Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-07-08
.R-34 STARTS HOME
EARLY WEDNESDAY
General Maitland Delays Return
Voyage Across Atlantic
for Fair Weather.
GREAT AIRCRAFT IN DANGER
Sudden Gust of Wind Tears
Dirigible From Mooring Rope
and Rends Her Side.
ii'v Associated rrcssl

MlNEoLA. y. y. July THE re-
turn cruise of the British dir!sIble
E-3i across the Atlantic ocean viii
not start until shortly after dawn on
Wednesday. The proposed plan to get
the giant airship AVA at i, A. on
tuesday was abandoned tonight after
local weather conditions. which in
Guided adverse bumpy winds. made i,
Impossible for the dirisiblc's crew to
overhaul the engines during tn. after
noon.
without such ovechauiing, 1t would
pe linprdctioa bic for the airship to
9t carbon accumulated il ;iic engines
during .he los hours in which tn.
trait was aiott on the unprecedented
Field mere on sunday morning
Tonight the k-3i swung at ease
above this living ground her grace
,mut m nuth' scarcely moving in the gen
tie breeze, illuminated by great search
ughts. which made her visible Ia
thousands Of spectators who had come
n"fe IN motor ears. trains and on foot
20 "atcn the early leaving.
Riding Mt Anchor in safety.
In contras, with conditions as dark
ness ieii on sunday, the dirigible was
not riding in danger tonight, ON sun
nay sne was suspended with her nose
pointed towards the ground and her
stern swinging at an altitude several
hundred feet higher. in jeopardy Of
being being dashed 70 pieces on Roosevelt
adversely agains; her broad surface.
Ihis situation does not prevail to-
night.
shortly before p. ~. the wind
having died down until the atmos-
bhere was listiess. stream OF water
descended from amidships AS this
ns!ias, s LEFT the craft. the R-a4 moved
From both sides. we'll forward. and
from the undersurface. also we'll for
ward. three wire cables were connected
stern vas left TO swing with wha,ever
Sreeze might stir during the night
mere was no possibility. Major Scott,
weu,S sne Gon;nander. n;sa sal said that the stern
III her massive form assumed at times
an almost perpendicular position IL
,0uch water ballast had b. mistake
oecn emptied from the s,ern. Toniyht
inf amoun; of water ballast let go was
equally distributed throughout the
length. e'o
Weather Conditions Not Good
Weather conditions will be unf,v-
orabie Tor return flight OF the R-s4
curing the next IS hours. according to
a weath report forwarded to the air
ment: The report said threatening
weather would remain over the sea
ana that head winds probably would
u ~
toundland.
The Ill luck against which the super
Ip neppexn mas so gallantly and success
morable voyage pursued her up vo
today, when sudden violent gust
Of wind tore her fror, her mooring
rope and rent a great hole in her en-
velope:
Rips Hole In Gas Bag.
The cross girder TO which the rope
was attached broke under the strain.
ripping "A hole six feet by three feet
in the gas bag The giant dirigihle
was saved from heing blown away by
500 hundred men who Seizc1 ropes
hanging from her sides and held her
down with great difficulty.
The accident. although not serious.
confirmed the determination of her Of
ficers to start for home at the earliest
possible moment. In the great shed at
her home port she is safe from the
most violent storm, while her n-air
mooring here exposes her to danger
from every strong wind.