The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-07-09
A MONSTER SHIP
Description of R-84 Is Given to
the Associated Press.
Visitors Are Not Allowed To
Inspect Dirigible
Elicit Il AGAIN. pnHTpnNrn
FLIGHT IS AGAIN POSTPONED
VIII Try To Return to Eng
land Tomorrow Morning.
-Four Cars Suspended From Bag
Exhaust Cooks Food.

MineOla, n. Y, July again to-
day unfavorable winds from the east
prevented the giant dirigible from
starting on her return trip to England.
British officers in charge of the R-34,
announced that there was no prospect
that the big airship would get away
before dawn tomorrow. 1t was made
clear. however. that the start would
{ be made az daybreak tomorrow, or
Friday. for at that hour the maximum
amount Of gas could be taken on in
the bags The airship is ready to
sail in the air to the east at any time
that the commander, Maj G. H. Scott,
decides that weather reports presage
q successful return voyage. In the
face OF reports of winds in the east.
a condition unusual at sea at this time
Of year. Major Scott and his navigat-
. ing officers considered 1t less of a
{ hazard TO remain in the open at
Roosevelt field than to risk disaster
IN high wind over the Atlantic.
Crew Has Night Off.
The crew Of the R-s4 enjoyed a night
off last night. but the six hundred men
Of the army and navy aviation units
were held in nearby barracks to be
called in ease the big bag became. uu-
mann gable. Scarcely any Wind was
blowing early today. and It was pre-
dicted all danger OF disaster from
winds had passed Altho Major Scott
at any time the weather reports were
favorable. mechanics were busy again
today inspecting the ships engines and
other machinery already in perfect
condition.
At a distance Of some 200 yards the
( limit TO which the visitors to Roosevelt
neld are held by the military police
ithe Immense airship presents innumer-
fable possibilities, and many explana-
tions of the probable interior mechan-
sism Of the monster craft have been
advanced.
4 Officers of the United States army
land the navy sections have been per-
mitted 10 inspect the ship and Capt
tSamuel I. Moore OF the balloon sec
suon OF the army today gave to the As
sociated Press representative de-
gscription OF the first lighter than air
ship to cross the Atlantic.
Big Ship $50 Feet Long.
over all the R-34 is ESQ feet long
with four cars or gOndolas suspended
From the cigar-shaped envelope. The
Forward gOndola is occupied by the
navigator and pilots and from it all
parts OF the ship are controlled by
.means of speaking tubes and bell sig
anals. Here also is the mechanism for
controlling the water ballast tanks.
NJ AAb AHB pliDf wheels IN LnlS FORWARD
scar, the front wheel controls the rIid-
der, while the side wheel controls the
elevator planes. This car also con-
ftains the navigator's plotting tahe,
where he makes his charts and here
also are his navigating instruments.
In the rear of the forward gondola
is the wireless room which also holds
zone Of the ships engines. From the
navigator's car a ladder Of aluminium
runs to the ship proper above. This
ladder is enclosed and to the observer
at a distance IL resembles a tube. The
two side EondOlas each contain an
engine and are only large enough for
-go men to work. The rear car holds
fwO engines
While the Eondolas can be seen by