Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-07-12
A|RSH|P $50 MILES
OFF |RELAND'S COAST
R-34 Approaches Port on Re-
turn Voyage From Mineola
to Scotland
ONE OF ENGINES IS USELESS
BY the Associated Press

Vhuph, July lE.-IH he DTltlSH UlTlkI >
Bile R-34, on her return fight from the
United States, was approximately 800
miles west Of the Irish coast at II n. m. !,
Greenwich meridian time today q a. m.
New York time), according to a message
received by the wireless press.
Her position at that hour was given
as 81 degrees 55 minutes north latitude
and 10 degrees 30 minutes west longi
tude.
Because of, adverse weather condi.
tions in Scotland, the R-34 has been
advised by the air ministry to land at
Pulham, Norfolk. The airship is ex
pected there before noon tomorrow. A
big gale is. reported blowing over Scot
land and the strong wind, it is said.
would make dangerous the entrance of
the R-34 into her shed at East Fortune.
There is a dirigible shed at Pulham.
The position of the R34 ut @ 80
o'clock a. M, Greenwich mean time
q 80 o'clock New York time) was 50
degrees Is minutes north latitude, and
% degrees west. The speed of the air
ship was at that time 35 knots an hour.
At 2 o'clock this morning. Greenwich
mean time 90 p. m. New York time) I,
the r "a reported that her position was
81 degrees and 81 minutes north lati-
tude and 30 degrees west longitude. At
that time the craft was making forty
knots an hour.
One Engine Breaks Down
The air ministry previously had re-
ccived the following report from Ponta
Delgada, Azores:
"The R-34 at s 10 p. m. Greenwich
mean time "a 10 p. NJ. Philadelphia
time) is 1000 feet above the clouds and,
despite a disabled engine, Is going
strong. We are just about to descend
to look at the sea. All WE'LL
One of the airship's engines has com
pletely broken down. The message said
it was proposed to land at East Fortune,
Scotland, whence the airship started on
her fight to America.
When the R-34 was moored at Roose-
welt Field at Mineola Lieutenant Shot
ter, her engineer officer, pointed out in
his description of the dirigible that her
speed or power would not be affected
by the disabling of one or two Of her
five engines. The loss of the power of
one or two of her motive units would
lessen her chances on weathering a
heavy head on wind, he pointed out, but
would not decrease her speed in favor
able winds, because at least two of the
five moters were intended to be held
constantly in reserve.
R.34 Not Disabled
1--WE will not use more than three
of the five motors on our return trip"
said Lieutenant Shotter. land a great
part of the time we will probably be
using only two. leaving the others in
reserve for probable accidents. If an
accident happens to one motor while it
is running we will shut it down to
make repairs and use one of the re =
serve engines. This will not affect our
speed or power at all. Although we
may use only two or three of the mo
tors simultaneously, if everything goes
well with all the motors we will rotate
the burden Of furnishing the motive
power so that the motors may be kept
in the best possible condition. Per-
manent injury to one or two, or even
three, would not disable the R-34. and
she would still be able to make about
forty miles an hour in still air, with n
proportionate increase with winds at
her tall
The motors are of the Sunbeam
Maori make, of about 275 horsepower
each, and are distributed among the
FIVE gondolas. All are connected to the
main fuel system. Spare parts for the
motors and spare propellers are carried,
so the repairs may be made in the air.
Two extra engineer officers, with special
experience in making quick repairs,
were taken on at Mineola for the return
trip, so that the motive power of the
dirisible could be kept in even better
shape than on the voyage from East
Fortune to this country.
Several ships going into New York
yesterday reported having seen the II "a
at sea. The transport Toloa, from
Brest, sighted the dirigible about )
o'clock on Thursday morning off Nan
tucket Light. Officers said that the
R-34 appeared to be making about sixty
miles an hour. The Saxouta also re
ported having seen her at about the
same spot. The dirigibe was flying
at about 500 feet. In response to sig :
nails she reported "all's WELL" The
passengers on the Saxonia were called
out to see her and drank toasts to her
with champagne. They were outside the
three mile zone.