Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-07-07
Big Hole Torn in Gas Bag
When Girder Breaks;
Men Seize Ropes
SPEEDING OVERHAULING
Sways Violently in Breeze;
Hope to Start Return Trip
Tomorrow
EXPECT FAVORABLE DAY
Plan to Get Under Way Early
in Morning; Will Fly
Over Boston
By Associated Press.

Mincola, July THE R-34 was
torn from her mooring rope this
morning by a violent gust of wind.
The cross girder to which the rope
was attached broke under the strain,
ripping hole six feet by three feet
in the gas bag. The giant dirigible
was saved from being blown away
by 900 men who seized ropes hang
ing from her sides and held her
down with great difficulty
Major Scott announced definitely
at noon that the R-34 would start
on its return journey at o'clock
tomorrow morning, flying over Bos-
ton. The R-34 will not circle New
York before turning east he said.
The commander of the R-34 based
his announcement of the starting
hour on the assumption that the
wind, which at the time was blowing
between 30 and 25 miles an hour.
would die down later in the day and
so permit the refuelling of the dirig-
ible.
I'VE will cruise over Boston," he
said, land then follow the trans-At-
lantic trade route. We are selecting
that course because there we will
find the most favorable western
wind. We had considered making
our start at s o'clock but we have
advanced the time because the earl
ier we get away the lower the tenn
ture and the lower the tempera-
ture the greater amount of petrol
we can load. We can put in $500
gallons, which will give us nothing
to play about with but we do not
expect to play about, as the wind
will be favorable
To Fly Over Wilson
The following wireless message
was delivered to General Charlton
to-day from the British air Ministry:
please convey following message
to the United States Naval authori-
ties: Air council desires to express
their most cordial and grateful
thanks for the cooperation and as
sistance of the United States Navy
rendered to His Majesty's airship
RIA"
The message was forwarded to
Secretary Daniels at Washington.
Major Scott announced later that
an effort would be made to shape the
R-34's course so that it would pass
owed the George Washington, which
is bringing President Wilson home.
Sweeps Men From Earth
The breeze stiffened as the sun
rose and the American Army balloon
mechanics had all they could do to
hold the mammoth airship. AS she
swayed in the wind the clinging men
were swept off their feet in relays
The officers in charge of the dirig-
ible ordered the work of overhaul
ing rushed in order that she could
start on her return voyage at the
earliest possible moment in view of
the danger to which she was ex-
posed. This is the first time the
super-Zeppelin has been moored in
the open air, always having been an
chored previously in an aerodrome
with adequate windshields.
Bag Sways Violently
In spite of all possible haste the
dirigibles engineers believe it will
only be with exceptional luck that
the airship can start at the sched-
uled hour of eight o'clock to-mor-
row morning. They consider it i'm
perative that her engines be over
hauled thoroughly first, and the vio-
lent swaying of the huge gas bag
renders this work slow and difficult.
Immediately after the accident
Major Scott climbed into the for
ward gondola and inspected the
damage He announced later that
the rip in the gas bag could easily
be mended. one explanation of the
parting of the mooring rope by the
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