Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-07-08
DELAYED D|R|G|bLE
TOFLY TOMORROW
Start to Be Made in Early
Morning, ''Wind or No
Wind" Says Briton.
ITS ENGINES OVERHAULED

By the Associated Press.
MINEOLA, N. Y, July S.-The en-
forced stay of the giant British diri-
gible. made necessary by repairs to
her motors, brought hundreds of WIS.,
itors to Roosevelt Field today.
The big airship will not take off on
her return trip across the Atlantic
ocean until after dawn tomorrow.
In making the announcement con-
corning the return cruise Brig. Gen.
F.. M. Maitland, special representa-
tive Of the British air ministry
aboard the dirigible, positively de-
clared that the R-34 would start to-
morrow morning, wind or no wind,
although he hoped that weather con-
ditionS would be favorable.
TO Take Southern Track.
Maj. Pritchard. after inspecting the
dirigible's engines at 9 am. today, said
all repairs would be completed by 9
o'clock tonight. and that fuel, water
and other supplies would be taken
aboard before midnight.
Maj. Pritchard said the airship would
take the southern track. four or five
hundred miles north of the Azores, in
view of favorable forecast of clear"
weather for the next forty-eight hours,
made by the weather bureau in Wash
ington and received here this morning.
over it was said the R-34 probably
would strike northerly cross winds,
which would not retard her very much.
The remaining distance. it was stated,
favora BILE westerly winds would prevail.
~
Mechanics began work this morn
ing in overhauling the engines Of the
RIA preparatory to the beginning OF
her return flight: Work on the en-
gines was rendered impossible on
Monday by the swaying of the huge
gas bag in the strong wind that
swept across Roosevelt Field.
Twice last night the dirigible
which is moored to massive concrete
anchors, began to settle toward the
ground. but her movement was de-
tected in time for the members of the
crew to release a part of the big
airships water ballast. and injury to
the machinery by coming in contact
with the ground was prevented.
To Sail Over New York.
Unless present plans are changed
the RIA will sail oyer New York and
tfen make directly out 10 sell
On it's homeward journey the RIA
will carry twenty-five pounds of mail.
About 100 official letters have been re-
ceiyed at the New York post Office
from officials in this country con-
graduating British officials on the
success of the trip and about two hun
dred letters had been received yes
terday from newspapers and private
individuals marked for transmission
to England by the dirigible. Those
were all put in the mail bag of the
RIA. The postage on each letter was
2 cents. the regular rate
Maj. c. E. M. Pritchard, executive
officer of the dirigible's crew. discuss
ing the difficulties in keeping the
ship free from injury. said:
I'VE did not come any way near los
ing the ship. and allow me 70 say ina
had lost it. When we planned to
come here the British government
asked the United States government
| to build shed in which to house the
ship during her stay in TINS country
This the United States government
re fused to do. When the British gov
eminent learned this it said some
thing equivalent to all right
Feeling that the voyage was well
worth the risk. that it would tend
to increase the friendship between
the people of the United States and
England. and that it would be well
worth the cost even if the ship were
lost, the British government author
lied the flight
600 Men Ready for Action.
Last night. in event of any emer-
gency which might require their
presence. 600 men in Khaki were held
in reserve. The ship itself remained
securely anchored and only a man or
two were at the hand ropes, but in
the camp buildings the balloon boys
were prepared to come running to the
rescue should an alarm be sounded.
This alarm consists of a series of
sirens at Mitchell and Hazelhurst
fields.
Save for the substitution of Col
William N. Hensley. jr.. of the avia-
ton section of the American Army.
for Lieut.. Commander Zachary Lans-
downe of the American naval aviation
service, Maj. Scott said he expected
to return with the same crew and pas
sengers that he brought to this coun-
try. However. he was undecided
whether w. w. Ballantine, a former
member of the crew who slowed away
on the westbound trip, would be al
lowed to make the return journey.
. pnlIantipe worked as member of the