The Covington leader. (Covington, Tenn.) 18??-current, 1919-07-10

a
at height of about 1000 feet until
word was telephoned that everything
was in readiness for the landing
While the R-34 was circling the
field at a great height Mai. Pritch-
ard jumped off with a parachute. He
landed safely near headquarters and
smiingly hurried indoors before an
ambulance that had been rushed to
the scene could reach him. This was
nearly a half hour before the dirigible
came to anchor.
Lieut.. Hoyt, U. S. n, the ground
officer, had assembled on the field a
force of more than 500 soldiers and
sailors ready for instant action as the
R-34 circled lower and lower When
she. was only 200 feet above the
ground a huge hawser was let go
from under her nose. British non
commissioned officers, with American
soldiers and sailors, shouted gleefully
as they seized the ropes and hung on.
The water ballast was dropped from
the forward end of the dirigible and
her nose tipped. Then she began
to descend. Five more guide lines
were dropped and landing parties
grasped them as the water ballast
was dropped from the stern. In both
operations, at bow and stern, the
landing crews were drenched by the
cascading water Maj. Scott directed
all the dttails of the landing and it
was carried out as smoothly as
though the inexperienced landing
crew had been anchoring dirigibles
all their lives.
The haWsers were attached to con-
crete blocks, two at each end and one
at either side in the center. When
the great ship was safely anchored all
the ropes except the one at her nose
were cut loose SO she could swing
with the wind like a ship at anchor
The landing crews will stand by all
through the night to hold her safe.
The first man to step ashore" was
Maj. Scott. He obviously was tired
out but happy On his face was sew
eral days growth of beard, and he
showed plainly the strain he had
been under He wore the regulation
air costume. Short and chunky and
typically British, the military skip
per of the huge airship shook hands
with Gen. Lionel E. 0. Charlton,
British air attache in the United
States, who was waiting for him.
The greeting was as typically Eng
lish as the appearance of the COM
mander. There was no demonstration
and the two officers met as casually
as though the trip had been across
the English Channel.
Brig. Gen. E. M. Maitland, D.S.0.,
official observer for the British air
ministry, was the next to step out
of the car. He looked fresher than
his companions, for he had no duties
to perform on the way across except
to keep the ships log. He said he had
slept well and had taken time to
shave, He wore an officers cap,
top coat, wooden breeches and felt
shoes. His only regret seemed to be
that the R34 "had caused anxiety"
by sending out the wireless call say
ing assistance might be needed.
Lieut.-Com. Zachary LansdowrS2,
the American observer on board the
R-34, looked almost as haggard as
Maj. Scott, whom he had assisted all
the way across. The same was true
of the other five officers and the 20
men of the crew.
The men of the R-34 were greeted
by Gen. Charlton, Lieut.-Col Freder-
lex W. Lucas and Maj. Hugh Fuller,
representing the British government,
and by Rear Admiral Glennon and
Maj,-Gen. Menoher, representing tbs
American navy and war departments,
as well as by Lieut.. L. B. Clarke, U.
S. NJ, designated to receive TIE log
of the trip.
"Alls well that ends well,' was
the greeting of Admiral Glennon be-
fore he read an official message Of
welcome from Secretary of the Navy
Daniels welcoming the R-34 to the
United States and extending warm
est congratulations upon her wonder
full achievement.
All the air voyagers were in excel
lent physical condition except that
they were very tired. They suffered
no hardships except lack of sleep
There was plenty of food and water
and it was not necessary to reduce
the ration Of either notwithstanding
the unexpected long VOYAGE.