The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-07-07
D|R|G|BLE
ENDS HAZARDOUS
TRIP ACROSS SEAS
CONTINUED From First Page.)

man incidents of the trip, chronicled in
the form of a log by Brig Gen Ed
ward NJ. Maitland, official observer for
the British air ministry.
This story, a Jules Verne tale come
true-was written while the giant dirigi-
bic was leaving the ground at East For
tune, while it was passing out Of sight
of land. while it was battling its %ay
across the Atlantic and eluding cleo
trical storms in the northland, while it
was slipping safely down the shore line
of Long Island TO its anchorage at
Mineola-
It is an intensely human story, set
down in simple, unaffected style. In
it is described the feelings of men
starting OF a great adventure-cheer-
fully confident in the face of a nun
bred dangers. In it is described the
courage Of red-blooded men fighting
their way through an ocean OF cloud
and fog. In it is described the resolute
daring OF men calculating cody just
how much fuel, already greatly short
ened, they could expend in lodging
tempests which might dash them TO
destruction. In it is described the fight
ing spirit Of aerial adventures combat
ing to the last a situation which might
force them to call for assistance. But
nothing is to be found In the log of
the great joy which must have surged
up in every mans heart when they
dropped anchor VIGOROUSLY safe at the
end of a $500 mile voyage.
Haggard, ~unshaven, their eyes blood
shot from the long vigil and ines OF
care bitten deeply in their faces, Mai.
Scott, the commander, and his officers,
showed plainly the effects of the anxi-
Gus hours through which they lived
Saturday while they were cruising over
the far reaches of Canada and the
ka,Y ~ INtpH,- haeaf hy Too haouN
winds and terrific electrical storms.
"It seemed as though the atmosphere
was haunted by 5000 devils" said Lieut..
Guy Harris, the meteorological officer.
With the R-34 long overdue at its
destination, petrol supply running low
Mai Scott decided Saturday, while over
the bay Of Fundy, to send a wireless
call to the American navy department
TO be prepared to give assistance II
It were needed, This was merely a
measure Of p~reCaution and did not in
dictate disbursement. While destroy
ers and submarine chasers were rae
ing to her assistance, the R-34 was
plugging steadily ahead on the way tC
Mineola. Once clear OF the bay o
Fundy the atmospheric hoodoo which
had beset the craft from the time i
took the air was gradually left In 1t!
wake.
The R-34 headed southwest on
across the Atlantic along the coast o
Maine. her nose pointed for Cape Cod
with the United States destroyer Ban
croft hanging on her tail and In con
slant wireless communication with her
The destroyer stuck close in the wax
Of the air monster, running unde
forced draft, until Cape Cod wa
reached and then the dirigible Gu
across lots.
II had been decided on the voyag
along the coast that unless a favorabl
wind came up the RIA would be force,
to land at Montauk point and earl
Sunday a wireless message was sen
making that announcement. With tn
cape left behind, however, fortune fin
ally favored the dirigible and the win
veered to her favor. Headed straigh
for Montauk point she ran true and be
fore the tip end Of Long Island wa
reached it was decided to go on to Min
cola. with the goal almost In sigh
the RIA flew majestically above tn