The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1938-08-08
AIRSHIp'S FATE
IN NAVY RESTS
ON new CRAFT
Fund Is Ready for Build
ing Small, Experimental
Dirigible
BY CARROLL KENWORTHY
United Press Staff Correspon dent

WASHINGTON, Aug. s. lUP)
This year, the centenary OF the
birth of Count Ferdinand Won
Zeppelin. finds little group OF
American dirigiblr experts Stoutly
defending Extraordinarily craft
for commercial transportation and
military use.
In the navy and in %cmc com
merciel offices are men who hay"
sustained on this side OF tn" At
lantic Zcppclin'S vision and who
are working hard to bring the
United States back toward the
forefront Of dirigibIc operation.
They have gained 4 mc2Su"" Of
success despite 2rcat popular PREF
udicc against airShipS after The
tragic losses Of the Shenandoah,
Akron. Macon and Hindenhurg.
They obtained authorization from
congress for thr navy 10 construct
Il new dirigiblc at cost 90 3d.
100000. The navy already has
received funds am"untln% to
$500. 600 to start work on In"
ship. The diligiblc will b" smaller
than the last three naval craft.
but it may encourage larger air
ship operation in the future.
In the commercial field In"
American Zeppelin Transport Go.
continues to seek means by which
il can obtain vessels to rm&ag"
in trans Atlantic operations. This
company ha& cu-oprrat"d with
DrutSchr Zeppelin l'"vd"ri III
plans for Il Joint TRANSATLANTIC
service and it WAS the agent winch
sought in this country release OF
hel!um for the new G"rmHn dlrI-
giblr to start experimental lights
TO the United States this SUMMER.
The company maintains active
representatives IN New York ana
Washington i'm pursuit al is AIMS.
Repeatedly it is willing either to
purchase airships from Germany
to start operation CT To have them
built in the United States, but Iti
officers supposedly hope "Vcmtuai'
w to rely upon American built
airShipS.
The big problem in the minds
of dirigiblc enthusiasts here Is
whether the government will r"-
lease sufficient hclium in the near
future for Germans to resume
transatlantic flights.
This question became vital al
ter the destruction Of the linden
burg when the hydrogen with
which it was filled exploded, cauS-
ing heavy loss Of life. DR.. Hug"
Eckencr. director Of til" German
diripiblp service. said that ne ncV-
rr again would carry commercial
passengers in hydrogen Allcd air
ships. The only recourse was I"
use hclium. upon which the gov
ermmcni has Il virtual monopoly.
Congress enacted 4 law I" en-
able Germany to obtain amounts
If hrlium not considered "of mill
tarv significance. Control OF he
lium export was vested IN the
Munitions Control Board. com
posed g representatives. vi Nv
government departments, lnclud-
ing the army and navy. Last Dc
cembcr that board approved an
ALLEGATION Of l7,8OO,OOO cubic feet
of helium to Germany during
1888. In March it specifically L.
censcd, as required by law, the
export of the first shipment of
some 100000 cubic feet. The
license was to American Zeppelin
TRANSPORT. Inc, as agent for the
German company.
The one remaining step was to
sign Il contract with the Interior
Department for the actual pur-
chase of the gas, since the gov
ernment's monopoly is vested IN
that department.
Secretary Harold lclies refused
to sign contract for the actual
sale. He cOntended he mad no
moof that the shipment was not
''of military Significance" DR..
Eckener visited lckeS and PrcSl-
dent Roosevelt to try to solve the
impasse. He left with the under
standing that the question re-
manned open for further conSId-
GRAFTON.