AIRSHIP DISASTER

Gisborne Times, Volume LXIII, Issue 10095, 7 September 1925, Page 5

AIRSHIP DISASTER

STRONG STRUCTURES,

WERE ALTERATIONS JUSTIFIED ?

(UNITED PEESS ASSOCIATION— COPYEIGHT.) (A., and N.Z. Gable Association.) (Received Sept. 5, 5 p.m.) WASHINGTON, Sept. 4. Tlie Navy Department will investigate the charge by Captain Enton Heinen that the removal of eight of the eighteen safety valves in the gas colls of the Shenandoah was the direct .cause of the disasterCaptain Heinen saiu that in the attempt to save tlie precious helium the men gave their lives foolishly and he declared that the number of valves was insufficient to allow of the escape of gas necessary 1 when the storm suddenly forced the ship upward, causing the rap'd expansion of the gas cells, which broke tlie shell of the ship in the middle. Ho pointed out that twenty valves were installed in the Los Ange'es for safety. Captain Heinen crossed the Atlantic on the Los Angeles and was the construction expert on the Shenandoah. Navy Department information indicates that Mr.. Lansdowe authorised the valve changes recently as the sult of previous cross-country flying with tlie Shenandoah.

MISHAP REVIVES NAVAL CONTROVERSY.

BATTLESHIPS OR AIRCRAFT

(A. ar.d N.Z. Cable Assn.) (Received Sept. 6, o. p.m.) WASHINGTON', Sept. 5

The destruction of the Shenandoah has heightened the conflict between the battleship and the aircraft over Mr. Coolidge’s economy programme. The President desires a new dirigible. Mr. Wilbur considers the maintenance of the surface fleet at the present standard is more important, -while the navy chiefs favor dirigible development, but unless Congress grants three hundred million annually needed for other purposes the spending of two millions on a- dirigible is thought foolish. Also, while both Army and Navy lack service ’planes the expense on the more hazardous dirigible operation is considered folly. All’. Wilbur is anxious to retain the dirigible. Los Angeles for training and experimental purposes, instead of leasing it to a private corporation for commercial service as suggested. The Los Angeles was brought from Germany on condition that it was employed only for peaceful purposes.