Evening star., 1932-01-26
AKRON SABOTAGE
ORDERED PROBED
House Naval Committee to
. Study Justice Depart
ment'S Investigation.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
Chairman Vinson today announced
the House Naval Committee would
study the Justice Departments investi-
CATION OF reported sabotage on the air
ship Akron.
He directed Representative McClin-
tic Democrat) of Oklahoma to obtain
the Justice Departments file on the
study 1t made of charges against Paul
F. Kassay, a former worker at the Ak
ron plant, where the ship was built
McClintic had presented letter as
serting Kassay received a check about
the time he was supposed to have OBJ
strueted work on the ship.
Rear Admiral William A. Moffett,
chief of the Nays Bureau OF Aero
nautics, said he knew nothing ABOUT the
check, but would be glad to look INTO
the question If the letter were turned
over to him.
Found No Evidence.
did your investigators find any evi-
dences of sabotage?" McCllntlc aSKeo.
"No evidences of any," Moffett re-
piled
Vinson asked what had happened to
Kassay. Moffett replied he understood
the man had been discharged, but no
further action had been taken.
Then you think this committee can
assume that, since no further action
was taken, there was no unusual eyi-
dence of guilt?" Vinson asked.
"Yes," Moffett replied
"Who would be interested in the
sabotage on the ship?"
Why, we would, Of course" the
naval officer answered.
But I mean what other country
might be interested in seeing sabotage
on the ship?"
Before Moffett could answer that
question. Representative Woodruff, Re
publican, Michigan, interposed:
That question might be emoar-
RAISING to the admiral"
Vinson then said he would ask the
Justice Department for the file IN the
case.
Moffett Answers Critics.
Criticism of the airship was met to-
day with the statement that Sne Is
the best airship ever constructed.
Admiral Moffett made this answer TO
published reports OF defects IN the
Akron at the opening OF an inVestiga-
ton of her speed, weight ana sa1ety:
Representative McClintic, sponsor
of the investigation, SAID ms only m
terest was to determine whether her
efficiency was impaired and whether
she "offers the safety she should"
He recalled dirigible accidents OF the
Roma the Shenandoah and the R-lOl,
and said ..,..
to see that no errors had occurred IN
construction of the Akron which might
be duplicated in the sister ship
The sister ship to the Akron Is now
Admiral Moffett said the contract for
the Akron had been lived up to. with
two exceptions-weight and speed.
Overweight, He Says.
"She is overweight little over 49,.
600 pounds" Moffett testified. He SAID
this was only per cent ana tnat
doesn't materially anect the per.
forrnance Of the ship or her radius OF
action"
Surface ships and heavier-than-air
shins usually are overweight, yet we
never hear criticism Of that" Moffett
said.
He added that the contract speclfied
the airship should be able TO make Y
Knots. whereas she has made only SO.
I'VE have had difficulty in making
our tests owing to the fact that the
ship uses the largest propellers ever
made In the world, and they are OF
wood" Moffett said.
A new set Of metal propellors is now
being prepared, which the admiral as
serted. ne thought would enable the
Akron to make n knots.
"I think In time If we can get bet
ter motors she will make more than
70 knots" he said.