The Washington times., 1929-08-30
PROPOSES ZEPS
FOR AIR MA|L
SERVICE
b. international New. service

~ AnternatAonai News service
The frank admiration which
official washington lavished upon
the history.malxing voyage OF the
Graf Zeppelin was succeeded today
by a sober study Of the vast possi.
bilities revealed In the world cruise.
with Indications that DR.. Eckener's
triumph may have great influence
In shaping congressional action on
aviation legislation.
While the highest technicians OF
Army and Navy were considering
the value OF giant airships In at
tacking and defending outlying pos.
sessions and the coasts, other off.
cials were pondering over their
value in extending passenger and
mail air lines beyond the seas.
Two direct results Of the Graf'B
flight appeared probable today, .
canvass disclosed. They are:
Air Mail Plan Told
I. Passage Of q bill authorizing
the Postoffics Department to con.
tract for regular overseas mail
service by airship, which Represent
ative Kelly (R.l Of Pennsylvania, In
charge of postoffice legislation, an.
nounced he will sponsor. Contract
air mali service now Is limited to
airplanes.
| 2. Study by Naval Affairs Com.
| mittees OF defense of Hawaii, Pan.
anna Canal and seacoast, as 10
whether the present airpIane de-
fense should be supplemented by
airships. Several members of Con.
gress, including Representative
James ri of Michigan. chairman OF
the House Military Affairs Com.
mittee. are studying the Hawaiian
and Panama defense questions this
summer.
The statement OF Rear.Admiral
Moffett, chief OF naval aviation,
| that the United States surrendered
leadership in lighter.than.air de.
/ velopments by ''lilly.dallying" is
expected to bring him a summons
| to canvass the aviation situation
before both Senate and House naval
affairs committees.
Storm Triumph Scanned
Although the length of the Graf
Zeppelin's voyage has excited wide
comment, officials here regarded
her ability to combat storms. the
outstanding lesson OF the trip.
The aerial crossing of the Pacific
II is pointed out, has ended the
splendid isolation" which has long
been regarded as the surest protec
ton for the nations naval bases in
the Philippines and Hawaii. The Voy
age, combined with the feat Of the
Los Angeles in picking up and dis
charging an airplane, have made a
deep impression upon both members
Of Congress and military men who
have long regarded the Panama
Canal as the highly vulnerable spo'
in Americas protective armOr.
Recent maneuvers at the Panama
Canal, now being studied secretly
by Army and Navy officers. have
disclosed the need for a closely knit
defense to prevent the canal being
put out of commission.
Air Units Sought
The Graf's trip Is expected tC
strengthen a movement. already
under way in Congress, to provide
funds with which to maintain avia
ton units at Panama and Hawaii al
war strength during times Of peace
The Postoffice Department favors
the Kelly bill permitting contracts
for foreign airship mail service.
The department now has before
1t a proposal by Commander BurneS
of Great Britain, who heads a -Zsp
pelin building company subsidized
by the British admiralty, to establish
a British. h.American airship mail and
passenger service when the Navy'l
two new airships are built. En-
trance of the German Zeppelin Cor
poration into this discussion Is pre-
dicted. One British ship is t b
Ecompleted this year.
Meantime work is proceeding OF
F, the first OF two great airships FOL
the Navy at the Goodyear-Zeppelir
works at Akron. Ohio. The Ora
Zeppelin's voyage il being considerei
by Navy experts to deIermin'
whether alterations shall be made IL
Navy plans.
Fund Fight Backed
| Admiral Moffett's charge of "dilly
dallying" finds backing in the fight
for funds with which to construct
these big ships.
At first refusing to consider air
ship legislation after the Shenan
doah disaster, Congress authorized
two airships on June "a, 1925, bu
opposition Of the budget bureau de
layed appropriations until 1928
Then but 100000 was provided fol
one ship. A contract finally was
made October 8, 1928, for two ships
to cost $7,s25,000. Each will have
a cruising radius OF 10000 miles, Il
Is estimated. The first will not be
completed until April, 1881, anj tn,
second Is months later.
Meanwhile only limited use Of the
dfrigible Los Angeles is permitted
by the Navy, for fear that she will
have outlived her usefulness before
the new ships are built.
| ~ IN we