New-York tribune., 1919-07-06
Craze Concern Felt
At ROOseueIt Field
Staff COrrcspo4dcnce

St0If COlTcSDO tdcNCe
MINEOLA, L. l., July s. Grave con-
cern for the safety Of the R-34 was
felt at the Roosevelt Aviation Field
here this afternoon. This feeling was
induced by the receipt of two wirele s
messages sent from the British dirigi-
bic, picked uD by the wireless station
at Otter Cliffs, Ne, and relayed here
BY land telegraph. These messages
read as follows:
ITO the Commandant, Second Naval
District, Boston. Could destroyer
proceed, if required, to the south
end Of the Bay of Fundy to take
airship R-34 in tow If necessary?
Lansdowne."
The other, addressed to the Air Min
istry in London, read:
"Flying across Nova Scotia. Strong
head winds. Petrol beginning TO get
short. 10 G.. NJ. T. (11 a. M, \. Y.
time), R-34."
The first message was signed by
Lieutenant Commander Zachary Lans-
downe, United States naval observer
on the dir.gible Coupled with the in
formation contained in the message 10
the British Air Ministry it indicated,
according to officers here, that the big
ship, being short Of gasolene, would
not be much longer able to hold her
position against the strong winds which
were tending to drive her in north
erly direction.
Local officers were of the opinion
that the airship's commander, MAJOR
Scott, was following a wise course IN
attempting TO get destroyer to tow
her TO point where trained personnel
could assist in landing her.
They pointed oot that while II would
not be impossible 20 bring the huge
ship to land on the Nova Scdtian coast
there would be difficulty in getting
men to handle her. Moreover. they
said. there is not on the American
Continent any place capable Of moor
ing the big ship safely except al koose-
welt Field here, where special anchor
ages have been buried in the ground.
ut would be possible" one nava'
officer said, "for a destroyer 10 get o
/ line 10 the dirigble and then pumr
sufficient gasolene up 10 her to enable
| her TO complete the flight. provided 9
destroyer with sufficient supply oi
gasolene could be rushed to her i'm
mediately."
Great surprise was expressed by the
British officers at the field at the mes
sage announcing a shortage of gasolene
They were sure the R-34 had beer
supplied with over 5000 gallons before
she left East Fortune, Scotland, at az
O'Clock. Greenwich mean time, on the
morning of July 2. They also wer'
under the impression that the alrshil
had only been averaging one gallon O.
gasolene 20 the mile since she started
The only explanation they could give
for the circ tmstancc was that IN hght
ing the storm raging over Newfound
land for the past two days the R-3'
had TO use all her engine power. This
they said, would account for her short
age OF fuel.
The only anxiety expressed by th'
British officers, who were sent owe
especially 20 supcrintcnd the LANDING
arrangements for the R-2i, was tina
the airship might drift far away to tn
nor,hward unless destroyers arrived 4
assist her before her gasoline suppl!
gave out. SO long as she had gasoline
left she could fight the winds, and keel
her nose up into the wind. The mo
ment her fuel ran out she would b'
helpless.
The British officers saw no danger o.
a forced landing. The ship Is capable
Of remaining in the air for two weeks
az least, they said, and would be per
fectly safe IN the air 80 long No she
had fuel enough TO keep her course.
Earlier reports OF the R-34s progress
began 70 attract crowds TO the Mincoli