New-York tribune., 1919-07-02


of the gas BAGS form sloping shelter
over narrow runway, 200 yards long,
that extends the length of the snip.
This is easily reached by light ladders
from the cars, and ii is here, in a
little cleared space just abaft the wing
cars, that the crew has its mess Thee
Is table, prepared with cups, plates
and utensils which hang in neat rows
pnonograph, with Jazz records, with
which the crew can while away thci.
off hours.
Crew of Thirty-one Carried
The R-34 carried crew of thirty
one, including the ten officers. These
are the otficers
Major G. II. Scott. commanding eff
GER and pilot; Major G. II. Cooke. y.
S. O., navigator; Captain G. S. Green
land first officer Lieutenant j. d.
Shotter. engineer officer; Lieutenant
Il. +. Luck, third officer; BrigaGler
General Maitland and Major Pritchard,
passengers, but Will work their pas
sage: Captain Guy Harris, meteoro-
logical officer; Lieutenant Durran;.
auxiliary officer for wireless. ard
Lieutenant Commander Lansdowne.
L. S. n.
The latter is tail, rugged, smiling
Ohioan. who joined the United States
Navy fourteen years ago. He is thir-
ty-fve, although he looks ten years
younger than THAI. He is tickled to
death over the chance TO make the
flight which was granted him by
Washington, after a courteous invita-
tion from the British Air Ministry
mad been received saying that the R-34
would carry an American officer on
her first flight. Lieutenant Com
mander Lansdowne has seen plenty of
action in the war, and was lately in
command Of the now disnantled
United States naval air base at Gui-
pavas, little town on the French
coast a short distance from Brcst.
Men Specially Chosen
All the crew Of the R-34, consisting
OF twelve engineers and seven riggers,
besides two wireless men. are spe-
cially picked men from all branches
of the r. a. f.
The men will sleep, that is those
runway, and whore they can be as
comfortable as sailWs in a ship There
is & lavatory, with washing and shay
ing facilities. and hot and cold run
ning water chat IS, the water Will
ran out OF its canvas tank and can
be heated by the enencs).
The R-34 is lighted throughout by
electricity; connection between the cars,
which are scvcnty-tive yards or so
apart, is established By means OF
telephones as we'll as the ordinary
ships bells, and she is in every way
riggod with modern appliances,
equipped as closely as possible after
the manner of other types of ocean
liners.
Huge seventy gallon tanks, which
contain the petrol of the R-34, are
Joined with pipes so petrol can be
pumped by hand from one end of the
ship to the other to maintain her bal
last.
In transatlantic flying one of the
contingencies to be met is the pros
pect of encountcring such extreme cold
that the or which is to keep the en-
gincs running may freeze. There is
no possibility Of such contingency
arising on the fight this time, for hot
water pipes, through which boiling
water is driven by the engines, run
through the oil tanks, and keep them
always heated. The R-34 carries 800
gallons of oil on her flight.
W4eless Radius 500 Miles
The wireless Of the airship is CON
trolcd from the captains car, for
ward. Inc set she carries can ScNd
about 800 miles, and receive message
at practically any distance she Will
~ravel. With such q powerful sending
set, it is not expected that the ship
VIII al any t me be completely out OF
touch with England, for until shes ar
rivcs within 200 miles of the shore,
ships equipped with wireless WIN be
able TO relay her messages.
Should the R-3i be forced, through
some unforeseen accident, or hurricane
10 land on the Atlantic, every facility
possible has been provided to insure
the safety Of the crew. For each
member there is a parachute and life
belt, while it Is possible to climb uT
through the interior of the envelope
and come out on top of the huge bag
Fire is feared more than any such
contingency, however, and rubbor-soled
shoes, 20 prevent sparks are worn by
every one inside the bag Fire cxtin-
guishers arc freely sprinklcd through
out the interior.
Although the present visit to America
s 10 be peaceful one, the R~34 is
capable Of doing business in quite an
other way, for she is provided with
bomb racks, after the best manner Of
Icppclins. Another Hun appliance II
the glazed door, which fastcns auto
rnatically on the inside Of tho en-
velopc, and prevents the crew Of each
car from leaving their posts without
notifyjnY some one ingide.
all a. I tt..,