While the whole nation hi plunged into mourning R-101's gallant dead, now that the first stunning effects of the news are beginning to pass off, one of the questions taking form in the minds of the pul Are lighter. than-air craft practicable?"
This morning's papers one and all unite in paying tribute to the skill and heroism of the gallant crew who met their deaths in the tragic flight, but very grave doubts are voiced as.to whither generally are not, by this shown to be too vulnerable.
At the same time the newspapers demand a very searching enquiry, not only into the disaster to the R101, but into the whole question of lighter-than-air eraft.—Reuter.
Washington, Oct. 5.
Rear-Admiral W. A. Moffett, chief of the Bureau of Aeronautics of the Navy Department, to-day. urged that Congress repeal the law: which forbids the export of helium, ud and Germany may inflammable and non-ex-officer's and 37 men. They were wearing a dark-blue uniform which has only recently been designed.
The personnel vas entirely a civilian one, with the exception of Wing-Commander Colmore, the Director of Airship Development: Flight Lieutenant 1, C. Irwin, the Commander, and one non-commissioned officer.
'The known survivors include 1. J. Leach, a foreman-engineer at. the Royal' Airship Works at Carding-ton, who served in the Naval Air-service (Airship Section) during the Great War: A. V. Boll, ant engineer, who was a member of the ¢rew of the R33 when she broke away: A. Disley, a wireless opera for, who went to Canada on the: 2-100, and J. H. Binks, an engineer, who joined the R-33 in 1925, Three ether survivors, J. Cook and A. Savory, who were' employed as en-kinoers on the R-103, and W. G. Raddliffe, a rigger, had had no preious experience in the air.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.