Indianapolis Times, Volume 34, Number 245, Indianapolis, Marion County, 22 February 1922 — Page 1

THE WEATHER Probably rain tonight and Thursday. Much ,Z>*er Thursday.

VOL XXXIV.

BLAMES CRASH TO FAULTY ELEVATING CONTROL

PROSECUTOR CHARGES HARTMAN PLANNED TO ‘REWARD’ FRANCIS Evans Outlines Case in Opening Statement to Jury Selected to Try Former Republican Candidate. ‘CONFESSING BURGLAR’ CALLED FIRST JURORS CHOSEN TO TRY HARTMAN Seven of the twelve jurors who will try the case of J. Herbert Hartman, charged with receiving stolen goods, are farmers and the remaining five are Indianapolis business men. Those on the jury are as follows: William A. Avery, farmer, New Augusta. Washington C. Cain, farmer, R. R. E. Forrest Hoover, farmer, R. R. M. Samuel S. Dillow, farmer and truck gardener, R. R. D. Charles Fox, farmer, R. R. A. Alfred M. Gtossbrenner, president of the Levy Printing Company, 3210 North Meridian street. William H. Childers, paperhanger, 3400 Carson avenue. Ray L. Reed, in the coal business, 420 East Thirty-third street. Benjamin F. Powers, farmer, Acton. Everett Agnew, department manager for the W. K. Stewart Company, 2915 North Talbott avenue. Howard R. Galey, wallpaper salesman, 2206 Ashland avenue. Edward Coffman, farmer, New Augusta. The jury will be kept together and will not be permitted to separate and go to their homes unti a final report is made and the court dismisses the jury.

Charging that the “reward” that Frank Francis, the “confessing burglar,” Karl Kunkle and other “penitentiary birds” were to receive from J. Herbert Hartman for work done in Hartman's interest at the primary and the city election last year ,“was protection from the city court bench” when Hartman became judge of the City Court of Indianapolis, Prosecutor William P. Evans today outlined to the Hartman jury the evidence upon which the State will ask the jury to find the deposed candidate for the city judgeship guilty of receiving stolen goods. Following tbe exhaustive by _. , :. —; ~ '~z.—: .... : Mr. Evans of the “close association” be-

tween Hartman and Francis, Frank Francis, rhe chief witness for the State, took tbe witness stand at 2 o’clock this afternoon as the first step of the State in its attempt to weave a chain of evidence around Hartman. BROUGHT FROM LOUISVILLE. Francis was brought to the city yesterday from the county jail at Louisville, Ky„ where he was being held pending tbe *artton of the Supreme Cooof Kentucky on an appeal taken by F aucis following his sentence to five years in prison for forgery. Tbe opening statement of the prosecutor began at 10:&4 o’clock after a jury had been obtained ten minutes previously following two and a half days’ legal struggle over the selection of the twelve men. A special venire of seventy-five talesmen was exhausted late yesterday and about ten of another venire of twenty-five were used before tbe jury satisfied both the State and tbe defense. SAYS FRANCIS KNEW HARTMAN IN 1916. In making his opening statement be fore the Jury Prosecutor Evans stated : ‘‘The evidence will show that Frank Francis, alias Frank Moore, and J. Herbert Hartman, defendant in this case, became well acquainted in 1920. Francis knew Hartman when he ran for the police judge nomination in 1910. They became more intimate in 1920. About Thanksgiving time, 1920, Francis drove to Indianapolis in a stolen car—stolen in Columbus, Ohio. Francis turned ttxat car over to Herbert Hartman and Hartman sold that car to a mac living either in Greencastle or Greenfield. Francis doesn’t know how much Hartman received on the car, but Francis got S2OO from Hartman. “Sometime after that transaerion, Francis went to St. Louis and came back In December 1920. At that time Hartman had obtained a divorce from his first wife and was living with his second wife, formerly his stenographer, at the Washington Hotel. “Francis knew Fred Hartman, a brother of this defendant. Sometime in the latter part of the year. Francis had a conversation with Fred Hartman about some burglary jobs. It was suggested by Fred Hartman that Charles Reisner’s house was a good house to rob. Fred Hartman said that he had w’orked for Reisner and that there were diamonds iji the house. Francis was advised that Saturday night was a good night to enter the place. Francis went to the Reisner home and took some articles, including an overcoat and gave that coat to Fred Hartman. RECITES REPUTED DIAMOND DEAL. "About Christmas day, 1920, Francis went to Louisville and committed some burglaries, taking some diamonds. Fred and J. Herbert Hartman later took two of these diamonds and sold them to Otto Graff, a dealer in precious stones, in this city. The evidence will show that Francis received S2OO and that Mr. Grafl gave the Hartmans two individual checks of SIOO each on a local bank After the two Harimans had transacted this business, they stood in front of tbe Law building and Fred Hartman signaled to Mrs. Lura Francis, the wife of Frank Francis, that they had received the money. “In January, Herb Hartman and Francis discussed furnishing their homes here. Francis and Karl Kunkle entered the home of Dr. Edward H. Katterhenry in this city and took many things, includ ing household furnishings. Part of this loot was taken to Francis’ apartment at 2506 North Delaware street and part to Herbert Hartman's home at 305 North Mount street. 'Af er 'his transaction, Francis went to Louisi:i; and entered the home of a aian who was connected with the Suuny(Continued on Page Eleven.)

WEATHER

Forecast for Indianapolis and vicinity for the twenty-four hours ending 7 p. m.. Fob. 23. 1922: Probably rain tonight and Thursday; ■nucb colder Thursday. HOURLY TEMPERATURE. 6 a. in 56 7 a. tn 58 8 a. m 59 8 a. in.. ........ 60

Published at Indtanapolls. Ind., Daily Except Sunday.

SAY TAGGART WILL COME TO CITY SATURDAY Arrival of Leader to Mark Turn of Democratic Primary. Thomas Taggart will return to Indianapolis Saturday. This is the most important bit of news that has come out of the Democratic camp for several days. It means that on Saturday the turn that will be taken by the Democratic Senatorial primary campaign will be determined. ° Mr. Taggart will be asked by party leaders immediately on his arrival whether he will consent to be a candidate for the Senatorial nomination. If he consents, a petition already prepared probably will be filed Immediately. If he refuses, one or more possible candidates who have been awaiting the word will get into the field immediately. If Mr. Taggart consents to make t.be race be will have no opposition, with the exception of Bernard B. Shively of Marlon, who already has announced his candidacy. There Is a feeling, however, that he will not consent to become a can didate. He has made the race twice and his health has not been of the best. He has been out of the city for some time resting and has been taking do part in the party affairs. QUICK ACTION NECESSARY.

The most certain thing about the Democratic situation is that something must be done and done quickly. Candidates for the Senatorial nomination must file their petitions with the secretary ot State on or before March 2. That date is only a week In Ihe future. If Mr. Taggart does not consent to make the race, Walter Myers of Indianapolis is considered as the most likely to be the candidate. Mr. Myers is understood to be in at least a receptive mood and there seems to be little doubt that he will be a candidate if Mr. Taggart is definitely out of it. Mr. Myers is an ex-serviee inan and an attorney. BEVERIDGE MAKES KEYNOTE SPEECH MARCH 7. Preparations are going forward at the headquarters of Albert J. Beveridge, Republican candidate for the Senatorial nomination, for the opening of Mr. Beveridge's speaking campaign. Mr. Beveridge will deliver his keynote speech at Ft. Wayne the night of March 9. The speech will be delivered at a mass meeting and Beveridge supporters from all parts of the Twelfth District are expected to be present. Arrangements are being made for other speakers to take up the campaign folio-wing the Beveridge keynote and to canvas the entire State. It is understood that Mr. Beveridge will not make an intensix-e personal canvas but will make a number of speeches at strategic points. The Beveridge petition probably will be filed with the Secretary of State before the end of this week. Simultaneously with the filing of the petition, It will be announced that Charles N. Williams of Indianapolis will be treasurer of the campaign. SENATOR NEWS PETITION READY. The petition in behalf of Senator Harry S. New probably will be filed Friday. It has been prepared and only a few details remain to be completed before the Senator formally becomes a candidate. The New organization is working at somewhat of a disadvantage because of the fact that Senator New is in Washington and may remain there during most of the primary campaign. The speakers’ bureau is active, however, and speeches in various parts of the State are being booked. One of the Important early campaign meetings will be held at Crnwfordsvllle tonight in the form of a Ninth District Republican rally. Both the senatorial candidates had been invited to attend but neither will be present. Senator Xexv has explained that he Is detained at Washington and it xvas stated at Bev eridge headquarters that inasmuch as both candidates had been invited Mr. Bveridge will not attend in Senator New's absence.

Entered as Second Class Matter, July 26, 1914, at Poetofflce, Indianapolis. Ind.. under act March 3. 187*.

MINERS’ STAND WILL DEPEND ON OF ERATORS Short Working Program Opposed by Lewis. WORD IS AWAITED Illinois Reply Favorable to Conference. READY TO FIGHT CHICAGO. Feb. 22.—"W® are ready to fight. We are not yet convinced they will make us fight, but we are ready to go through.” John L. lewiit, president of the United Mine Workers of America, hurled this challenge at the coal operators today tn his opening address to delegates cout sued here to discuss the formation of s “defensive alliance," between the miners and the railroad workers of the Xaglon. Lew is was cheered as he pleaded for the “moral support” of the miners In their wage fight by the railroad men and organized labor in general. CHICAGO, Feb. 22.—1 t was stated today on high authority if the coal miners’ representatives get to the conference table with the operators before April 1, the date of the threatened coal strike, they will make no fight for the six-hour day and the five day week. It also was said there might be other concessions. The short day, short week program approved by the miners at their convention in Indianapolis last week is regarded ns "disastrous'' by John L. Lewis, president of tbe United Mine Workers of America, who will be chairman of the policy committee which would deal with the operators. This committee is understood to have blunket athorlty to negotiate the wage scale. Mr. Lewis, who made a swift trip from Indianapolis to effect a "defensive alliance” with the sixteen standard railway unions, only to find the brotherhood representatives lukewarm on the propo*loJon, is confident a strike can be averted if the operators will enter the .•> jsjtrljsjt he ijVJpressed In . his ail yesterday.' The first reply, just received fy lewis, was favorable. It was from the Illinois Operators' Association and said if the "law allows” they are willing and axtouß to take part In tbe conference. FEDERAL INDICTMENT STILL STANDS. Reference to the legality of the conference was prompted by the fact there is now pending In Indianapolis a two year old Federal indictment miner officials and coal operators charging them with conspiracy and violation of the Sherman anti trust law. it was alleged the miners and operators in the central competitive field entered Into conference and laid plans to destroy competition in West Virginia and other nonunion fields, at the same time precipitating an advance in the price of coal to th public. The attitude of the Harding Administration toward this pending court action, a heritage of the Wilson regime, Is regarded as important by mine officials. Lewie said should all the operators agree to a conference, which he hoped (Continued on Page Two.)

HATFIELD NEW GOVERNOR OF ROTARY CLUBS Evansville Man Elected to State Post Without Opposition. Frank Hatfield of Evansville, was elected governor of the Rotary Clubs of Indiana, to succeed Clarence H. Wills of Kokomo, at the business session of the Rotary conference at the Ciaypool Hotel j today. Mr. Hatfield had no opposition. | Invitations for the 1923 conference were ! received from Michigan City, Wabash | and South Bend. This matter will not i l, e decided at, the conference, which closes | torilght, but will be taken up later by | the executive board. Next to the election of a governor, the moat important matter taken up was the report of Frederick E. Matson of Indianapolis on the proposed revision of the constitution and by laws of the International Association of Rotary Clubs Mr. Matson went into the proposed changes in detail and explained them fully to tho conference. With the exception of a few minor points, he recommended the proposed changes be advocated by the Indiana delegates to the national convention. ROTARY IDEALS CITED IX TALK. After Mr. Matson’s report nnd before the election of Mr. Hatfield, Charles M. Niezer of Ft. Wayne, addressed the conference on "Know Thy Neighbor.” “In the past we usually knew our | neighbor.” Mr. Neitzer said, “from the I standpoint, of a competitor. We knew j nothing of his personal ideals, his aims. I his personality. The old rule of life was j contact by conflict, and It was the founi dation on which progress formerly was made for the most part. This idea was j wrong, and Rotary had brought In the J idea of substituting cooperation and 1 service for conflict. "I do not believe modern man is any more efficient as an individual than ancient man, and yet he Is able to accomplish far greater results. This is because he has profited by the knowledge and experience of the past. In the same way we today are able to profit by the knowledge and experience of others if we will only come into contact with them through coojieration and not through antagonism and conflict. Today Rotary is an actual democratic force in the world and it should be duty of all Rotary organizations to hammer away on Rage Two.)

INDIANAPOLIS, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 1922.

Defends Haiti Rule

I :u - —as*, -i

Rear Admiral Harry S. Knapp, who defends the United States administration in Haiti, declaring the people of the island are incapable of self-govern-ment.

HARDING WILL HOLD CONFAB WITH LODGE Reservations to New Treaty Will Be Debated. WASHINGTON, Feb. 22. The Brandegee and other reservations proposed to the four-power Pacific treaty by Republican “irreeoncilables,” and Democratic Senators constituting a majority of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee will be the subject of a conference between President Harding and Senator Lodge, Republican, of Massachusetts, the committee chairman, before any of them are acted upon fin *11”. In making this announcement today after the Pacific pact was again die cussed by the committee, without any agreement bring reached regarding It. Senator Lodge said tip expected to see the President about the propose | rcser vat lons within the next twenty four hours.” Senator Johnson of California, one of the Republican ''irreconcilable" committee members, offend anew reservation to tlie Pacific pact at today s session which was intended to define the terra ‘ rights” employed in the Pacific pact, and to re serve to the United States “fnll liberty of Judgment - ’ regarding the validity or in validity of those "rights'' in the event of any dispute over them. The Johnson reservation was also Intended. It was explained, to prevent the United States from being committed to any guarantee of any of those ‘rights” which may be claimed by some powers as valid, but by others deemed ‘’lnvalid." The text of the Johnson reservation follows: "The use of the word ‘rights' in the preamble and in Articles l and 2 of this treaty shat! not tie taken to com (Continned on Page Eleven.) REFORMATORY MAY BE SENT TO PENDLETON Madison County Town Said to Find Favor With Commission. Pendleton came decidedly to the front today as the most probable location of the Indiana Reformatory when the rc location commission met with Governor Warren T. McCray with the express purpose of coming to an agreement on the long debated site. The first question before the commission was that of whether ihe institution shall be sent to Carmel. It is understood a majority of tbe members of the commission now oppose sending it to Carmel and that they probably would so decide. Pendleton Is reported to be the second choice. CARMEL SENDS DELEGATION FAVORING. Another demonstration wag staged by Carmel citizens ns the commission met. This time the demonstration was in favor of sending the institution to that town. Those favoring the Reformatory came to Indianapolis in an internrbun car with two trailers. The crowd was estimated at 200. There was a question as to whether the delegation would be a tile to see the commisslou after it arrived. An announcement was made that the commission would hold a closed session aud would hear no one. However, it was thought possible that inasmuch as the delegation opposing the institution was heard several days ago, the commission might hear those who favor it. FIVE SITES STILL ON LIST. • The commission, it is understood, still has under consideration five sites, Carmel, Pendleton, Acton, Mooresville and Roachdale. It has inspected all the sites, the Pendleton location having been inspected yesterday afternoon. Should the relocation body vote not to put the reformatory at Carmel, as it was expected it would, the other sites were expected to be taken up and voted on. Thus far here has beep little or no oppo 'on to tb'.; Pendleton site, so far as p*. ns living in the neighborhood are concerned, and many persons at Pendleton have been urging the commission to put the institution there. ,

WAYS, MEANS ; BODY AT WORK ON SALES TAX Mellon Favors Levy on Specific Articles When Sold. PRODUCER TO PAY Framers Consider Two Plans to Meet ‘Bonus’ Requirements. WASHINGTON, Feb. 22—A sales tax to pay the soldier "bonus” was being framed today by the tax division of the Republican members of the House Ways and Means committee. Two general plans for the tax were .under consideration. They were: 1. A tax on specific article, when sold, raising *500,000,00 a yr*r. 2. A gciwral sain, tax with specified exemptions, raising $250,000,000 a yea r. j MELLON ADVOCATES TAX ,ON SPECIFIC’ ARTICLES. The tir.t plan was advocated by SccreJ tary of Treasury Mellon and experts of the Treasury Department as most feasible because collections could be made easier and at lean expense. The lax would vary from 2 to 4 per cent. The second plan provides for a straight manufacturers' sales tax of 1 per cent with a list of exemptions. Both plans Would put. the tax on producers or wholesale, neither plan contemplating a tax on retail sales, or a ' rum-over sales tax. I The Ways and Meant Committee's tax framers hope their work will be completed by the end of the week, when they will make a report to the full committee. ADOPT FLAN AS ONLY ONE Ol'hX. On the special subcommittee framing the sales tax revenue plan for the bonus’ are Representatives Forduey, Michigan; Bacharsch, New Jersey; Frear, Wisconsin; Treadway, Massachusetts; Uopely, | Illinois; Titnberlake, Col.; Watson, Fcunlaylvnnla; Chandler, Oklahoma. | Some of these Congressmen do not ap- ■ prove of toe sales tax, but they are going ahead with the work of framing for 'he "hex ns” bill, explain- ; ? g it is ih<* only plan left open to :iu-in by President Harding to provide funds for the bonus.” Representative Towner. Republican. ’ lowa, tiled with the tax framers a pro- | test against adoption of any form of the ! sales tax similar to the Canadian sales tax. Me gave figures showing how tiie 13\ had advanced the price of sugar. This protest was signed bv twenty three Congressmen all Republicans. Representative Volk, Republican, New York, sent the tax framers an answering state ! ineiu assert.ng sugar was exempted from the sales tax under the Canadian sulck lax law udu demanding cesstion of j attacks on this form of taxation. I Secretary Mellon opposed Indefinite I authorization to use bonds or shortterm certificates to make deficiency ■ "bonus" payments. It was his Judgment this could not be done under tiie Ihw. | Reliance on use of interest or principal j of the official loans was discouraged by I Secretary Mellon, but there remains a | lingering hope by many members of Congress that in the end this xv ill be the source from which the "bonus'' funds are drawn. // ARDfNGEXPECTS BRITISH BONDS WASHINGTON. Feb. 22.- President Harding has high hopes that by July 1. Great Britain will have handed over to the United States more than SI,OOO. 000,000 In bonds to refund part of Its war debt to this country and that the sale of these securities here will provide the necessary fund to pay the soldier "bonus.” This information was imparted to members of the House Ways and Means Committee by President Harding at a recent White House meeting. The President, some members of ‘he committee believe, has virtual assurance the British bonds, which are in ex- 1 change for temporary obligations now held, will !>e forthcoming by that time. This is the reason, they said, for President Harding’s privately expressed wish for further delay In Congress in enact ing "bonus” legislation. Final enaction easily could be delayed that. long, leaders think. President Harding, however, is strongly opposed to Congress passing a "bonus” bill now which would pro- ! vide for payments out of the allied debt. | He docs nor want to make any dispof sit lon of the debt funds, until they actually are in the Treasury.

WOULD PREVENT SHIP SUBSIDY Senator Capper and Other ‘Bloc’ Members Active. WASHINGTON, Feb. 22.-Organized opposition to the proposed ship subsidy was planned today by Senator Capper, Republican of Kansas, and other Western members of the Senate agricultural “bloc.” Capper, who is to succeed Senator Kenyou, Republican, lowa, as ehairmau of the ‘•bloc” upon the latter's retirement Friday to become a Federal Judge, declared he Is “unalterably opposed” to the plan for a Government subs'idy or guarantee of the American Merchant Marine which President Harding is expected to submit to Congress either Saturday or Monday. Gets New Trial for Assault on Girl SPRINGFIELD, 111 . Feb. 22.—Herbert F. Crane, son of one of Chicago’s wealthiest families, who was convicted in Cook County of an assault on Louise Sturm, 13, was granted anew trial b> (he Illinois Supreme Court today. The court reviewed the case, which was appealed on the grounds that the evidence presented at the trial was not sufficient to support the the jury.

Riihsi-rlntlon Rates- (By Carrier. Week, Indianapolis. 10c: Elsewhere, lie. ouoscnpuoQ txatee. j ßy MaU 60c Per Month; * SO O p e r Tear.

Roma Inquiry Will Be Deep, Officials Say Fundamentals of Dirigible Construction to Be Investigated. WASHINGTON, Feb. 2. —A searching investigation into the Roma disaster, which cost nearly two score lives, will be inaugurated luimexliately, officials said today. The Roma investigation probably will go far deeper than the mere ascertainment of the causes of the fatal crasl. Appalled by the series of terible accidents to aircraft recently, particularly the lighter-thau air type of the Roma, officers of the Army and Navy air service said the inquiry would go into the fundamentals of lighter-thau-air construction. An official investigation board probably will be named by Maj. Gen. Mason H. Patrick, chief of the Army air service, who is at Norfolk. Although the Roma was an Army ship, it is likely Navy officers will take part in the investigation, too, as the Navy is deeply Interested in lighter-than-air ships. The ZR-2, which buckled near Hull last summer, with a terrible loss of life, was a Navy ship. Air officers were quick to point out the ZR-2 aud Roma disasters were not dissimilar. In the case of the ZR-2 It was faulty construction which caused the huge ship to buckle and fall. In the case of the Roma It was presumably the game faulty construction which caused one of the elevators to slip and throw the ship out of control. ROMA OFFICER USED TO LIVE IN THIS CITY Capt. Allen P. MacFarland, Air Tragedy Victim, Has Relatives Here. WORKED AS ARCHITECT Capt. Allen P. MacFarland. who wa killed In the Roma dirigible disaster at the Hampton naval base yesterday, Is a nephew of W. T. Fletcher. 1833 North Alabama street, and lived In the Stratford apartments, 520 North Meridian street, with his xvidowed mother, Mrs. Mary F, MacFarland, at the time he re lultsted In the Army Air Service two venrs are. He came to India'.spoils alter Ihe armistice and was employed by Bass Knowllon & Cos. as an architect until he re entered the Army. Mr. Fletcher said Captain McFarland has a number of second cousins In the city. He was 34 and was born in Danville. 111., where he resided until he entered De Pauw University. He was graduated from De Pauw where he was a member of the Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity. Ho waa graduated from the Columbia University School of Architecture in New York City and early in the war enlisted in the Columbia University Aero Squad with the rank of sergeant. lie was promoted to lieutenant and was discharged with this rank. LIVED HERE ABOUT YEAR. He came to Indianapolis and had been with Bass Knowlton & Cos. for about a year when he accepted a captain’s commission in the 9th Balloon Company of the Array Air Service in April. 1920. His mother has lived with hftn since he reenlisted, Mr. Fletcher said. She resides at 81 Park Place, Hampton. Va. About sixty days ago tlia captain was traus(Contlnurd on Page Nine.)

FIRE IN TOLEDO STILL RAGING Starting in Garage, Blaze Has Already Caused Big Loss. TOLEDO, Feb. 22.—Fire which brokx out at 8 a. m. today iu an apartment garage building in the downtown district was still raging unchecked at noon today. Fears were expressed by firemen that a 500 gallon gasoline tank in the garage might explode at any moment. Ths damage thus far Is estimated at more than SU)O,O4H). 'Scores of automobiles were destroyed. Many thrilling rescues featured the fire.

Surviving Flight Officer Says Big Airship Failed to Respond to Controls

NORFOLK, Va., Feb. 22. Lieut. Byron G. Burt, elevating pilot on the illfated Roma and tbe only active flight control officer to survive the disaster, toiiay blamed the crash on the failure of control Instruments to operate. He said tiie ship refused to respond to the elevating controls while 000 feet In the air and dove head first, into the ground at an angle of 45 degrees. “I noticed soon after we left Langley field that the ship was having trouble iu keep her head up.” Burt said. "I tried the controls repeatedly, but she uia-

SYMPATHY

IjONDON, Feb. 22.—“A cry of deep and heartfelt sympathy will go out to the citizens of the United States for the losses in the Roma disaster,” the Times said today. The whole press comments feelingly with many expressions of sympathy. “In the tragedy of the ZR-2,” the Times pionts out, "the people of our two nations were joined in a common sorrow. This time the blow has fallen upon America alone, but England feels for her and her, no less than when our own sons were numbered among the dead.”

AIR SERVICE CHIEF MAKES STATEMENT AFTER HIS SURVEY Declares Roma Disaster ‘Great Blow’ to His Branch of Army —3 Investigations Under Way. DEAD TOTAL 34 AND INJURED 11 NORFOLK, Va., Feb. 22.-r Major General Mason M. Patrick, chief ol the Army air service, today declared his preliminary investigation had shown that the crash of the lioma was dne to faulty elevating control, Ha termed the disaster a “great blow to the air service.” “I have directed a very thorough investigation to determine, if pos sible, the cau*.'* of this terrible disaster,” said General Patrick. “The in? formation at hand indicates that some accident occurred to the control which regulated the altitude of the Roma, and that she came down, strife ing high tension electric wires, which caused the fire. There was no explosion and no fire when the ship was in the air. “The board of officers are taking testimony and win report to me as soon as possible their conclusions. Everything possible is being down for the families of the men who so sadly lost their lives and for the com* fort of the men who were saved. “The disaster was a great blow to the air service.”

WASHINGTON, Feb. 22.—A broken cable vas primarily responsible for the fatal crash of the dirigible Roma with a loss of thirty-sous lives, according to a preliminary ir vestlgation already completed by Maj. Gen. Mason M. Patrick, chief of air service. General Patrick telegraphed thb War Department today the results of his preliminary investigation. His brief report follows: “Have ordered thorough Invest! gation to determine cause of Roma disaster. Information already gathered indicates cable to elevator rudder broke. Ship nosed down. Struck live wires carrying high tension electric current and this started fire. There was no explosion and no fire until after these wires were hit and broken. PATRICK.” WEATHER CHAP JOINS OLD SOL IN SMILE DUET Spring Only Here on Flying Trip, However, Expert Says. The weather man and Old Sol smiled In unison today. The sun’s grin brought the thermometer jumping up to 69 d*.'grecs at noon, which Is the highest point reached In February since 1911 when the a like temperature was registered Feb. 17. The prognosticator’s hnmor was cynical. “Going to be much colder tomorrow.” he said, laconically. Watin weather prevails throughout tne northern States east of the Mississippi and west of the eastern mountain range, according to the weather bureau. An area of low- pressure to the west, which drew In southerly winds, is responsible, the expert says. HOOCH DREAMS / HA YNES BELIEVES Knows Nothing of Planes Capturing Rum Ship. ■WASHINGTON, Feb. 22.—Prohibition officials today inclined to characterize as “hooch dreams,” stories coming northxvard from Florida that a fleet of eleven airplanes had captured the British schooner Annabelle with eleven thousand cases of whisky aboard her. "It’s queer ” said Prohibition Commkv siotier Haynes, “that we don't get any report on this seizure. We haven't heard a word. Also we haven't any airplanes down there that I've heard of.” Prohibition officials said It would be heard to imagine eleven airplnnes volunteering to aid the work of law enforcement by capturing a rum ship.

neuvered very badly. While above the Army supply base the elevators failed eu- | tirely to respond to the controls. I 1 called attention to this unusual predicament ami then noticed that the ship wus falling by the head. I “I couldn’t understand It. I threw : the control levers far over and ordinarily j tlie Roma should have nosed up In tae air, but she continued to settle. We went down and down, and we neared the earth, , the men realized that we were going to crash. They became panic stricken “A few 1 think, leaped over the side—one dove with a parachute. I heard later that it fulled to open. “I remained at the controls still trying to get her nose up, but as we neared the ground, the envolope struck the overhead electric wires paralleling the road into camp. The next Instant, we struck, nose first. The bag seemed to roll over as she settled on the ground. I was thrown into a ditch that ran across th field That instant, a terrible explosion occurred, foli lowed by sweeping gust of flame that ! swept the ship. 1 owe my life to the i fact that I fell in this ditch which shel- ! er-d me from the explosion. The ship was blazing all over as I crawled on my face along the ditch out from under the wreckage. 1 thiuk tha: the first blast of flume killed every man caught hoi - the envelope or in tho cabins.. ■*£. terrible.”

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| A charred skeleton of twisted metal, splashed with bita of frayed bunting, marks the spot where thirty-four Ameri* an Army blrdmen died in the crash of the semi-rigid dirigible Roma, once the pride of the Italian air forces. While three concurrent investigations were being rushed by Army official*, fellow airmen honored their dead as crusaders of the sky who were suddenly overtaken by a fickle fate. There are eleven survivors of the crash and the terrific fire that made a funeral pyre of the trakked airmen. Thos of the survivors able to talk blamed the catastrophe on broken elevating controls and a Liberty motor that "went dead.'* The Roma was making Its first ten uigbt after Liberty motors had replaced ths original Italian engines. MEN NEVER HAD CHANCE TO ESCAPE. Out of tbe maze of counter stories. It was apparent that the crew and passengers of the Roma, for the most part, “never had a chance to escape." Trapped beneath the falling envelope of the bag, they were blastened into blackenad, shriveled corpses in the first great explosion that followed the crash. The handful who escaped either dove frem the cabins just before the crash or else landed in deep gulieys that crisscrossed tbe field on which the Roma felL These gulieys provided protection from tbe blast for a few. The bodies of the dead, most of them charred beyond recognition, lay in a tiny morgue at Newport News, Va., across he bay from the scene of the catastrophe. Four great Army and Navy bases, touching on Hampton Roads, meanwhile paid honored tribute to the air victims. Bodies of the victims of the Roma disaster. which are Dot interred in Arlington National Cemetery here, will be accompanied to the homes of the men by officers of the Army Air Service, according to orders dispatched to Major Patrick at Norfolk by the Adjutant General of the Army. The three investigations Into the crash are being conducted by Major General Patrick, chief of the Army Air Service, who came from Washington by airplane; by Lieut. Col. Arthur G. Fisher, acting commandant at the flying field, who ordered the Roma “up” on its last flight, and by Maj. E. L. Kennedy, summary court officer, who is the Army “coroner. ’* Major Kennedy announced be would swear in a jury and hold an inquest over the bodies. He will determine responsibility for the accident for the local military authorities. The crash, which occurred within ths Army supply base grounds here, terminated what was to have been a test Sight of the Roma under power of new Liberty motors. The airship, after rising above its hangar at Langley field, crossed Hampton Roads in a long, sweeping circle. While still above the bay the ship: developed “head trouble,” according fto survivors and observers. She nosed downward, settling slowly at first, but in a few minutes diving earthward at aa angle of 45 degrees with increasing speed. CRASHED INTO PILES OF JUNK. The big engines were silenced and th* bag floated. It grazed electric overhead wires, running along a camp roadway, and crashed Into riles of Army junk. A terrific blast of flame followed with aa ear-deafening roar. Calm observers declared the flame leaped eight hundred feet in the air. The whole ship tU*a burst Into flame? r an hour, mlnot explosions occurh & few tanks ox ga goline or hydrogen blew up. Army firemen and men from the Naval and Army bases on the Hampton Roads side of the bay rushed to rescue the imprisoned airmen. They were unable to effect any rescues for an hour as the (Continued on Page Nine.)

Asserts Roma TUas ‘Safest Ship That Ever Took the Air 9 BERLIN, Feb. 22.—Brig. Gen. William Mitchell. Assistant Chief of the American Air Service, who has Just arrived in Berlin, declared today that he considered the American dirigible Roma, “the safest ship that ever took the air." Brigadier General Mitchell was shocked and grieved when Informed of the air disaster. “We had no fears for the Roma,” said he. “The crew of the dirigible was the best possible.”

“SAY IT WITH A TIMES WANT AD” Washington paced the floor racking his brain for a war througn the British lines to reach Montgomery with tli* word to advance. Suddenly Hamilton cried out, “The Times reaches into 27.000 homes every day—put a a personal in it* classified columns.” MAin 3500. Classified AdT. Dept.

NO. 245.