Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-08-26
GRAF TRIP AFFECTS
ARMS DISCUSSIONS
Stimulation of U. S. DirigibIe
Building Held Biggest
Single Factor.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

Although the spectacular phase of the
Graf zeppelin's achievement is upper
most, there is nevertheless a striking
contrast noted here between the state
OF American opinion a decade ago to-
ward German exploits in the air and
the achievements of today.
Naturally military and naval elements
look upon the tranSpacific flight of the
Zeppelin as a revival of the discussion
of aircraft in national defense. If the
Pacific Ocean has been the first line
of defense heretofore, making 1t neces-
sary to keep a substantial naval force
off the West Cos st, the accomplishment
OF the Graf Zeppelin has emphasized
that a feet of dirigibles now may be
necessary to ward of possible attacks
from the air.
Zeppelins were used during the war
to drop bombs on London, and the
allied world looked with horror on what
! the Germans were doing. Today, as
the Graf Zeppelin reached American
shores after a 'round-the-w flight,
it is the passenger and civil! aviation
opportunities that are primarily re-
establishing air lines by dirigibles does
not emanete alone from Germany. but
from American capitalists. who, how
ever. have believed that travel by
heavier-than-air craft would be re-
served for coastwise and interior travel,
while the oceans would be spanned by
| lighter -than-air ships.
u. S. Navy Meets Reverses.
The American Navy has been alert to
! the possibilities of dirigibles, but has
met with many reverses. The disaster
to the Shenandoah prevented the de-
/ vslopment of the Nays plans, because
| public opinion was not ready to sane
| ton large expenditures for further ex-
pertinent In view of the pioneering
/ done by the American Army and Navy
with heavier-than-ai machines, it is
probable that if the Shenandoah acci-
! dent had not happened the American
Navy long ago would have undertaken a
round the world flight by dirigible. This
! is because naval officials here have
never had any doubt about the value
! of dirigibles for long distance cruises.
| Two new dirigibles have been author
! ICED by Congress which will make even
! greater speed than the Graf Zeppelin,
and contracts already have been
awarded.
The trip of the Graf Zeppelin will
have a conspicuous effect on the arma-
ment discussions going on between the
principal powers. While 1t will never
be conceded by the Navy that the bat
tleship is entirely useless, nevertheless
| it is recognized that with a Zeppelin
making a round the-world trip with
/ relative ease the weapons of war now
being used are more or less obsolete OF
will be in the next decade.
| The possibilities of a dirigible pas
senger line between California and the
Far East are being widely commented
upon as likely to alter the entire
method of doing business between the
United States and the Orient. Quick
communication has always stimulated
trade and the dispatch Of mails has
unquestionably accelerated business
| transactions in other parts OF the world
An air mail line would mean quicker
| interchange between the United States
and the Far East, thus making Solu-
ton of the difficulties in China and
Manchuria even more vital than ever
before.
Subject Opens Many Possibilities.
Again. 1t may be said that the whole
world will be thinking about the brave
adventures who made the first flight
around the world and will applaud to-
day the very people who were enemies
hardly more than a decade ago. New
ertheless, the achievement Is here in
Washington acquiring already an en-
tirely different significance, namely
what effect will 1t have on American
commerce and trade and what changes
will be made in order to make modern
the national defense plan Of the United
States. Experiments which the Navy
is conducting may bring about the use
of airplanes in short regular flight from
a floating dirigible base. Planes now
are launched for scout duty from the
decks of naval vessels.
The whole subject opens up so many
possibilities that they run away with
the imagination of the military expert.
The biggest single effect of the Graf
Zeppelin's trip for the moment, how
ever, is to stimulate the development
of dirigible building in the United
States and in this the Navy will play
q central part with requests for more
appropriations when Congress takes up
the budget In December
IConyri0ht 1901