Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-09-13
BREAKS zEPPELIN'S RECORD
GROSS DIRIGIBLE IN AIR OVER
THIRTEEN HOURS.
Story of the Flight Told by Engi-
neer Basenach-Much En-
thusiasm Displayed.

BERLIN. September ia record flight
was made by the military semi-rigid dirig
ible balloon. under command of Maj
Gross. which returned shortly before neon
today. after having been in the air for
thirteen hours and two minutes. This
surpaSses the record made by Count Yep
pelin. when. July l. he traversed the
greater part of northern Switzerland, oc-
cupying twelve hours in the journey. The
new record. which was entirely unex-
pected, is greeted with enthusiasm by the
army officers identified with aeronautics.
The military authorities have forbidden
Mai. Gross to talk about the performance,
but Engineer Basenach. who was aboard,
gave the following statement of the flight:
When we assembled the wind was very
light and in contrary direction, but 1t
shortly rose to twenty-five miles an hour,
against which we proceeded slowly. 1t
still further increased. causing US to re-
main almost at a StandStll for two hours
over the village of Rathenow, where in
the bright moonlight we We're the spec
tators of the burning of a farmhouse.
Both Motors Working.
Mai. Gross considered the advisa biity
of returning. but as the wind dropped
somewhat he decided to continue the
journey. We reached Stendel. having
covered only sixty-two miles in eight
hours. and then proceeded to Magdeburg,
where we arrived nine and a half hours
after the time we started. Both motors
were working at full power all the while.
The wind was with us after that and We
made the home trip with only single
motor. reaching Tegel in three and half
hours.
mo one slept during the trip, al
though that would have been easily pos
sible. two persons sufficing to control the
airshp. one motOrman and steersman.
The most intense excitement, however,
prevailed and all remained at their
posts
Referring to the question of systems
Engineer Basenach said that the problem
to be solved is how to proceed against
the wind and it is difficult to institute a
comparison between flexible, semi-rigid
and rigid systems.
My opinion is he added, that all
three are equally good. Each has it's ad-
vantases and disadvantages, and all will
be of great utility
MADGEBURG. September ia large
dirigible balloon appeared over this city
from the north at o'clock this morning
and began series of maneuvers.
After a while the balloon disappeared in
the direction of Berlin
1t probably is the military drigible that
left Berlin al 1880 o'clock last night
under the command of Maj. Gross, of
the army ballooning department. who was
accompanied by two brother officers.
The Gross balloon was scheduled to fly
from Berlin TO Stettin and back, but its
position over this city indicates that in
stead il has travelled southwark.
BERLIN, September 12.-The Gross
drigible ballon returned TO its starting
place shortly before noon today after
successful flight at moderate speed of
thirteen hours. The distance covered
was announced as about 100 miles over
triangular course, part of the time against
a brisk wind
The motors and every part of the ma
chinery seemingly are III perfect condi-
ton.