The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-07-04
Passes Half Way Mark; Is
Beyond Range of Cliff J.:
den Wireless.
ADVICES ARE REGULAR
Radio Compass Navigation
to Be Used Chiefly in
Later Stages. =
LONDON INTEREST KEEN
Commons Given News of First
British Official Ocean
Flight.
LONDON INTEREST KEEN

ST. JOHNS, N. F., July 3.-Ths
British dirigible R-34 was about 400
miles northeast of st. Johns at 10
P. M. Greenwich time (8 p. NJ. New
York time), according to o message
received tonight at the Admiralty
wireless station here.
The message stated the sirsbip was
making good progress.
LONDON, July 3.-Travelling az
steadily and as surely as ever did the
Mauretania or any other big liner, the
great British diriglble R-34 to-day
passed the half way mark in her cruise
from Scotland to Long Island.
At regular intervals reassuring
words came flashing back from the
giant craft, informing the confident,
yet anxious watchers, that the R-34
was travelling ahead at her own rapid
speed, which, though not half that
maintained by Capt. Alcock in his
cross ocean dash, is nevertheless well
above that Of the transatlantic liners,
whose course she Is following closely.
The R-34 passed out Of direct wire
less communication with Clifden to.
day, but despite this London is we'll
informed by relayed messages Of her
progress. The last news which
reached the city was that the alrship
was within 400 miles Of st. Johns,
N. F., the most eastern city of North
America. This means she had still
some 1,400 nautical miles to 60 be-
fore reaching the Long Island landing
field where she Is awaited.
Reports Regular.
The regularity of the reports and
the information they contain indi-
cate that Major Herbert Scott, her
commander, was having absolutely no
difficulty in aScertaining his position.
Whether the R-34 Is depending more
upon old style navigation, with SEX
tant and tables, or on the new navi-
CATION, by means Of the radio COM
| pass, which indicates the direction Of
big wireless stations hundreds Of
miles away, Is not known.
1t Is probable that each is playing
Its part. AS the R-34 draws near
| Newfoundland and starts down the
Atlantic coast 1t is probable the radio
compass will be used more and more.
and at the end the new device will
call her unfailingly to the exact loca-
tion Of the flying field, which, it Is
understood here, Is well equipped
with radio apparatus for the pur-
pose.
Both the Tiger and the Renown.
British warships stationed In mid
ocean to give aid to the R-34 should
some accident overtake her. have been
in communication with the dirigible.
although the radio man Is combining
HIS messages to announcement Of tho
successive positions OF the airship.
The Tiger according to an an
nouncement made tonight by the Air
Ministry. spoke the R-34 at $50 p. NJ.
Greenwich time, in latitude "a degrees
20 minutes north, longitude 40 degrees
west. The Renown also heard clear
signals from the steadily flying ship
at 1913 Z. NJ, Greenwich time.
| Interest in the R-34. which, unlike
the VickersVimy machine, is part of
his MaJesty's air force, is not confined
! to those directly connected with the
I flight or with aviation. The public, to
whom an airship which would stay up
despite engine failure appeals. In
watching the progress as a demon
stration OF the practicability of what
has been SO often and so confidently
predicted. a regular airship service
across the Atlantic.