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contrary to the intent of the Act.
 
 
The military importance that is being attached to helium at 
the present time is out of proportion to its known military value. 
Helium in itself is not a weapon but is merely a commodity that 
possesses certain value when used in connection with certain types 
of aircraft. In this respect, it is comparable to other commodities 
such as gasoline when used in connection with bombardment airplanes 
or tanks. The only known military use for helium is for the inflation 
of lighter-than-air craft. The military value of such craft, other 
than possibly that of captive observation balloons, has never been 
established either in this country or abroad. On the other hand, 
the military value of heavier-than-air craft has been definitely 
established. The ever increasing efficiency and wide ranges of use 
of the latter are causing them to supplant all other means for 
aerial operations. The War Department has definitely abandoned the 
idea of employing airships in military operations and the current 
trend is away from the use of captive observation balloons as 
recent developments in heavier-than-air craft indicate that such 
craft may soon be far superior to balloons for observation purposes. 
The diminishing military value of helium is evident.
 
 
In so far as the use of helium is concerned, it must be 
remembered that the gas does not remain constant in quantity, but, 
when used to inflate airships or balloons, must be frequently 
replenished. To assure the continuous operation of these craft, 
reserve supplies of the gas must be maintained and made available 
to the craft after each flight. The amount of loss and wastage can 
be determined for each type of such craft and reserve suppiles of 
the gas provided for accordingly. If helium is to be used in time of 
war for the inflation of airships, large reserves of the gas must be 
built up in time of peace. From information now available to the War 
Department, adequate natural reserves of the gas exist only in the 
United States. For a nation to build a military program dependent 
upon a commodity not natural to it or readily available to it in 
time of war would be contrary to all known military practices.
 
 
While hydrogen is highly inflammable and craft inflated with 
it face the constant danger of destruction by fire, its greater 
buoyancy gives a craft added lifting power and greater 
maneuverability. Even though helium is non-inflammable, it is still 
debatable as to which of the two gases possesses the greater value 
for mllitary operations. Regardless of the inflating agent, however, 
lighter-than-air craft are highly vulnerable to gun fire and their 
destruction is a comparatively easy accomplishment. The mere 
fact that such a craft might be inflated with non-inflammable 
helium is no guarantee against its loss.