The copper era and Morenci leader., 1919-07-18
BRITISH D|R|G|BLE MAKES TRIP IN
 EIGHT DAYS

arrived at their air station here at 6; 56 o'clock. Greenwich mean time to- day, completing her round trip from the British Isles to the United States and return.
 The R-34 poked her nose out of the clouds northeast of the village and af- ter circling the flying field three times glided gently to the ground and 10 minutes later was housed in the dirig- ible shed. The voyage from Long Island was without particular incl dent and was completed in approxima- tely 75 hours.
 As the R34 approached the field she dropped from a height of 5000 feet to 2,0OO feet Phe 400 men who were to aid the airship in landing were ordered to their positions and waited silently as the ship circled the field, dropping lower and lower.
 Release Water Ballast
 When Major G. H. Scott, her com mander, had maneuvered the airship into position for the landing, the water ballast was released to steady her and a rope was thrown from the bow. The giant ship moved across the field to the shed where the delicate operation of berthing her was completed quick 1y.
 A military band stationed on the field played the Gall to Duty" as the air ship began to settle and then changed to the strains of See, the Conquering Hero Comes" As the ship was warp ed into the shed the band played Keep the Home Fires Buring."
 The tired, unshaven but smiling men who composed the crew quickly climbed from the gondola and were greeted warmly by the officers and sol diers gathered on the field.
 Breakfast First-Story Later. ....
 "The voyage home has been without incident" said Major Scott. t'We want breakfast
 After breakfast and while enjoying the belated luxury of his little black pipe, smoking not being permitted on the ship, Major Scott told the story of the return flight as follows.
 ''We estimated we would make it in from 70 toS0 hours, he said. we made it in 75. When we left we had a strong wind behind us and we GOV cred the first 500 miles in about eight hours. When we circled over New York we could see plainly the crowds on Broadway waving to us as we passed, but we could not hear them because of the noise of the engines.
 South of New Foundland we en- countered head winds and our pro- gress from then on was slower. We travelled at an average height of from 5000 to 5000 feet and found much low clouds and fog. One day we saw nothing but fog for 24 hours.
 Steering Engine Breaks.
 "We struck Ireland at Clifden and made good progress from there, al though our steering engine broke down Saturday morning. We started with 4,90O gallons of gasoline and had 1000 left.
 We are naturally pleased with the trip, all of us. I expect important changes in the size and speed of fu- ture airships: big ships that will trav- ell 70 to 80 miles an hour and powerful enought to crawl through anything"
 "This has been a great trip, said Colonel w. N. Hensley, Jr., of the :. United States army air service as he climbed out of the car. ''We were lost one whole day because the fog was so thick we could not get shot at the sun, moon, stars or horizon, but we worked out of it and struck the Irish coast. We passed over the Isle of Man about o'clock this morn ing and then, mounting above the clouds, witnessed most beautiful sight. Above was the bright moon {; below, soft fieecy clouds touched with all the colors of the rainbow and far down below occasionally could be seen the dark blue of the sea. But we did not have time to admire the beauty of the scene.
 No Trouble Encountered
 ''We soon passed over Liverpool and then other cities and towns and here we are. We suffered no hardships and no inconveniences except that we had no hot water for shaving. Our eggs were cooked in the exhaust of the engines and we had plenty of other good food and coffee, tea and cocoa to drink. No one suffered from air sickness and while the sea below was tossed by 40 mile gale we were nov ing along in comfort on an even keel
 Regular airship service between Europe and America is bound to come 'and soon".
 The members of the crew were ca gerly surrounded by friends who were waiting at the airdome George Ora ham chief engineer. proudly carried