New-York tribune., 1919-07-04

This they pitched in a field near the
aviation grounds, and prepared to pass
the night under canvas.
Throughout yesterday big kite bal
loon was anchored at an altitude of
about 300 feet. She will act as a guide
balloon to the dirigible, and, should the
latter arrive during the night, the OBJ
servers in the kite balloon will fire
series OF Vercy lights to guide the
R-34 to her moorings.
The officers and men forming the
landing parties went through the lanG-
ing drills again yesterday. Each man
was thoroughly instructed in his du-
from the British Royal Air Force sen.
over especially to superintend the
handling of the big ship.
The landing crews consist of 500
army officers and men and $50 naval
officers and men. These are the men
who will handle the moorng ropes of
the airship and anchor her to the giant
concrete anchornges that have been
installed in Roosevelt Field.
How Ship Will Be Moored
AS soon as it is announced that the
R-34 is in the vicinity Of the station
their stations about the field. Their
positions will depend upon the wind
and weather at the time. If there is
strong wind blowing the airship will
drop a drag rope 400 feet long as soon
as she is in a good position over the
field. This will be seized by every
available man who can lay hold of it,
and it will then be fastened to one of
the concrete piers.
AS soon as this is done the ship will
be gradually hauled nearer to earth,
although in the event of very severe
wind she may remain at an altitude of
300 feet Other ropes then will be
lowered and the ship made fast to two
other concrete anchors.
If the weather is perfect, with but
little or no wind. the ship will assume
a position over the station at an alti-
tude of 100 feet before she lets out her
landing ropes. These will in turn be
seized by the landing crews and the
ship made secure to six of the con-
crete anchors. She will then be drawn
down to within fifty feet Of the ground.
The naval officers who officially will
attend the arrival of the R-34 were an
nounced at headquarters of the Third
Naval District yesterday. They are as
follows: Rear Admiral James H. G.
Glennon, commandant Of the Third
Naval District, and his aide, Lieuten-
ant Commander Thomas B. Hasler
Captain Powers Symineton, chief of
staff for the district; Captain r. T.
Craven, director of naval aviation a:
Washington; Lieutenant D. A. Mount.
aide for aviation, Third Naval District.
and Commander l.. H. Maxfeld, naval
aviation, Washington.
Immediately after the R-34 has been
made fast to her anchorage the crew
will descend. They will then be taken
to the officers mess hall, where a
chicken dinner will be waiting them
Secretary Baker and Secretary DAN
iels, as well as many prominent army
and navy officers, have been invited to
attend this dinner.
American soldiers and sailors will
then start on the work of refuelling,
ments and overhauling the machinery
of the airship. Although it is posi-
bic that the R-34 may return after
only few hours stay, the general
belief expressed at the field yesterday
was that she would stay twelve hours
at least.
During the last week 5000 tanks of
hydrogen gas, each containing 200
cubic feet, have been accumulated at
NOOSeVeIC lclO. lneSe Will De uSeQ TO
refill the ballonets Of the dirigible if
necessary.
The k-34 is expected to arrive at
the field from the east. If she comes
in between 8 o'clock in the morning
and S o'clock in the afternoon, and the
day is hot, she will not attempt land
ing until the evening. This will be
done to eliminate the possibility of an
explosion due to the heat. In that case
the airship would cruise over New
York City and vicinity until the even
ing.
The United States naval non-rigid
dirigible ca, under command of Lieu
tenant Commander George H. Carpen-
ter, few from the Rockaway Air Sta
tion yesterday afternoon, and after
circling Roosevelt Field made COM
plete circuit of Long Island.
The flight was undertaken for the pur-
pose of testing out the wireless tele-
graph, wireless telephone and direction
finding apparatus installed on the
blimp, with the three wireless stations
erected on the flying fields on Hemp
stead Plains. The test was completely
successful from every point of view
it was announced.