The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1919-07-03
GREAT D|R|G|BLE
FAST TRAVELLING
TOWARDS St. JOHNS
She Is Already More Than Half
Way There
WEATHER is PERFECT
WEATHER is PERFECT
Sentiment of Crew Is That They Have
Not she slightest Doubt About
Reaching America

Ministry announced that it expected
the dirigible R-34 now in mid-ocean OF
her transatlantic fight, to reach st
Johns, Newfoundland tomorrow morr
ing and Hazelhurst field, l.. l., early
Saturday morning at a. III. Green
wich time) she was reported approxi
mately half way to Newfoundland.
The British warship, Renown, sta
toned in mid-Atlantic, was reported
shortly after that the barometer
was steady, wind about four miles
from northwest, sky clear, visibility
good and sea smooth.
East Fortune, Scotland, July o.
The British dirigible, R-34, which
started for America at 2.40 O'Clock
this morning (9.40 p. m. Tuesday New
York time) was speeding toward New
York today on the first transatlantic
flight of lighter-than-air craft.
Bugles sounded at 1.27 calling the
ship from its aerodrome. At LAT the
dirigble was in position to fly. AS
searchlights lit up the sky, the crew
clambered aboard. Six hundred men
were employed to bring the dirigible
from its shed.
AS the great adventure neared, the
crew became visibly excited
Lieutenant Commander Zachary
Lansdowne of the United States navy
making the trip at the invitation OF
the British navy, emerged from his
cabin clad in fur and resembling al
Arctic explorer. Flushed and smiling
he said:
Il feel great. | would rather fly
across than travel in boat. The ele-
ments will be smoother and personal
danyet tiooS Aesa essat. T.ie weather
IN almost IDEAL"
Climbing into his room, he turned
.,back and~shook the hand of the cor
respondent.
Here's luck" were his farewell
words.
Bound Tor America the R-34 disap-
peared into the mist soon after leav-
ing the ground. Major Scott. com
mandtr II the ship, said he expected
to reach Long Island Friday, the
Fourth o, July.
Commander Lansdown will be Civ
en- the honor of steering the big boat
to It's landing place at Hazelhurst.
Final tests of the R-34 were most
satisfactory.
Preparatory to sailing members OF
the crew rolled up their extra cloth
ing, each man taking complete
change All of the officers carried
small suit cases.
Major Scott voiced the sentiments
Of the crew when he said
Il haven't the slightest doubt that
we will reach America"
Commander Lansdowne told the cor
respondent the officers would take
turns steering.
When not working" he said, I'VE
can remain in the cockpit or up stairs
There need be no lack of physical ex.
ercise. If we wish we can take con.
stitutionals up and down the deck,
which is nearly an eighth of mile
long, or can climb the ladder to the
gun platform on top of the gas bag
where there is place for two-inch
cannon
Wireless Operator Edwards said he
expected the ship would get into com
munication with the Harbor Grace
station at Newfoundland the moment
the fight was started.
1--WE have a splendid wireless ca.
pacity." he said. I'VE can com
municate over a radius of about 1,700
miles. The antennae drop 400 feet
below the deck"
A British non-rigid machine escort.
ed the D-34 as far as Ireland