress. It Is true. has authorized
the construction Of two dirigibles. one
Of them 10 cost $4,000. 900 and both 0.
them 10 come within a limit Of $1,000
600. 1t also authorized s200.000 for
commencing construction on one of the
ships. but because of the wording o!
the act the Navy Department has not
yet been able 70 accept the bid Of the
Goodyear Zeppelin Co. Of Akron. Ohio.
which offered 70 build both the ships
and hangar for So. .000,0 900. 1t is 10
be hoped that al this session OF Con-
gress the acceptance Of the bid will be
permitted and money appropriated ac-
cordingly.
It is expected that the first Of the
English ciriglbles Will be completed In
about three months and under present
plans lis TO fy from London TO the
United States on q trial voyage. But
in the meantime new Zeppelin, the
LZ-l27, is being rushed 10 completion
in Germany In the hope OF taking the
air before the British R-l00. The de-
signer and builder OF the German ship
/ DR.. Hugo Eckner. hopes To fly around
the world In the LZ-I27 In twelve days
She Will carry crew Of twenty-s!x
men and twenty passengers and her
gas capacity In half again az much as
! the Los Angeles.
The United States will watch with
| interest the success Of these craft. Bat
The United States should be more con.
/ cerned With some of her own.