Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1932-05-29

1t was Japan which most consistently
sought the abolition of all aircraft car
r!ers in the Disarmament Conferences
and 1t was the Japanese delegates who
assumed leadership in the battle
against naval air forces during the
past week at Geneva
The United States conducted the
defense of aircraft and aircraft car
riers, but when the matter came to a
vote Portugal alone Of all the powers
stood with the United States against
the resolution directed against all air
planes carried on regular aircraft car
riers or on warships equipped with
landing decks. The resolution was pre-
sented by the japanese after a sub
commission had been unsuccessful in
an attempt to draft a compromise.
The adoption Of the resolution Is a
deadly blow at the efforts Of Rear Ad-
miral William A. Moffett chief of the
Navy Bureau OF A-ronaut:cs, and other
American naval leaders to bring about
the construction Of powerful aircraft
carriers and flying deck cruisers"
The effect Of such resolution is
more keenlv felt by the United States
than any other nation. since this coun-
try now holds position of undisputed
world leadership in naval aviation, both
In numbers of planes with its fleets
and in efficiency of its naval air opera :
tons. France and Great Britain, both
OF whom have admitted the naval air
superiority of this country, RETAINED
from voting on the resolution.
The Geneva action is not final, how
ever, since the matter, acted upon be-
fore the air commission. is yet to be
approved by the general commission.
There hot ho
vote has had a serious effect on naval
armament plans.
Airport Lease Offered.
The offer by officials of Washington-
Hoover Airport to lease the airport
property to the Federal Government for
operation by the Department Of Com
merce as a model municipal airport
vas necessary result Of the efforts of
the Federal Government TO establish
claim to 4612 acres of the landing area
The Governments claim. hanging
like a cloud over the airport officials.
with no assurance that the matter will
be settled in the immediate future, is
making their situation untenable In
face OF possible Government conhsca-
ton OF jor portion of the landing
field area, they are not morally or
financially justified in going ahead
with any further work Of improvement.
even though such work IS badly needed
The airport authorities have offered
to sell their holdings to the Federal
Government, but Congress has refused
to take any action on the matter be-
yond the mere receiving of a report
from a special joint commission rec
ommending that the purchase be made
The offer to lease the airport, coupled
10
eminent the right at any time TO pur-
chase the property or any part of it
which judicial determination may show
the Federal Government does not al
ready own, looms as about the only
way out Of what has become an i'm
possible situation.
The airport forms the National Capt.
tails only air transport terminal and
its only link with the airlines of the
country and nothing should be permit
ted to jeopardiZe its usefulness Air
transport has become an important part
OF the worlds communications sys
tenn and may not be abandoned without
injury to those who have keyed up
their daily lives to the new standards
made possible by widespread use Of
the airplene. any more than the rail-
roads could be abandoned without Sc
IiOuSiy damaging business.
Seek Increased Speed Range.
One of the most important phases Of
the activities Of the National Advisory
Committee for Aeronautics during the
past year, as demonstrated during the
past week at the annual conference
with leaders Of the aviation industry
has been increasing of the speed ranges
of the transport airplane.
Higher flying speeds. combined with
low landing speeds. stand as a major
requirement Of the air transport plane
of today. The problem is one difficult
Of solution. but most encours g!ng
progress has been made by Uncle
Sans aeronautical laboratories at
Langley Field. Several types of wings
wete shown which bear promise OF
good results
1t is a general rule that increase Of
maximum speed is obtained only by
the sacrifice of low landing speed.
With racing planes of the Schneider
class landing speeds go well above 100
miles per hour, which is too fast for
general use. Some of the faster land
planes are landing at from go to rs
miles per hour. which is too fast for
comfort, especially over country where
landing in small intermediate fields
L.