The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-07-06
British Dirigible, Buffeted
by Thunderstorms, Seeks
Quick Refuge.
BIG BAG is DEFEATING
1t Is Believed She May Be
Able to Make Land This
Morning.
SPEED 23 KNOTS AN HOUR
Airship Sends q Message to
MineOla Telling Of Change
in Plans.
BIG BAG is DEFEATING
SPEED 23 KNOTS AN HOUR

IN PlanS.
At Mineola a message was re-
ceived early this morning from
the R-34 via Otter Cliff, Me-, say
ing:
will land at Montauk Point.
Time later"
At Mineola this was taken to
mean that the Bancroft would
stand by until the R-34 swings
across from the lower end Of Cape
Cod Bay for the Long Island point.
1t is presumed she has been dis
suaded from attempting the almos.
impossible Chatham landing.
Montauk is but a few miles fur
Their away.
The R-34 is heading for Chatham,
Mass, conveyed by the L. s. S. Ban
croft according to messages received
by the Navy Department at IL 80 this
morning.
One message reads as follows:
Position, 42.51 north, 0SO4 west.
Heading for Chatham. Speed. twenty
three to twentyfour knots. R-34
thinks fuel will hold out"
Another message, evidently sent
from the Bancroft to the RIA and
Intercepted by Otter Cliff radio sta
ton, said
I'VE see you are heading for Chat
ham. Course 230 true. Speed TWEEN
ty-three knots. Keep me informed OF
your movements"
Despite the fact that the big dirig-
ible had been urged on the receipt OF
her first distress messages earlier in
the night not to go to Chatham, It Is
now regarded as hopeful If she can
get any place where fuel and perhaps
hydrogen can he got aboard her.
Was In Desperate Plight.
Contact with her was established
just in time, for she was in des-
perate plight after two days and
nights of lodging fog and thunder
storms and heat waves which beset
her and almost ruined her after she
had established her title to first
lighter than air machine to cross the
Atlantic when she sighted the north
erly corner Of Newfoundland at dawn
on Independence Day.
The Bancroft established contact
with the RIA at 1910 last night.
The destroyer, which had put out
from Boston shortly after three yes
terday afternoon. is trailing the di-
rigihle across the Gulf of Maine.
The giant British dirigihlc. whose
calls for help had become more and
more insiStant ms the night closed In,
was short of raSolenc, more important
still. short of her vital sustaining
gas, hydrogen, and her last messages
reported her high power wireless sci
ont Of commission. Nevertheless she
had stoutly plunged out to sea from
Yarmouth. Nova Scotia, determined
to land in the United States. When
reached by the Bancroft she was still
under her own power determined to
refucl and go on To NIineola.
The opinion ut Washington was
that no attempt would he made ny the
destroyer either 20 rcfucl the dlrlgtble
or TO take her in tow until daylight.
She will probably stand by. This she
can do, - the dirigihlc IS making u
scunt twcuty-threc knots Mt last re
ports She will also summon TO her
aid the destroyer stevens. The Ste
more before the Bancroft, and NJ
II 80 reported to the Navy Depart
mcnt that she WAS cruising forty
miles northeast Of the last position OF
the R-34, Washington Immediately
ordered the Stevens 10 proceed to the
R-34, continuing in the meanwhile 10
maintain radio communication,
Message Just before Contact,
The last message received from the
R-34 before contact was made with
her by the Bancroft was the follow
ing:
"Flying 100 feet above sea. Come
and meet Us. Making for Boston
Rush. Very short Of ga>olcue,'
The position then given by the RS
was l65 miles northeast Of Boston,
whence she WAS proceeding southwesr
by south, magnetic,
If sh" can be promptly rcfurled, re
fed with hydrogen ana got away
without accident she should reach