New-York tribune., 1919-07-06
Navies of Three Nations
Answer Repeated Calls
for Aid; Benson Ordcry
Out All u. S. Vessels
Destroyer to Stay
By Until Daylight
Request for Hydrogen
Leads to Belief That
Gas Bags Sprang Leak

WASHINGTON, July 6, 1879 A. NJ
The navy communications officer re.
ceived the following direct from the
R-34: v.4
"WiIl land Montauk Point. Report
time later"
WASHINGTON, July 5.-Contaet
with the British dirigble R-34. whose
calls. for help continued to grow more
urgent all day as she neared the finish
of her transatlantic journey only to
find gasolene and sustaining hydro.
gen gas exhausted, was established to-
night at ll:40 o'clock by the destroyer
Bancroft of the United States Navy.
At 1880 p. m. the commander Of the
destroyer Stevens reported his vessel
cruising at q spot about forty miles
northeast of the last position given BY
the RIA. Orders we're sent him from
Washington to proceed at full speed
toward the dirigible's location, contin-
uing meanwhile to establish radio COM
The Bancroft at that hour. according
to messages which reached the Navy
department, was. trailing the diriglble
as it proceeded southwest across the
Gulf Of Maine. The RIA was still
under her own power ....
Naval observers said the destroyer
probably would stand BY the dirigibls
until daylight, calling the Stevens to
her assistance meanwhile. No attempt
TO take the srship in tow or to refuel
her would be possible until then, it was
said. II the vessel has gas and fuel
enough TO sustain herself until she can
reach Boston it is expected that no at
tempt will be made to resupply her at
sea.
The navy radio broadcasted a mes
sage to all cities and towns asking that
they be on the, alert TO give ssd 10 the
R-34 in case of an enforced landing.
II was said that about 500 persons
you'd be required to bring the, big
ship to rest.
The big British dirgible R-54. four
days out from Scotland, had reached
point 10 miles northeast Of Boston.
directly east Of Portland, Me-, and
south OF Mount Desert, at 1l:09 last
night. Il was making for Boston, hand
icapped by lack of fuel and hydrogen.
according to the message received at
that time by the Navy Department.
The message, which was relayed from
the Otter Cliff station, follows:
Position R-S4, 81 degrees and 80
minutes west; l3 degrees and 70
minutes north. Course southwest BY
south BY magnetic compass"
At 1923 p. m. the Navy Department
received the following message {Som
the airship:
Flying 800 feet above sea. Come
and meet US. Making for Boston, >
Rush. Very short Of gasolene." =
The word was flashed to naval vessels
which had put out from Boston early
In the day when news Of the transat-
lantic dirigible's plight reached the
naval authorities No report had been
received at that city from the boats
which we're led by the destroyers Stew
ems and Bancroft. Naval officers feared
they would have difficulty in finding the
balloon owing to injury to it's wireless
as indicated in the following message
from the airmen. which was re-
layed to Mineola. where the dirigibIs
was to have landed. from Boston:
High power off except on half
kilowatt set" 'et
Rear Admiral Benson, chief Of naval
operations and Acting Secretary Of
the Navy, issued the following order;
Communicate with all stations
along the Maine coast. Get out
everything available Immediately and
get in touch with and keep in touch
with R-s4. Render every assistancs
possible. Keep department informed
Of action" %
The dirigiblc began calling for heip
while houndcring in o heavy wind
across the Day Of Fundy.
Al 7 o'clock last night she passed
over the town Of Digby. Nova Scotia
heading south. Ate she was reported
over Smiths Cove, IN The ether side b!