Show Observation Car to Be Lowered From Dirigible Akron Is Newest Device of United States Naval Aeronautics Will Act as Crafts Craft's Eye While Huge Airship Hides in By W. W W. W CHAPLIN Associated Press Pres Staff Writer NEW YORK Feb 19 A 19 A device new to American naval aeronautics which was constructed in secret at Akron Ohio has been delivered deli at Lakehurst N. N J. J and some young man manat at attached ched to the air s station tion there is preparing for the thrill of his life 1 The device is an observation car in which one member of or the airship Akron's crew may be lowered some 2000 feet to act as the ships ship's eye while it t cruises on theoretical errands of destruction through dense clouds TOWS OBSERVER The observer in the little observation tion car is towed along just below the fleecy ceIlIng and telephones instructions instructions in in- to the airship which would permit it to drop bombs with accuracy accuracy rac racy on positions invisible from irom the ship The observation car is so small that i it wo would ld not be likel likely to attract the or OL scouting enemy planes searching for the airship hidden in the clouds If IC it was sighted the ob server servel would telephone that fact and be quickly drawn up into the ity of the clouds The navy announced when the Akron Ak Ak- ron was christened last summer that an observation car was contemplated cd ed for future installation but the announcement was contained in one sentence buried on the last page of a H page 16 page statement about the airship and little attention was paid to it KEPT SECRET Only today was it learned that the car had been completed at the Goodyear Good Good- year dirigible factory where the Akron Ak Ak- ron was constructed and delivered within the past few days at Lakehurst Inquiries to Goodyear press esen and at Lakehurst however brought no information It was presumed that the navy de sired to conduct secret tests in the clouds cloud before giving a public demonstration demonstration demon demon- of or the observation car In connection con con- with the navys navy's spring maneuvers ma ma- It was impossible to learn today just what the car looks like or who has been selected to swing win through h the thc clouds in iii it at the end of a slender blender cable There were unverified reports however that the car is like a small airplane fuselage without wings just big enough for tor a man to sit in and operate the observation instruments in instruments in- in and the telephone There were also reports impossible to confirm that the equipment of the car included a parachute and a co col collapsible col- col boat With this equipment the observer would be able f if necessary necessary sary to bail himself out even e though the airship were flying over water After floating to the surface with his parachute he could simply blow up his boat and vow ow home j |