Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-04-01
CAVALRYMEN IN PURSUIT
RACE ACROSS COUNTRY
Soldiers in Automobiles Also Dis
tanced to Place of Descent.
WAS BLOWN SIxTY-FIvE MILES
Engine Breaks Down and Gale Is Too
Powerful for Remaining Power
to Make Headway.

DINGOLFING. April 1.-The Zeppelin
airship landed safely at Meder Nielbach.
after having been eleven hours in the air,
much of that time beyond control and at
the mercy of the strong wind.
The circumstances of the journey were
pcrilous- The rear motor refused to work.
The forward motor alone could not de-
velop sufficient strength to drive the air.
ship against the high wind.
Several anxious hours were spent by
the aeronauts before an opportunity Of
fered 10 make safe landing.
Dingolfng is about sixty-fve miles
northeast of Munich.
Helpless and drifting rapidly to lee
ward. the airship Travelled for four hours
while Count Zeppelin and his men
awaited an opportunity to make a safe
and successful landing. They were fol-
lowed over the country by soldiers in
swift automobiles and by three squadrons
of heavy cavalry.
The troops were sent out to be ready
to render assistance when a descent was
attempted. The airship outdistanced them
and they were not in at the finish.
Wild Airship's Perilous Flight.
MUNICH, April 1.-The Zeppelin air.
snip. with the count himself on board.
was the plaything of the winds for hours
and swept helplessIy over the country.
She was out of control and drifted with
no hope Of being able to make headway
against the increasing wind. The wind
was too high to attempt a landing.
Soldiers in swift automobiles raced over
The country after the vessel in order to
be on hand should descent be attempted.
Several squadrons of heavy cavalry were
ordered out and galloped down the roads
10 the northwest for the same purpose.
Unable to Land at Munich.
The airship left Friedrichshafen early
this morning and five hours later appeared
in the air over the outskirts of Munich
a distance of Ill miles had been covered
in five hours.
Intention of trying to sail from there to
Munich and back. 1t was his intention
TO land here in the presence Of the prince
regent and the entire garrison of
Munich Owing to squaliy and increas-
ing wind the maueuver was impossible
The attempt was made over the parade
ground outside the city. AS soon as it
was seen TO be Impossible the shin lifted
again into the air.
The count then tried to return to Mu.
men by this time the wind was so
strong he could make no headway against
~ Ii was noticed that the airship was
being driven sideways down the wind
When the seriousness of the situation
was realized the troops were ordered out
20 follow the airship and be prepared to
render any assistance possible.
Airssip Driven Out of Sight.
The count endeavored to overcome the
resistance of the wind by rising to a
greater altitude. This maneuver appar-
entity was not successful. for the balloon
was driven rapidly from the sight of the
people OF Munich In a northeasterly direc-
lion.
At a quarter past IL. two hours after
lis irst appearance here. the airship was
over Freysing. The airship was manned
by Count Zeppelin Maj. Sperling several
officers of the engineer corps. and a crew
d soldiers from the balloon battalion of
he German army.
The atrship. driven before a storm that
was increasing in violence passed swiftly
over Erding at IL :45 O'clock The ship
apparently was trying To face the gale
i disappeared in the direction of Land
shut.
IL flew over I-andshut at 3 minutes
past il. going to tine northeast. 1t dis
appeared quickly in snowstorm that has
arisen suddenly.
Note Drapped by Zeppelin.
The count dropped out note addressed
- the commanding officer OF the three
squadron of cavalry that followed his
quite. This message read:
Beloved comrades: Many thanks
Please remain in the neighborhood until
lie wind falls and ! can return TO Mu-
aich.
Landshut is forty miles northeas; OF
l1h l2rU IN
fectfon of the flight is Straubing. thirty
ive miles from Landshut. The Austrian
frontier. marked by a range OF mountains
,allcd the Boehmer Wald, is thirty miles
beyond Straubing.
Beginning of Journey.
Tie departure took place at five min
,ies past from Friedrichshafen. 1t was
still dark and the weather was dull. The
wind Was strong and contrary.
The ship passed over Friedrichsha fen
Al altitude of i0o0 feet at moderate
speed, and turned in the direction of
Munich.
Ravensburg Aulenburg Erbach. Bic
orach and Augsburg, points between
Friedrichshafen and Munich were bril-
iiantly lighted with electricity in order to
show the aerial navigators the direction
N which they wanted 10 travel.
When the airship was sighted. shortly
before y o'clock. approaching Munich the
church bells of the city rang out in peals
Of welcome and cannon fred salute
As the ship drew nearer the whirr Of the
motors could be heard on the streets of
The city.
The vessel made its way to Il point over
:he exposition grounds and descended to
within 300 feet. Thousands OF people had
gathered on the grounds. The maneuver
greeted with an outburst of cheer
.ng.
The prince regent OF Bavaria was pres
mt and saluted Count Zeppelin. Who
stood on the bridge A band played the
rational anthem.
The airship then moved off in the direc-
ion of the palace where il was greeted
rom the tower by the princesses OF the
-oyal family.