New-York tribune., 1919-07-14

clouds northeast of this village and,
after circlng the flying field thrcs
times. Slided gently to the ground and
ten minutes later was housed in the
dirigible shed.
Soon after daybreak 400 men sta
toned ut the airdrome were aroused
from their sleep 20 prepare for the
landing OF the voyager. Lookouts took
positions in towers and wireless op-
orators prepared TO pick up messages
from the airship. The sun rose bright,
but soon afterward was obscurcd by
clouds. There was no wind and those
on watch were confident that the diri-
gible would arrive on time.
Landing Deity Accomplished
Shouts from those on the field
greeted the first sight of the long, gray
body low on the horizon. As the r 81
approached the field she dropped from
height of 5000 feet to 1000 feet.
The men who were to aid the airship
in landing were ordered to their posi-
tions and waited silently as the ship
circled the field, dropping lower and
lower.
When Major G.. II. Scott, her COM
into position 80. the landing the water
ballast was thrown overheard to steady
her and rope was thrown from the
bow. The rope was grasped by eager
hands and the giant ship moved gently
across the field to the shed, where the
delicate operation of berthing her was
completed quickly without accident.
military band stationed on the field
played "Thc Call of Duty" as the air
ship began to settle. and then changed
to the strains of See, the Conquering
Hero Comes" AS the ship was warped
into the shed the band played Keep
the Home Fires Burning" The crowd
was too intent in watching the ship to
notice the music, while the whrr of
the propellers made it inaudible to the
men in the R-34.
The tired, unshaven. but smiling men
who composed her crew quickly climbed
from the gondola and were greeted
warmly and with many slaps on the
back by the officers and soldiers gath
cred on the field.
First Demand Is Breakfast
The voyage home has been without
incident" said Major Scott. I'VE want
breakfast.'
After breakfast and while enjoying
the belated luxury of his little black
pipe, smoking not being permitted on
the airship, Major Scott told the story
of the return flight.
I'VE estimated we would make it in
from seventy to eighty hours he said.
I'VE made it in seventy-fvc. When we
left America we had strong wind be-
hind us and we covered the first 500
miles in about eight hours. When we
circled over New York we could plainly
see the crowds on Broadway waving to
us as we passed. but we could not hear
them because OF the noise OF the en-
gines.
South of Newfoundland we encoun-
tered head winds, and our progress
from then on was slower. We travelled
at an average height of from 5000 to
5000 feet, and found much low clouds
and fog. Once we saw nothing but fog
for twenty-four hours.
I'VE struck ireland at Clifden and
made good progress from there, al
though our steering engine broke down
Saturday morning. We started with
1900 gallons Of gasolene and had 1000
left.
Bigger Ships Forecast
"We are naturally pleased with the
trip. all of us. | expect important
changes in the size and speed of fu-
ture airships, big ships that viii travel
seventy to eighty miles an hour and
powerful enough to crawl through any
thing"
This has been great trip" said
Colonel W. n Hensley, jr., of the
United States Army Air Service, as he
climbed out OF the car and SHOOK,
hands with the British officers 1--WE
were lost one whole day because the
fog was so thick We could not get a
shot at the sun, moon, stars or horizon.
but we worked out Of it and struck the
Irish coast. We passed over the Isle
OF Nan about o'clock this morning
and then, mounting above the clouds,
witnessed a most beautiful sight.
Above was the bright moon; below
soft fleecy clouds touched with all the
colors OF the rainbow, and far down
below occasionally could be seen the
dark, deep blue Of the sea. But we
did not have time TO admire the beauty
of the scene.
We soon passed over Liverpool and
then other cities and towns, and here
We are. We suffered no hardships and
no Inconvenlences except that we had
no hot water for shaving. Our eggs
we're cooked in the exhaust of the en-
-gines and we had plenty Of other food
and coffee, tea and cocoa to drink Nc
one suffered from seasickncss and
while the sea below was tossed bv q
forty mile gale, NC were moving alona
in comfort on an even keel.
Regular Service Predicted
Regular airship service between
Europe and America is bound tc
corie, and SOON"
The members OF the crew were earer.
iy surrounded by friends who wcre
waiting at the airdrolnc. George Gra.
ham, the chief engineer. proudly car.
red his pet kitten. which was born
at tass Fortune. The kitten sufrercf
no inconvenience during the trip anc
manifested It's delight on reachine
iano again by jumping on the backs OF
sts masters friends
We were never out OF touch with
the world, although we met LOT y,
tog' sad Lieutenant r. Ii. Durrant
ne wireless officer. at was hot in New
aork' cold in the middle Atlantic, and
YOU see what It IS here. We signallet
Two ships, the Cumberland and one go
ing - Mexico. When they asked u,
%ho we were VIC said that we were 8
1britisn airship from New York K
Engiand- Their wireless operators cx
pfessed surprise. They had been a
hea some time and did not know abou,
Maitland Discusses Voyage
Brigadier General +. NJ. Maitland
tna preventative Of the Air Ministr,
on the R-$4. who kept the log Of ths
voyage, said:
We were sent by the Air Ministr,