The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1919-05-16
BRITISH FLIERS
MAY WIN HONOR.
Accident to U. S. DirigibIe Sc
we're Blow to Hopes for
Crossing Ocean First.
NC-1 AND 8 PREEN WINGS
May Hop Off in Few Hours.
"Blimp" but Slight, =
Damaged.

Atlantic City, N. j., May , The
accident to the America .rigible
C-6 at Newfoundland Z - night
makes 1t appear possiy :: that the
giant British dirigible r : may win
the honor of being thu st to cross
the Atlantic. Reports cached the
Pan American Aeror:S C. congress,
In session here, that thv R-34, which
is nearly three times the size of the
CO. probably will advance her
scheduled time Of departure and start
very soon. Arrangements for hous
ing her are, being made at Cape May.
NC-1 and NC-3 Try Again.
Trepassey, N. F.. May 16. The ma
val seaplanes NC-1 and NC-3 and
probably the NC-4 will make another
attempt this afternoon to take the
air on the second leg Of their trans
atlantic flight by way Of the Azores.
Mechanics overhauled the NC-4
which arrived here last night from
Halifax and it was hoped she would
be ready to join the other planes
when the start is made late today.
c-5 But Little Damaged.
st. Johns, N. r.. May 16.-The
United States naval dirigible C-5,
said to have been only slightly dam
aged, when she broke from her moor
ings and drifted to sea yesterday
afternoon, was reported in tow of the
destroyer Edwards on the way back
to port today.
"Taxied Down the Bay
Trepassey, N. f., May ia mod
erately strong wind was blowing here
today, threatening to make difficult
the departure of the three American
seaplanes for the Azores.
Commander John II. Towers ex-
pressed hope that the wind would
abate this afternoon so that the ali
squadron might start across the At
lantic before night. He fears that
further delay will exhaust the supply
of fuel carried by the destroyers
strung across the ocean from here to
the Azores and force them to leave
their stations.
If stiff wind is blowing late this
afternoon the seaplanes probably will
encounter the same trouble that pre-
vented the NC-1 and NC-3 from TAX
ing off last evening.
1--WE TAXED down the bay in good
shape and our engines were working
fine" said Commander Towers, "but
we struck rough water at the en-
trance to the harbor and would have
smashed up had we attempted to take
off into the wind"
The crew of the NC-4, which ar
rived from Halifax last night just as
her two sister ships were returning
from the false start, were examining
their plane this morning to determine
whether she was in shape to attempt
the start to the Azores this after.
noon.
Favorable to British.
ST. Johns, n. F., May 16.--Loca
conditions were favorable today fol
start of the projected transoceaniC
fight of the British airmen, but
pending weather reports from mid.
Atlantic, Hawker and Raynham with
held a definite decision to take the
air.
Lieut.. Little Risked Life.
st. Johns, n. F., May 16.-The Bri-
ish cargo steamship War Nepigon
was standing by the wreck of the
United States naval dirigible C-5
eighty-five miles at sea, awaiting the
arrival of rescue vessels, according ~
advices received at American naval
headquarters today. The destroyer
Edwards was expected to return mere
today with what is left of the bal
loon.
Finding of the runaway balloon SO
close to shore led aviation officers to
believe either the craft had ascended
to great height and burst when tho
air pressure against it's sides de-
creased, or the pull on the ruip cord
which Lieut.. Charles C. Little risked
his life to operate was sufficient, al
though the cord broke in his hand
to start det1ation of the gas pag.
The Edwards reported by wireless
to the cruiser Chicago, headquarters
of the temporary American aviation
base, that she had picked up the bal
loon eighty-five miles at sea where
the British cargo steamship War
Nepigon was standing py awaiting
the arrival of rescue vessels.
The War Nepigon's captain advised
the Chicago he sighted the dirlglble
on the water last night while mis-
vessel was outward bound for Brit
ish port.