Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-29
BY T. r. wARING, JR.

A MERICA'S chances Of participate
" ing in the Schneider Cup race
"A of the English coast, which
4 \ generally we're believed to be
out of the question this year,
were frightened when company
to develop high-speed planes was
formed by AL williams, former flyer
and the leading American speed pilot.
The eyes of the air-minded have been
turned wistfully. and for the last few
weeks a little jealousy, across the At
lantic toward the trophy. which is to
aviation what the World Series is to
base ball, the British open to golf and
the Davis Cup matches to tennis.
Great Britain has two legs on the
trophy and will retain permanent pos
| session should British entry win this
year.
U. S. Dropped Out After 1925.
The United States, after winning two
races, dropped out Of the contest after
1925. The Government has been the
target of adverse criticism ever since
because it ceased to develop fast planes
for the speed classic. other critics
have taken a different view. They
point out that since the race is pri-
marily sports event, there Is no more
| reason for the Army or Navy to spend
money on racing planes than that they
should build yacht to defend the
Americas Cup against Sir Thomas Lip
tens periodic assaults. National pride
and interest in sports, they say, should
prompt the use OF private funds to
build an American contender.
Rear Admiral William A. Moffett,
chief OF the Naval Bureau of Aeronau-
tics, recently prepared a comprehensive
review of the history of the Schneider
Cup races, for which the nations have
been competing since 1918. Lack OF
funds, he says, has kept the Navy out
Of the competition.
THE Bureau of Aeronautics has
asked for an increase in its expert
mental funds year after year." he said
in order to include therein money for
the development Of racing aircraft, but
this increase has not been granted be-
cause Of the great necessity for econ
omy In governmental expenditures.
Centers on Building Program.
'If funds had been available the Navy
would gladly have continued its par
ticipation in this premier international
speed classic, and was anxious to
do SO. AS conditions actually exist,
however. the Bureau of Aeronautics has
barely obtained SUFFICIENT funds to COM
plete and maintain its so-called FIVE
year building program which unques-
tionably Is more urgent and more i'm
portant, from the standpoint of naval
! aviation efficiency, than the winning OF
the Schneider Cup.
1T Is reported that 100000 was
spent in this country in connection
with the defense of the Americas Gun
Yachting, of course, is a glorious sport,
but 1t does not have the bearing upon
national defense that high-speed plane
development has. 1t is much to be
| regretted, therefore, that the Navy has
been forced to withdraw from partici-
patton in the Schneider Cup races. The
S3,O00,000 cost of developing suitable
planes seems in no way exorbitant and
I ardently hope that we will be a con-
testant for the Schneider Trophy in
1885,"
Assistance Of Navy Despaired Of.
Governmental economy is the reason
advanced also by David S. ingalls,. As
ststant Secretary of the Navy for Aero
nautics, in his reply to Representative
Fforello H. La Guardia's QUESTIONABLE
on the Nays failure to provide an air
racer Mr.. La Guardia took the floor in
the House Of Representatives during the
discussion Of the naval supply bill and
asked for an appropriation of 81 ,000, 900
to develop q fast plane. Later he modi-
fed the request to 100000, the amount