Evening Star Newspaper, October 2, 1925, Page 2

LANSDOWNE ASKED FOR VALVE CHANGE Warning Was Given Twice by| Aeronautic’s Bureau to Show Care. Br the Associated Press. LAKEHURST. N. J.. October 2.—In approving the gas-valvesystem change in the airship Shenandoah the Bureau of Aeronautics at Washington warned those on the ship that the new system was not as “foolproof” as the eriginal installation, and that extreme care should be taken in the operation of the ship. This was disclosed today ibefore the naval court of inquiry here by the ading into the record of the official correspondence that passed on the subject between Comdr. Zachary Lans downe, captain of the ship, and the Bureau of Aeronautics. Warned of Valves. Changes in the valve system first were suggested by Lansdowne as ¢ September 16, 1924, but finally were not approved by the hu 28,1925, and then only with a warning from -Capt. E. S. Land, Construction Corps, attached to the bureau. This warning was: renewed on June 13, 1925, in a letter signed by Comdr. H. € Richardson, Constryction Corps, by direction of the chief of the bureau This correspondence | shows Comdr. Lansdowne not .only recom- mended the change, but that when there was delay in acting on his recom- mendation he sent a telegram request- ing telegraphic authorization for carrying out the work. Approval then was’ given “by way of experiment and it was added that the necessary precautions should be taken in operat- ing the ship. On June 13, 1925, Comdr. Riehardson wrote that in viéw of the change there should be use of the maneuvering valves to discharge gas whenever that hould become necessary in flight. Capt. Land's Vetter. Capt. Lund’s letter of May 28 said: “The modified - arrangement of valves proposed for the Shenandoah is not as foolproof as the original in- stallation. The proposed arrange- ment imposes an added reason for cautious operation of the ship near pressure height. If for any reason the ship gets out of control and driven above pressure helght consequences will be serious. However, on the sumption that the operating person- nel realizes and accepts the operating praetice which is involved and will take the necessary precautions,’ the rearrangement of gas valves and trunks as proposed is-approved by way of experiment.” A report after three months' ex- perience with the modified installa- tion was called for. In his letter of June 3, 1925, Comdr. Richardson sald that calculations in- dicated that the change in the valve system would cut in half the safe rate of ascent of the ship, in other words from 800 to 400 feet a minute. Rate of Ascent Cut. He added: ““The bureau notes the argument that a very small gas valve capacity was found to be sufficient on the West coast flight. In this con- nection the bureau invited attention to the fact that in that flight no very rapld ascents above pressure heights occurred. . “It is considerad that thekinaximum gas capacity is likely to be required only in the event of the ainship being suddenly carried upward in a vertical current during a squall. It is under- stood that the Shenandoah has never heen subjected to this condition, al- though it quite conceivably may occur, and the total gas valve capacity must be sufficient to provide for it. “It is known the Zeppelins have occasionally burst gas cells, due to insufficient valve capacity, when rising rapldly in thunderstorms. Zep- pelin practice is to provide for a rate of ascent of at least 3 meters per second or about 600 feet per minute 5 meters per second was preferred. “With the limited autdomatic gas valve capacity which will remain after completion of the changes now in progress, the rate of ascent in ex- treme conditions must be carefully watched and the gas cells relleved of excessive pressure by opening the maneuvering valves if necessary.” Other Type Abandoned. At the outset there was some dis- cussion hetween Comdr. Lansdowne and the bureau with reference to the nse of a combination automatic and maneuvering valve to replace the orig- inal system. but after some experi- mentation this type was abandoned. On December 15, 1924, Comdr. Lans- downe renewed his recommendation for & change in the valve system, say- ing the German design was “based upon two considerations which do not ohtain at present; operation with hydrogen gas and operation in time of war.” With the use of helium, he said, the use of the internal gasing manifold for equalizing purposes during fiight means of keeping all of the &S at the same pressure. The ideal scheme, therefore, would he to make the gasing manifold larger and con- sider it as a permanent part of the gas cell installation, providing an au- tomatic valve on each end of the mani- fold. These valves would give ample protection to the gas bags under pres- ent operating conditions. Should con- ditions so change as to necessitate faster valving the maneuvering valves could always be used in an emergency. Land's Proposal. On December 27 Capt. Land pro- posad for the Bureau of Aeronautics that the present gas valve system in the Shenandoah bhe replaced by a complete installation of combined automatic and maneuvering valves along the top of the ship. and at the same time an enlarged gasing manl- fold along the keel be installed and provided with a valve at each end. T.ansdowne's comments on this were requested, and on January 9, 192 he suggested a slightly modified . tem. Again on May 12, 1925, after the West Coast flight, Lansdowne recom- mended a new system—that subse- quently installed. He said this would effect a ing in weight without jeopardizing the safety of the ship in any way. “The proposed scheme.” he . wrote “in_addition to increasing cruising radius, will cut down the rate of diffu- sion and the loss of hellum through leaky valves.” . George W. Steele, jr., of the , added his indorsement to this plan, and with the pregentation of the correspondence he was added 10 the now formidable array of “inter, ested parties” before the court. When a prompt reply to Lans- downe’s letter on May. 12 was not forthcoming he telegraphed on May 28 for telegraphic authorization to make the changes. Land's letter of May 28, approving the change by way ©f experiment, was sent in repl: The inquiry has reached temporarily the evidence in rebuttal stage. but the end is as vet nowhere.in sight. Heinen’s Testimony. The testimony to which immediate reply 18 being made.isuthat. of -Gapt, Anton Heinen, foriner Gérman Zep- Telin pot, who even under the most A gearching cross-examination, has held | plans or prospects.” Chief of Police Dead MAJ. DANIE SULLIVAN IS DEAD ON EVE OF QUITTING AS SUPERINTENDENT _(Continued from First Page.) SULLIVAN. brought to police headquarters for ad- ministrative duties. He served in that capacity for two years, and when Maj. Harry Gessford retiréd as superin tendent Sullivan was designated as lacting chief. After weeks of keen | competition by a number of candidates, hoth in and_out of the department, the late Commissioner Oyster finally recommended to his colleagues that { Sullivan be made major and superin- tendent A close spirit of mutual confidence and understanding marked the official relations of Maj. Sullivan and Com- missioner Oyster. Capt. Oyster was a strong admirer of Sullivan long before he was selected as permanent chief of police. Opposed by Harding. It mav now be told that Ovster stood by Sullivan in the face of determined opposition, and even stuck to his choice when President Harding made two other Euggestions for the position He stuck se. strongly that eventually President Harding told him that he might as well give Sulli- van the position. From that time the Police Commis- sioner and the police superintendent { were extremely close in official rela- tlons. On every occasion where the opportunity arose, Capt. Oyster strong- 1y supported - his chief of police. and to his friends expressed gratification at the methods employed by the major of the Police Department. Sullivan’s advent to the position of major and superintendent came at a time when internal strife and friction were playing havoc with the discipline of the police organization. Numerous little cliques and factions were hard at work advancing selfish Interests. Discipline was recognized as being lax. It became Sullivan's task to bind these factions together into a united organization. He went at it with vim. A quiet. diplomatic sort of a person, who could see two sides to every argument, he smoothed down the rough spots in the police organi- zation until an essence of harmony began to be noted. It was impossible for him entirely to eliminate friction, but he pacified the hostile elements and smothered angry outbursts. Commissioners Pay Tribute. Commissioners Rudolph, Fenning and Bell joined today in paying tribute to the sterling character of Maj. Sul- livan and to the long and honorable record he made in the police service. Commissioner Fenning and Acting Supt. Evans were at the Columbia Heights carnival on Fourteenth street last night when word of Maj. Sulli- van's death reached them. They went to the Sullivan home and expressed their sympathy. Inspector Evans im- mediately ofdered all police flags at half staff. Word of Maj. Sullivan's death was received with the deepest regret at the police precincts. Only a few days ago the men had started to raise a fund to present to Maj. Sullivan as a token of their esteem upon his retire- ment. i Maj. Sullivan is survived’ by his widow and four children: Mrs. May Reilly, Miss Margaret Sullivan and John and Daniel Sullivan, jr. MRS. WILSON IS SILENT | ON ENGAGEMENT RUMOR President’s Widow Declines Com- ment on Report of Pledge to Wed Dr. Sterling Ruffin. By the Asnociated Press. PARIS, October 2—A possible To- mance, in which the names of Mra. Woodrow Wilson and Dr. Sterling Ruffin of Washington, D. C., have been linked together, has been the sub- ject of mucn speculation both in Geneva and Paris in the last few weeks. . Mrs. Wilson now is being entertained by her friends here, but Dr. Ruffin was a passenger on the steamer Majestic. which salled for New York on September 23. Rumors of the impending engage- ment of Dr. Ruffin and Mrs. Wilson brought forth the following statement today from a close companion of the former President’s widow: | gestions NATIONAL STADIUM 1S PROPOSED HERE Col. Sherrill to Sound Civic Body Heads on Plan to Build Huge Amphitheater. Plans for a great stadium here which could be the scene of national and international games and other sporting events have heen tentatively completed by Lieut. Col. Clarence O. Sherrill. director of public buildings and parks, he announced today. At the same time he safd that he was ad- dressing_letters to the heads of local ivie bodies asking them to meet him in his office in the Navy Building at noon Monday, when he will lay the entire proposition before them and seek theh opinfons of pushing the proposition to a definite conclusion. The letters were sent to ‘James T, Lloyd. president of the Chamber of Commerce; Samuel J. Prescott. presi- ident of the Board of Trade; Ross P, Andrews, president of the Merchants and Manufacturers’ Asmoclation, and Jesse C. Suter, président of the Fed- eration of Citizens' Associations. Would Bring Many Here. have observed for the last sev- years a pumber of suggestions made in reference to the construc tion of a stadium h sald Col. Sherrill in his letter the civie body heaas, “hut none of these Sug- has ever materialized, and 1 feel that now is the time for’ Whsh- ington to get actively behind a move- ment for a stadium that wiH be no- table in the country and that can be the scene of great national and In- ternational games. including many of the Army and Navy foot ball games, and perhaps the Olymplc games, as well as international polo and othet allled sports.” Col. Sherrill said that the purpose of the conference which he Is request- ing is to determine the feeling of the organizations which have heretofore taken considerable interest in the matter. At this time Col. Sherrils sald he did not want to make his plans public, because they involved getting the support of the civic or ganizations, which would have to get behind them. He preferred to sub- mit them to these bodies first to as certain their attitudes. He thinks it very desirable that Washington should have such an es tablishment, so that there might be brought here the great national and international games which are going elsewhere because there is no ade- quate place here in which to hold them. It is a matter, he said he also believes, that the people here must decide for themselves, and for t reason he is submitting it to the civic bodies to determine whether they are ready and willing to get behind a project which will give the Capital the finest stadium in the country, . SPRAGUE-PROCTER CASE STILL IN HANDS OF JURY Verdict in Suit Over $50.000 Wood Presidential Campaign Fund Expected Today. By the Associated Press. CHICAGO, October 2.—The Federal jury hearing the $50.000 suit of Col. Willlam C. Procter. Cincinnati soap manufacturer, against Col. A. A, Sprague, Chicago commissioner of public works. last night was ordered to return a sealed verdict this morn- ing if an agreement is reached. They received the case about 3:30 p.m. Col. Sprague Is being sued for half of a $100.000 note which he and Col. Procter signed in obtaining funds to conduct the presidential campaign of Gen. Leonard Wood in 1920. ol rague, who was treasurer of the Wood national committee. maintains that Col. Procter, as chairman of the commitiee, assumed full responsi- bility for the note and that he merely affixed his name as an officfal of the bank which loaned the money and not as a co-guarantor. TWO MORE BODIES TAKEN FROM S-51; RESCUE HOPE GONE ntinued from First P: o eral bodies have been recovered. and 33 men went down with the craft. There is every evidence at the sub- marine base to indicate that officers here have given up hope of any life being found on the craft. Relatives of the men who lost thelr lives have seadfastly refused to leave New Lon- don until they are certain that their sons, brothers and husbands could not be found. Officers at the base have told all of them it would be best for them to return to their homes as the chance for any of the men being found alive was one in a miilion. Four Swept Away. At least four men, including Lieut. Rodney H. Dobson, commander of the 851, were swept to death from the bridge of the submarine when it was sunk. This was brought out in testi- mony yesterday by two of the three “Mrs. Wilson adheres to the policy she has followed since she was in the White House, and refuses to confirm or deny any newspaper reports con- cerning her. “Mrs. Wilson intends to conserve the position of private citizen she has maintained during her entire stay abroad. even in Geneva, when she was the object of attention by League of Nations' officials and Swiss civic and other hodies. She has nothing to say for publication regarding her future Snake Goes Into Court. The love of Franz Gise, the actor, for snakes was responsible for getting him into court in Vienna recently. One of his pets, a boa constricto e to his theory that it was the ex- pansion of the hellum gas bags in- side the airship and not the aero- dynamic forces from the outside that caused the huge craft to break up with a Joss of 14 lives. Lieut. George V. Whittle, a gas-cell specialist, was called today before the naval court to give his opinion on this subject. He appears at the call of the sur- vivors. One other naval officer, Lieut. C. H. Havill, already has given his con- clusion, based on avallable records and data, that the expansion of the bag under the pressure to which the helilum was subjected when the ship was thrown high into the air did not strain her structure beyond a danger point. Aside from the moot gas cell phase of the inquiry several others must be gone into_deeper before the court moves on to Washington to hear Mrs. Margaret Ross Lansdowne, widow of the Shenandoah's commander, and other ~ witnesses. Among the witnesses remaining to be called while the court sits here is George Worth, chief draftsman at the air station, who Heinen says told him-the gas yalve change was sought all along by some of those connected with the statlon. Capt. Heinen also {s to be recalled, survivors, Alfred Geler of New Bed- ford and Michael S. Lira of St. Louls. Geler and Lira were summoned be- fore the local board of inspectors of the United States Steamboat Inspec- tion Service in the course of an in- vestigation to determine responsibility for the disaster. Neither man saw the submarine’s running lights in that brief minute they remained on the bridge before she sank. They testified that as far as they knew, both the steering gear and the lights of the submarine were ir good order on the night of the collision. Lira criticized the fallure of the City of Rome to throw a line to the submarine in answer to the plea of the commanding officer. Other than this, both declared they had no criticism to make of un- seamanlike conduct on the part of the officers and crew of the other craft. That the submarine probably was running on the surface prior to the collison was brought out by the exam- ination. Neither man was able, how- ever, to give any information concern- ing the events immediately preceding the disaster, since both were asleep in the battery room below when awakened by the crash of the vessels coming together. Awakened by Crash. A graphic picture of the disaster was given in the testimony of the eler was awakened by a Lira thought that there had been a battery explosion as he awakened and leaped from his bunk, situated in the same compartment as those of some 17 other sleeping men and officers. Geier saw'the chief signalman aid- ing dnother man up the stairs to the conning tower hatch, the only one: believed open. Lira saw Lieut. Dobson pause in the central operat- ing room, heard him call the men to quarters and then saw him climb to the deck. Both men climbed through the conning tower hatch to the bridge. Geler thought the deck to be level, and apparently the ‘ship, riding .nor- rnally, but Lira said that the bow was down 10 degrees. Both sald that the portside of the submarine’ waa b STAR Up) Lower: Col. H. C. Woodcock of Li tralia; J. B. Couper of Glasgow and Re WASHINGTON, D. C RIDAY. verpool, Maj. Gen. Sir N presentative John J. McSwain of South oc TOBER 2, 192 r left: Baron Theordor Adelswaerd of Sweden, president of the Parliamentary Council, and Senator William B. McKinley, president of the American group and chairman of the conferénce. Upper right: Sir Robert Horne, head of the British de legation. wton J. Moore, former prime minister of Western Aus- | Carolina. {RODGERS PROPOSES i ONE DEPARTMENT FOR ARMY AND NAVY (Continued from st_Page.) mon department, officered by experts working with the assistance of Army and Navy officers of experience in the operation of the product supplied.” Opposes One Air Force. The commander of the Hawalian flight opposed either a united air force or a separate air corps, such as have been nrged by various witnesses be- fore the board, declaring the problem engaging the study of the board was one involving essentially a revision of present organizations. So far as avia- Uon itself was concerned as an inte- rior problem, he believed the question might be solved satisfactorily for the moment by proper establishment of an aviation budget. by improvement of personnel situation, fixing by law the retention of officers in_the line of the Navy on a speclal list and by “‘estab- lishment of a strong aviation section in operations.” “For a permanent and final solu tion,” he added, “appoint the strongest man attainable as secretary of the na- tional defense, give him a good staff, let him work out the organization re- quired and. when ready, take over both the Army and Navy. “Now, last, but most important—a point which I feel safe in assuming no aviator has heretofore mentioned—de- fense by the air ix no cheap thing, as seems to be the popular opinion. I have not the figures and I doubt it they exist, but T have a conviction that they would not be pleasant to look upon. Costs Must Be Cut. and means must be found this cost. The matter of costs is one which it seems to me you must face before your duties are completed in this committee. “Some such great reorganization as I have nuggested is required to effect a great reduction and thus per- mit aviation to take its proper place in the national defense ~without breaking the United States Treasury.” Of the Hawallan flight he said he could not see how any “possible stretch of the imagination” could at- tach any blame to the Navy Depart- ment because the flight did not work out as planned. Of the Shenandosh disaster he said: “I cannot see how. the Navy Department can, in any way, be responsible for the fact that a good airship, well manned and cap- talned, goes out on & cruise, meets heavy weather and its lost' This testimony was in direct contrast to that of Col. Willlam Mitchell, who at- tributed the failures to “bungling.” Cites His Record. hé asked, “prevent a Savannah line steamship, which, by the rules of the road, is required to keep clear, from running down a submarine®’ Declaring that these accidents had no bearing on the personal efficiency of any officer stationed in the depart- ment, he said: “The Navy Department is not or- ganized on the principlés of scientific organization, as I understand them. Briefly thers must be a stronger co. ordinating and controlling force. There must be a more highly developed plane division in order that the Nayy may be developed and be ready to meet the needs of tomorrow, as well as of today. The powers of the individua} bureaus should be combined under one chief of supply. Comdr. Rodgers told the board that his record showed that he was qualified to command either ships, or aircraft, and therefore he had little to gain personally by advancing the interests of either. “Since serving in the Spanish War and graduating from the Naval Academy.” he said, “I have served in nearly all capacities and on board at types of craft now found in the United States Navy. This includes five years aviation duty—700 hours in the afr, not including 216 hours in PN-9 No. 1 at.sea.” 5 Objects to United Air Force. Explaining his opposition to a united air force, he declared “it defeats the very -chief advantage which it pur- ports to gain, namely, the control of airplanes.” “So far as sea-going airplanes are concerned,” he continued, “my imag- ination does not permit me to conceive airplanes operating at great distances ——— = . “very close” to the starboard side of the steamer and Gefer .thought commander's last words before the submarine slipped beneath the water, Lira asserted. , Both Lira and Geler were caught in clearing lines or-antenna and went down, but struggled loose and came to the surface, “How can the Navy Department," at mea, except with ships as bases. In ihe matter of operations the plan of the united air force, as 1 understand it, is to develop sea-going airplanes and then to act as a livery stable and farm these planes out to the Navy in lots for operation. When this in done such a result as this is inevitable. The air commander of the airplanes must pass under the command of the seaman who is in command of the ship unit to which the airplanes are at- tached. This seaman would. iIf the united air service were effective, be a person totally untrained and inex- perienced in the operation of airplanes. “Similarly T am opposed to a special | corps, for with it the same condition | is likely to arise. Sees Difference in Services. “I believe that there is as great a difference between an aviator, who flies over land and one who flies over sea, as there is between a soldier and a sailor; that the naval aviator should be trained, first to th= sea, and then to the air over the sea, and that he should be qualified not only: to operate his machine over the sea, but able to perform duties on board his base, which is the ship. “I believe that this can beat he ac- complished by training the naval avi- ator in the anization in which he ils to Aght. The introduction of =a corps aboard ship has always caused jealousy and heart burnings and is a thing to be avoided if possible. “The command of carriers tenders and all ships whose major duty is to serve airplanes should unques- tionably fall to those who have had experience In airplanes. This is a point not conceded by those who ad- vocate the separate service and a point which may not be gained if we turn to a separate corps. “The history of aviation is that the airplane has in the last few years be- come a large integral part of the ship, and it is easy for me to imagine that in a short time—say, within the next 20 years—we will find it the most im- portant weapon that the Navy wield. In that case, if the aviators were aviators only, and the sailors were sailors only, with the command of ships and fleets intrusted to saflors only, we would have the well known situation of the tail wagging the dog." Speaking of his budget proposal, he sald he “would recommend a lump sum appropriation, to be expended un- der the direction of the Bureau of Aeronautics so that it would be easy just how much w to understand spent for aviation. Sees Fiyers' Grievances. “There is the question of personnel,” he said, “which is, of course, at the bottom of all the trouble. Naval avia- tors, like all people, are willing to do their bit toward the common weal—in this case the improvement of their specialty; but only personal griev- ances can cause the unrest and conse- quent uproar which we are now hear- ing. Before leaving Honolulu, the witness said, the oldest lieutenant aviator in the Navy, a very calm and even- minded man, spoke to him as follows: “Two years ago all naval aviators were perfectly well satisfled to re- main as naval aviators and naval officers without change of organiza- tion. Now we find that nothing has been done; that our flight pay is in Jeopardy and that we are subject to be dropped from the Navy list en- tirely; our promotion will be slow if ‘we have any at all. We do not know what will become of us. What we ask is first that we may be assured of remaining in the Navy, and sec- ond, that me may be assured of stay- ing in aviation.” (This means flight pay.) It is my idea,” Comdr. Rodgers said, “that the aviators should be granted these two modest requests. But in addition any Navy needs ex- perienced aviators in the upper grades, in order that the benefit of their long experience may be utilized in administration work. Therefore, they should be promoted in a class of their own, still retaining them in the line, faster if necessary than their fel- lows qualified for ship duty only.” “You'll get more for the dollar in providing aircraft defense for the Hawalian Islands than in any other way,” he told the committee. The Hawalian group affords a good opportunity for aircraft defense, he added. “The islands are a naval base and should be commanded by a naval offi- cer. “It is like Panama. The governor there should be a naval rather than army officer.” “Were you at Hawall during the maneuvers” asked Senator Bingham. “Yes, sir. “Gen. Hines (Maj. Gen. Hines, Army chief of staff) seemed to be disap- pointed in the part played by air- craft,” continued Senator Bingham. “We did everything we were told. ‘We simply offered our services. “Army aviators have made quite a point of us not doing some things. ‘We promised to do all we could, but we dlfln".l p:omlu to ruin ourselves in doing it. | be “given and | Hawaifan defense, Rodgers sald “Keep what we have and add to ft."” “If you were fn command of air forces there how many planes would you want?" asked Bingham. r 72 planes of the PN-9 32 torpedo planes. much struck on this type, but maybe they will be all right when we get them. “The Navy should have Fort Island. We would then have about enough room for war activitles. “Give the Army another place. They are perfectly wiiling to go if given a place, which has not heen done. “The Army forces should have more I'm not|the last two years is one of RIEMER CHARGES HELD UNFOUNDED Legion Controversy Over Al- leged Mismanagement Still Acute, Despite Report. While an American Legion com- mittes was on record upholding the present administration of legion af- fairs in the District of Columbla, another critic of legion matters took a stand today along with Charles L. Riemer, attacking the manner in which leaders of the local veterans’ organization handle its work. A committes of investigators last night issued the following statement “The committee that was appointed to investigate charges against the management of the American lLeglon finds that the allegations that were made in the Washington newspapers on August 30, 1025, alleging misman agement of the affairs of the American Legion in the District of Columbia Department of the American Legion are entirely unfounded and untrue.” The allegations were made by Rie- mer, who is commander of Stuart ‘Walcott Post. Declares Legion Disintegrating. At the same time a letter from Maj. Thomas E. Fawcett, a member of 1. C. Spengler Post, to Depart ment Comdr. Julius I. Pevaer. charg ing that the legion in the District of Columbia is disintegrating “"because the whole organization here Is rotien’ was made public. Maj. Fawcett's letter containa substantially the same allegations Riemer made in statements 10 newspapers. Riemer appeared yesterday the investigating committee, but did not testify. His trial on charges of conduct unbecoming a member of th Jexlon will be held October 14. before | a trial board headed by Frank L. Peck ham, past department commander. No testimony was offered in support of Riemer's allegations of mismanage ment yesterday, according to & mem- ber of the committee. The whitewash ing given the present administration was logical, the committes member xald, in the absence of any testimony to support the charges. “Instead of being an organization devoted to the service of the ex-serv- ice men,” Maj. Fawcett's letter de- clares, “the District of Columbia de- partment has become a atew in which selfish aggrandizement is paramount.” Scores the Auxiliary. He also scored the so-called Ameri-| can Legion Auxiliary, and added “That the legion and the auxiliary here in the District of Columbia do require a housecleaning is very ap- parent on every side, and the loss of membarship in both organizations in f the best indications that there is something rotten internal “Now get busy with your two-fisted jdeas and let's see you do something to put the American Legion where it belongs. Riemer is right, the whole organization here is rotten.” The District delegation to the na- tional convention, which opens at Omaha next Monday, left Washington bombing planes.’ Position of Flyers. Departing from his prepared state- ment, Comdr. Rodgers, in short, chop- Py sentences, but in picturesque lan- guage, discussed the personnel aitua- | Breeting There are a |sioners to Mayor Dahlgrer of Omaha tion in naval aviation. at 2 o'clock this afternoon over the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad. Four special cars were chartered, and the party will pick up members of other legion posts in Virginia. A letter of from “the -District ‘Commis- number of viators 30 vears old who | is being sent with the District delega- have enough ability to command big- tion, which Includes the drum corps of ger positions and, therefore, deserve | Vincent B. Costello Post. promotion, he said. In the past it was the custom to take an officer out®of the line, send him to Pensacola for a fly- ing course, and then put him in a squadron, where he would be senior in rank, but with no experience. ‘“‘Our Aviators now have gotten to the age where they can handle jobs and should rank them. It would be better to keep them in aviation, but take them out one year in five or six to give them a rest, Comdr. Rodgers said. They deserve flying pay, not for fiying around in the air, but the warry on the ground till they get in the air. “We all felt we would get a rest when we started on the flight across the ocean.” “Roses” Hard to Get. - Comdr. Rodgers’ aviators had told him “roses™ were easier to get out- side than in aviation. “What is a ros Morrow? “It's a letter.from the commanding officer telling what a fine fellow he is and that his work had been done very well,” the witness replied. Senator Bingham of Connecticut asked why it was so difficult to get “roses” in aviation? “Because if you do the thing right. that's what ought to happen. If some. thing fails, that should not happen,” he replied. Great Publicity Risk. As commanding officer of the naval alr station, Pearl Harbor, he said he recommended one man for a ‘rose,’ but he did not get it. “They don't come, that’s all?” he added. There was no criticism of the lack of dec- orations for the men who made the transatlantic flight, he said. because “opportunity to fly was enough dec- oration,” and the spectators applauded. “‘There is a great publicity risk in aviation,” continued the witness. “If I had come down on the Hawaiian trip before Snody (Lleut. Allen P. asked Chairman commensurate with | front of the District Parting Greeting by Col. Mitchell. The Washington contingent of the American Legion conventlon delegate: was bidden farewell by Col. “Bill Mitchell and Daniel E. Garges, secre tary of the board of District Commls sloners on behalf of the board, in Bullding at 1 o'clock this afternoon. More than 200 delegates and legionnaires assembled in front of the bullding. and then paraded down Pennsylvania avenue to the Union Statlon, where they went aboard the special train. PLANS PACT WITH RUSSIA. German Cabinet Approves Principle of Trade Agreement. BERLIN, October 2 (#).—The Ger- man cabinet today approved in prin- ciple the signing of a Russo-German trade agreement. A commission will be sent to Mos- cow to frame the full text and to clear up certaln points not settled in the conversations here between the Ger- man and Soviet forelgn ministers, Dr. Stresemann and M. Tchitcherin. Chinese Telegraph Strike Ends. SHANGHAI, October 2 (#).—The strike of Chinese telegraphers, which crippled communication throughout the country for several days, has been ended. e Two Negroes Executed. RALEIGH, N. C., October 2 (#).— Two negroes, Tom Robinson of New Hanover and John McMillan of Moore County, were electrocuted at State Prison here this morning. Both were convicted of attack. Snody, pilot of PN-9, No. 3) I'd be ruined in aviation,” he said. “Take the position of Maj. Martin of the | Witnesses was Capt. George C. West- world flight. His position was seri- ervelt, in charge of the naval aircraft ously affected more than if he had | factory at Philadelphia, who submit- not gone on the flight. There was | ted recommendations which would everv reason to believe that Snody | Create a separate air corps within the ‘would go along, because his plane was | Navy, subordinate to the Secretary in better cohdition. and down he comes. A pipe line broke | and the Bureau of Navigatlon. T don't say it | corps would be complete within itselt ‘The counts against him, but it does not |as to ordnance, quartermaster and do any good. better if he hadn't started.” Asked Change in Law. Comdr. Rodgers pleaded for change in the law which requires naval aviator to qualify in every- thing and limit his knowledge to ship tactics, navigation and administration. Aviation officers now, on going up for examination, must answer questions about submarines. impossible, he said, cers to know everything, and he rec- ommended that they be or two specialties. Comdr. Rodgers appeared in the hearing room about 10 minutes before the session opened and was warmly applauded, He took his place on the stand and began reading over his pre- pared statement. Eight photographers formed a semi-circle in front of him and when one of the number asked the officer to “look up please,” he =aid: “Let me alone,” and they did. Hows ever, after checking over his state- ment he obligingly posed for the camera men. He wore the regulation blue uniform, with gold wings, and still carried his index finger of the left hand in bandages. The board adjourned until Monday after hearing Comdr. Rodgers’ testimony. ‘Want Conditions Changed. Five other naval aviators, appear- ing at the afternoon session of the | does not permit them to wear board yesterday, indorsed the idea of It would have been | other similar departments, 1t would tunction, not independently. but ax a part of the fleet. The plan also would provide for a separate promotion list a | for officers, in the corps which would a | be commanded by a rear admiral; and two other rear admirals and other high officers would be provided. Functions of Officers. At sea, air officers would perform It is practically | the duties of line officers when not | for all line offi- [ occupied with aeronautical E assign- ments. This service would qualify allowed one |air officers to command naval vessels airplane carrlers, and they would be eligible to the highest rank in the Navy. Capt. Westervelt asserted it was natural that high naval officers would be reluctant to change a “‘tried” system, but added the Navy had never been tested. “In 100 yegrs, he de- clared, “it has never met an opponent of equal strength. There is no rea- son why a change should not be Comdr. H. C. Richardson, Construc- tion Corps, Who ‘was on the Trans- atlantic flight of the NC-3, testified seaplanes .could be bullt capable of fying 3,000 miles without stopping. He attacked t! ‘prejudice” in the Navy against Construction Corps of- ficers, declaring they are not allowed to qualify as avigtors, but given a short course in “meronautics _which ings. R. D. chief Comdr. ‘Weyerbacher, a separate air corps in the Navy as | engineer of the Aircraft Factory and expressed by Lieut. Comdr. Paunack and Lieut. Comdr. R. R. H. T. construction officer of the Shenan- doah, said infermation gained in the Bartlett, who told the board at the | work and performance of airships morning seéssion of the widespread de- | would serve as the basis for the next sire to have conditions Prominent- among ihe dirigible. the He was not questioned on dlsaster, hefore | \TUCKERMAN LEADS IN DISTRICT GOLF Takes One-Stroke Margin Over Voigt on Third Round Today. WalterAR. Tuckerman of the Burn- ing Tree{Club, who won the District championship in 1923, went into a 1- stroke lead over George J. Volgt of Bannockburn at the end of the third round of ghe competition amateur title today gt the Washington Golf and Countr§ Club. Two shots behind Voigt at the conclusion of the first day's play yederday, Tuckerman shot # 78 this morging. while Volgt took 1. 'l‘m-kvnuax’ha:« a total of 236 for the G4 holes offplay and Volgt has a total of Tom Moore of the Indian Spring Club was in third place at the con clusion of the thicd round thix morn ing with a total of 240. four shots behind Tuckermun. Moore shot a 7% this morning to add to his 162 total vesterday. Miller L. Stevinson of Co lumbla and A. L. Moughton of the Manor Club were tled for fourth place, with a o4-holé total of 241. Stevinson had a scome of 81 this morning and Houghton had 79 74 Is Best Scove. The hest individual saore of the morning round today was the 74 made by J. €. Davis, jr.. of Colizmbia. Hix total is 244, tled with Pagen Hufty of Congressional, who scored 76 this morning. 0igt was out in 41 th a 7 on | the third hole, and hack in 40 for ! his total of &1, while Tuckerman wasw out in 40 and back fn 3% notwith standing a pair of 6= on the twelfth and meventeenth holes Other scores follow Bannockburn, 172 + Loftus, Chase, 165 —54—249,; George Wadsworth, Chevy Chase, 16189250, Steven F. Colliday, Co lumbin, 16882250 P. W. Calfee. Washington. 16988 257: J. R Murphy, Bannockburn, 193—91-—284. Voigt Leads Field. | Outsteadying the rest of the field on a day when scoring conditions were not ideal, George J. Voigt of the Ban- nockburn Golf Club led 27 entrants in the District amateur golf champion- ship vesterday, covering the first 36 hbles of the 72.hole competition in 158 strokes—two 788 making up his total to lead & score of 158 by Walter | R. erman of Burning Tree by ! two shots. Volgt and Tuckerman were tied at 78 at the end of the first round. hut Voigt drew away to a two- | stroke lead when Tuckerman took 80 | over the afternoon round, a disastrous 6 on the par 3 ninth hole contributing o his total. Voigt, however, had his troubles. for too intimate acquaint- ance with the ditch at the fifteenth hole in the afternoon cost him a 7 Miller B. Stevinson of Columbia, favored by many to win the tourna- ment, ran into a catastrophe at the third hole of the morning round, iak ing 11 to the hole and getting out in 48. A scintillating last nine of 35 gave him an %3. and_he followed in the afternoon with a 77 for a total of 160, only four shots hack of Voigt Albert R. MacKenzie and Guv M Standifer of Columbla had morning rounds of %8 and 90, and withdrew from the tournament. M A. Rhipley, 249 R A | { Tom Moore in Comeback. Tom Moore of Indian Spring made the finest comeback of the day. An 88 over the morning stretch put him far back, but he followed with a 74. the best single card of the day. and ended only six strokes back of Voigt's consistent re. Yesterday's summar. George J. Voigt. Banng 1380 W. R Tuckerman SO—138. M. B. Steviowor George Wadnwo 161° A L. Houkhton, Toni Moore. R.AL Lattis, ¢ Page Hifts. Congress | S Colladai. Columby 188: B_W . Caltee, Washington. & W. R McCallum, Washington, N4 —86— Roger Coumbe, Washington 3¢ Davi Columbla, |30 F. Brawner, a. R A. Shipley. T, Harrell —87—1 w Columb, Brantley, Chevy Cha Hateh, Columbia. ray. 'Washinglon Davidson, Washington, Truett, Washingion Murphy, Bannockburn, 86— Mackenzie. Columbia. 88 (withdrew | M ‘Standifier. Columbia, 90 (withdraw: B Enellsh. Colambia, 0o (withdren ! Finckel, jr. Columiia, PR (withdrew). FACES SOJOURN IN CELL AFTER SUICIDE ATTEMPT Charged with having made false representations to obtain poison tab- lets he later used in an alleged suicide attempt, Franklin B. Heine, 33 years old. a tinner, residing at 1016 Florida avenue northeast, was arrested yes- terday afternoon by Detectives San- ders and Warfleld of the police nar- cotie squad. Despondent because of the death of his mother more than a year axo, Helne, it is sald, procured poison tah: lets at a drug store. the dealer’s rec. ord showing he explained he wanted to use them to treat his foot Buenos Aires Cross-Wording. The cross-word puzzle cruze, un- known to the general public a few weeks ago, has struck Buenos Alres and is spreading rapidly into the in- terior. | e Hongkong Exchange to Reopen. HONGKONG, October 2 (P).—The Hongkong _Stock Exchange, closed since last June when the anti-foreign strike demoralized business condl- tion here, will reopen October 5. HAVRE DE GRACE ENTRIES TOMORROW. FIRST. RACE—-Purme. $1.300: claiming 3o arlonga Frearolde: 55 10" Fheagant ug LS8 Srann 0 bR Tme Ene SO aay. . 108 *Sea Driit e 'S. furlongs. 57 165" Fla cushion Maiauba - Weat Point Tl $1.300: the 2500508 B in 2 Dress Parade o Sweet Inver. ... Chocolate Soldier ] RACI Purse, $1.300: claiming 5 FOURTH RACE—Purse. &40 urione. X i15™*Fornovo sl pue 113 *Byron . Brilliant Jes 111 Nimble Vitamin " 108 FIFTH RACE—The Havre de Grace ha dicap:"318.000 1'@ho an E Cor BEh At Obligue . o pdded; 3ycarida’ and L furlone "TN% singetoot . o mrose” verall . My OVPB Wiitney, a8t §“H'|ID Cup. e ; 1B Wheon'and W. 3. 8 SIXTH RACE—Purse. $1.300: - ids and up; 1 mile and 70 o Mide s b Levos : n% Hamp! Van Patr *iErica tMrs. A, Swenke entry. $G. W. Foreman entry. ENTH RACE—Purse. $1.300: tha Au- laiming handicap: ear-olds and 107 o7 bk, o lenaiie eutry. claiming yards tumn 1