Omaha daily bee., 1919-07-06
Nearing Conclusion Of Trans
atlantic Flight Balloon Runs
Short of Gasoline and Sus-
tanning Hydrogen Gas.
REQUESTS FOR HELP
RECEIVED ALL DAY
American Warship Only Sue
Ceeds in Locating English
men Late Saturday; Follows
Them Across Gulf OF Maine.

Washington, July 6.-At l :29 a.
m. Sunday, the navy communica-
tion's officer received the follow
ing communication directly from
the vessel:
will land Montauk Point. Re-
port time later"
Washington, July s. Contact
with the British dirigible R-A
whose calls for help continued to
grow more urgent all day as she
neared the finish of her trans-Atlan
tic journey only to find gasoline and
sustaining hydrogen gas was ex-,
hausted, was established Saturday
night at | 40 by the destroyer Ban
croft of the United States navy.
The Bancroft at that hour, ac-
cording to messages which reached
the navy department, was trailing
the dirigible as it proceeded south
west across the Gulf of Maine The
R-34 was still under her own power.
The following message was re-
ceved from the R-34 at the navy
department at l1:2s p. M.
Flying 1900 feet above sea.
Come down and meet US. Making
for Boston. Rush. Very short of
gasoline"
Ten Destroyers in Readiness.
There are about 10 destroyers at
Boston navy yard in addition to the
two searching for the R-34. The
cruiser Birmingham. high-speed
scouting vessel, is at Boston. and
will be sent to sea as will number
Of submarine chasers, probably to-
falling 10 or II, stationed along the
Maine coast also will be sent out as
result of Admiral Benson's order.
Weather conditions are not likely
to add to the hardships of the R-34,
according to the special report
flashed to the vessel from the Unit
ed States weather bureau. The up-
per winds, for the next "a hours
along the north Atlantic coast west
ward and northwestward, are mod
crate. Local squalls and transforms
are likely, however
A. H. Bowie. supervising forecast
er explained that the upper winds.
above the l.000-foot level, were
chiefly important to the aeronauts.
The prediction concerning them is
based on the bureaus work with
pilot balloons, which have been re-
leased each day at p. m. from
number of stations over the United
States, while along the Atlantic
coast they have been sent up twice
daily for some time.
Orders Sent Out.
Orders were sent late Saturday
night to the commandant of the
first naval district at Boston TO
get out everything available inn
mediately' in an effort to render
assistance to the dirigible.
The orders, sent by Rear Ad-
mlral Benson, chief of naval oper-
atoms. and acting secretary of the
navy. said;
Communicate with all stations
along the Maine coast. Get out
everything available Immediately
and get in touch with and keep in
touch with R-34. Render every as
sistance possible. Keep department
informed of action"
Suggests Destroyers Sent.
Mjneola, N. Y. July 5.-Lieut.
Col. Frederick Lucas, r. A. F., in
charge of British arrangements here
Tor the arrival of the dirigible 81 has
sent wireless message to the air
ships commander urging that he
make every effort to proceed as
far as Montauk Point before alight-
ing for fuel. He suggested Amer
lean destroyers could be sent to tow
the dirigiblej to Montauk Point.
Two hundred naval mechanics
Continued on Page Seven. Column Two.)