The Pahiatua Herald PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING THURSDAY, APRIL 6, 193?. THE AKRON DISASTER.

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XL, Issue 12314, 6 April 1933, Page 4

The Pahiatua Herald PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING THURSDAY, APRIL 6, 193?. THE AKRON DISASTER.

The disaster which befell the United States airship Akron, the largest in the world, wherein over seventy lives were lost, affords .a tragic illustration that travelling by air even in. luxurious liners, upon which scientific designers and builders have l bestowed great care, is still not free from grave risks. America seems to have been particularly unfortunate with its big airships, causing the chairman. of the House Naval Committee to complain that “we have built three and lost two.” As a result he declares that no more big airships will be built-by America. Evidently, ho is of opinion that size has its handicap, the toll of life when a crash takes place being heavy. There will no doubt be a searching inquiry into the disaster. The Akron was regarded as being nigh perfect as could ho expected, but she encountered an unusually severe storm. Rrita.in has had her share of air tragedies, but the pedple remain undismayed, anu the Channel and other big passenger services continue uninterrupted. Tho well-known German designer. Dr Eckener, declares that the Akron crash has not shaken his faith in airships and until the causes of the disaster are known he is not inclined to a change of plans in the construction of the new German airship.