Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-07-02
British Dirigible
on Way to America


Continued From PAGE One
their monotonous North sea patrol dur
ing the war.
Shortly before the first streaks of
dawn broke over the plains near here
the great airship was quietly taken out
Of its sirdrome and turned around until
her nose was pointed straight west. The
csrmand ''hands off, was given and
the huge envelope quickly rose. Be
fore tire height Of 500 feet was reached
the .sas last to view in the mist.
4 The whirr OF the propelers could be
heard for several minutes after the
several hundred foot airship went out
Of sight,
Weather Is Unsettled
The weather reports indicate that the
R-34 will meet unsettled conditions,
with variable winds, until she is some
distance out into the Atlantic. Then
it is expected she will have following
winds, which will assist her.
Not more than score of people mo-
tored the twenty one miles from Edin-
burgh to the airdrome here to witness
the start, but among them was one
!, American woman. who presented n silk
American flag to Lieutenant Commander
Zachary IIansdowne, American flight
commander. lust before he stepped into
the gondola.
Women Aid i'm Start
Aside from these few persons the only
spectators were the 200 men and 100
women stationed at the airdrome. They
hol 1nI hnf hy
the usual landing party" bugle. and
the drowsy and faltering step of many
of them evidenced the fact that the start
of this historic trip had not kept them
awake in the earlier hours of the night.
They took their accustomed place at the
guy wires and bars at the lower parts
of the gUndoas.
The great airship then was released
except for her human anchors, and to
test her lifting powers. loaded as she
was with more petrol than ever previ-
ously had been in her tanks, the men
at the gondolas were ordered to release
their hold
The ship quickly arose and just as
quickly the order was given to pull her
down. After this test the men and
women holding the guy wires slowly
started toward the east doors of the
airdrome, which had been opened,
gradually pulling the great unwieldy
craft out into free space.
Five Powerful Motors Hum
Thanks to the light breeze and the
wind breaks erected on each side of
the airdrome, the task of getting the
R-34 out was not difficult one. She was
towed to point about 200 yeards away
from the airdomc and after being turned
around, all five of her powerful motors
were started humming.
Then the hands off, bugle was
sounded, the 'airship started to rise, her
propellers began to spin and almost be-
fore the cheering had ceased the great
fiier had disappeared in the mist.
The fight is not regarded here as an
unusual feat There is the utmost con-
fidence in the ability of the Il "a to
make the trip. There were no serious :
minded farewell; between the crew and
those who saw them off, and the feeling
among officers. here might be expressed
In the remarks of Colonel Hunt. former
British naval officer, commanding the
East Fortune station. who said:
.You know. we always have a ladies
night on Wednesdays and have our
4 friends out here. We just moved that
night up to Tuesday and of course the
officers of the R-34 were here
"Give me an even break and III get
across without any trouble said Major
Scott to the correspondent before start
ing. 1--WE took her 20O0 miles over the
Baltic. came back in a devil of a wind
and when we got here had petrol enough
to do forty more hours. And, remem
ber, we were not fully loaded with
petrol when we started. | cannot tell
you just how much petrol we have
aboard, for this still is n naval craft
you know. But you may be assured
that we have more than when we started
our last trip"
Confident of Success
After my trip to the Baltic. | be
lieve the R-34. with Major Scott il
command can do almost anything, fol
he is one of the most remarkable mel
7 have ever seen in an airship,' Colone
r. C. Hunt said. I'VE know that thu
R-34 will do it, or we wouldn't star
her. The only difference in this triT
and others | have taken in big diri
gible is that it il bit longer. Sh'
never has been extended before ant
/ do not believe will be in any wa!
extended when we get across
Prior to the start of transatlantic
fight Lieutenant Commander Lans
downe, of the United States navy, OF
board at the invitation of the British
Admiralty, said:
.'There is no doubt whatever in my
mind or. l believe, in the minds o
any of the crew, that we will get ovel
without difficulty
Mineola, n. ". July 2.-(By A. p.
Lieutenant Colonel Frederick W. Luce
Of the Royal Air Force, one of tn
advance party here arranging for tn
reception of the British dirigible nov
en- route to Long Island from Scotland
raid today that he was withou
Nh IL. I%.ss.ss.z-IE,,> !