The daily times., 1919-07-07
BIG D|RIGIBLE
MAKES LANDING
After An Eventful Journey of
1OS Hours Through Fog.
The Crew
lis NOW IN BAD SHAPE
is NOW IN BAD SHAPE

Mineola, N. Y, July 6.-Great
Britains super-dirigible, R-34, the
first lighter than air machine to
cross the Atlantic ocean, anchored
here at Roosevelt Flying Field at
9:45 a. m. today 1:54 Greenwich
mean time) after an aerial voyage of
1O8 hours and IL minutes which COW
cred $3.50 knots or approximately,
$500 land miles.
. Passing through dense banks of
cloud, with the sun and sea visible
only at rare intervals, the R-34 was
forced to cruise 1850 knots to reach
Trinity Bay, N. F. from East For
tune, Scotland, and 1,O8O knots from
there to Mineola.
When the super-Zeppelin arrived
here she had left only enough pertol
| to keep her moving ninety minutes
longer. Her crew almost sleepless
for four and half { ays, were weary
almost to the point of exhaustion but
happy at the successful completion
of their epoch-making trip. The re-
turn voyage will be started Tuesday
at a. m.
Haggard, unshaven, their eyes all
bloodshot from the long vigil and
lines of care bitten deep into their
faces, Major G. H. Scott, the COM
mander, and his officers, showed
plainly the effects of the anxious
hours through which they lived yes
terday while they were cruising over
the far reaches of Canada and the
Bay of Fundy, beset by fog, heavy
winds and terrific electrical storms.
''It seemed as though the atmos-
phere was haunted by 5000 devils" :"
said Lieut.. Guy Harris, the meterol-
ogical officer.
With the R-34 long overdue at it's
destination, petrol supply running
low and buffeted by strong head
winds Major Scott decided yesterday
: while over the Bay of Fundy to send
wireless call to the American Navy
Department to be prepared to give
assistance if it were needed.
This was merely measure of pre-
caution and did not indicate dis
ccuragement. While destroyers and
submarine chasers were racing to her
assistance, the R-34 was plugging
steadily ahead on the way to Mineola.
Once clear of the Bay of Fundy the
atmospheric hoo-doo which had be-
set the craft from the time it took
the air was gradually left in it's wake.
The R-34 headed southwest out
across the Atlantic along the coast
of Maine, her nose pointed for Cape
Cod, with the United States destroy
er Bancroft hanging on her tail and
in constant wireless communication
with her. The destroyer stuck close
in the wake of the air monster, run
ming under forced draft, until Cape
Cod was reached and then the dirig-
ible cut across lots.
1t had been decided on the voy-
: age along the coast that unless a IA
voring wind came up the R-34 would
be forced to land at Montauk Point
and early this morning 8 wireless
message was sent out making that
announcement.
With the cape left behind, howev-
!. er, fortune finally favored the dirigi-
BILE and the wind veered to her favor
Headed straight for Montauk Point
she ran true and before the tip end
of Long Island was reached it was de-
T cided to go on to Mineola. With the
goal almost in sight, the R-34 flew
. majestically above the island and
headed straight down the center OF
, it for Roosevelt Field, 100 miles
away.
, AS she cruised over Riverhead the
: dirigible came within range Of the
wireless telephone installed at Roose.
welt Field by the Navy Radio SER
vice and perfect communication was
established. During the night the
wireless calls from the R-34 were re-
!. ceived by the Navy Radio station in
; New York.