The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1919-07-10
R-34 STARTS ON
RETURN VOYAGE
ABOUT MIDNIGHT
Giant Dirigible Circles Over
New York First
CROWD THRoNGs FIELD
Approaching Storm Hastens the Time
of Starting-PIanning on 20
Hour Flight

New York, July 10-The British
dirigible, R-94, rose from Roosevelt
Field. Long Island, last night at 11,55
O'Clock, and started on her return trip
across the Atlantic When the ropes
were let go, she rose to height of
100 feet and then with the search
lights playing upon her she headed
west for New York.
With one searchlight playing upon
her and turning the body of the craft
to a deep yellow, the R-S4 sailed slow
ly down the field for about two miles.
She moved without a sound, and the
only noise came from the autoists
still honking their horns on the
ground below There were eight men
in the forward cabin and light appar
emily manipulated by one of them
kept blinking a farewell to the watch
ere.
When the dirigible disappeared tow
ard Manhattan, message came down
to the field declaring that all was go
ing smoothly. The message added
that the forward engines were in com
mission as we'll as those amidship
The engines at the stern were being
held in reserve at that time.
The R-34 according to the plans an
nounced at the last minute, planned to
sail westward and circle high over
the crowds of Manhattan
After passing over Manhattan, the
R-34 turned due east, and with all her
engines roaring set out for Fastnet
Ireland. Her trip back, 1900 sea
miles will be the longest over-water
fight yet attempted in aviation. After
passing Fastnet, the R-34 will head TO
London and pass over that city to
allow London9rs the same opportuni-
ty given New York last night. She
will then sail directly to the East Fog
tune Field, Outside OF Edinburgh. AZ
The officer inacommand of the fiaid
ordered all spectators off the reserFa-
ton at 1925 o'clock Not a person
except those actually connected with
the holding of the R-34, was permitted
within half mile. "Ali persons not
holding lines get behind the white
line," rank out hoarsely tifne and
again. now and then givsa sadded
force by the warning, You are risk
ing your lives staying here"
"All hands on shipl' shouted Major
Scott at Hip O'Clock. The waiting
figures by the side of the R-34 were
seen to swing INTO the gondolas, and
soon heads were visible through the
| light-renecting windows. AT 11:14
o'clock Major Cook, the navigator, re-
ported all ON board and at their
places.
Members of the R,3Fs crew and of
ficers said they looked forward to the
trip without the slightest apprehen-
sion. They laughed at reports that
some of the crew we're not eager to
return.
I'VE are not afraid of the ride"
said a nen-commissioned officer, but
some of the men think they would like
to get into the American Navy be-
cause of the better pay and the enter
tainment your sailors get But it
would break their hearts if they were
left behind.
AS far as the trip was concerned,
the officers anticipated not only a
much quicker, but much easier yoy-
age. -Four times they were sent
plunging aloft by sudden thunder
storms off Newfoundland and they
expect to escape this on the return
over the milder southernly route.
They will go 200 or 300 miles north
of the regular southern route to
avoid hot weather which might ex.
pand the hydrogen and make the
ship manageable or compel the re-
lease of so much hydrogen as TO en-.
danger the flight when they strike
colder weather.