New-York tribune., 1919-07-09
officers Are Anxious to
Get Away, as Shifting
Gusts Threaten to Tear
Airship From Moorings
500 Men Struggle
All Day at Ropes
Veterans at Camps, just
Back From Front, Are
Rushed to MineOla to
Help Hold Huge Craft

A combination OF circumstances Has
eompelled another twenty-four hour
a,lay in the departure of the British
super-dirigible R-34 on its return
flirht from Mineola across the Allan
lie Ocean to East Fortune, Scotland.
Across the middle stretches OF the
Atlantic a violent easterly gale was
reported still in progress. and closer
examination of the ships engines re-
v,aled that one Of them needed very
extensive repairs. This is the engine
IN the wing gondola on the port side Of
,he ship. which was repaired with
copper sheet cemented with chewing
cum during the westward flight.
These two conditions are giving
Brieadier General f. NJ. Maitland and
Major Scott. commander of the ship,
grave concern.
=. Wind Gusts Assai1 Airship
Meanwhile the giant airship, eager
TO return to its native element, waged
an unending war with the 500 soldiers
and sailors who are struggling to hold
il on the ground. In this fight the
huge craft was aided by the treacher-
Gus wind that swept across Hampstead
Plains in fitful gusts, and which at
times reached q velocity Of twenty
ave miles an hour
At 6 O'Clock last night the wind veered
from the north-northeast to the south
east with such rapidity that the R-S4
vas almost torn from her moorings.
The 500 men. adding their combined
weight to the six mooring ropes, strug-
gled furiously for five minutes ana
snally succeeded in getting the ships
hose into the wind. A serious accident
vas svcrted by the narrowest of mar
gins.
Although Lieutenant Colonel Freder-
lex ". Lucas, Of the British Air Min
istry. the officer in charge OF landing
rAryngements. stated that the depart
Srs Of the ship would be delayed until
o'clock Thursday morning, the big
airship will start on its return flight
before that hour should weather condi-
tons change IN the mean time.
All the officers concerned with the
nfety Of the R-3i are in state Of
aervous anxiety. The constant battle
. hold ;ae ship to earth is beginning
to tell upon them, and it is for this
reason that the departure will be made
n the earliest possible moment.
Craft Ready for Flight
Everything is practically ready and
pe could get away with two or three
hours notice." said Colonel Lucas last
night, "but our start for home will
probably not be made until about
selock Thursday morning. The ship is
ready for the start home, or nearly So
except for the engine repairs, which
could be made just as we'll at sea as
ssre, but weather conditions are un-
favorable We have been notified that
We msy expect head winds most of the
TIP home il we start now, so We have
decided TO wait for better flying con-
titions. We have enough fuel or
bard 70 carry us home"
Brigad er General +. ". Maitland
bead OF Great Britain's airship ser
nee and passenger on the k-34, said
While we would like TO stay in the
United States for a month or more, il
really necessary that we return tc
England as soon as possible. The
reason is that there is no hangar here
N which 10 house the sirship. She IL
exposed on an open plain, and is ir
imminent danger Of being broken w
y gales or storms"
Experts Study Weather
Lieutenant Harris, the rneteorologi
a. expert Of the airship. and ". r
wszg, the United States weather ex
PER- from Washington. were in con
naaous conference yesterday collstins
We various weather reports from thu
Atlantic Ocean.
ine latter stated that the gust,
.'nos which blew across the field yes
erosy ranged from fifteen 20 twenty
siies an hour. and a. times approached
2loci,y Of twenty-five miles al
.sar~ He said these winds extended
sn altitude Of 5000 feet, according
the 'ttst balloons which were sen
- iFom the field az regular intervals
Aid Rushed Prom Camps
Ihs struggle 70 hold the airship q
ground has been particularly
eevy since o'clock yesterday morn
- Repeated calls for additional mel