The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1919-07-12
Homeward Voyage of R-34
Begins Wednesday. Unfavor-
able Weather Conditions
DETER START-ENGINES :.
TO BE OvERHAULED
Big British Dirigible Seen By
Thousands of Visitors at
Roosevelt Flying Field.

Mineola, y. Y. July THE return
cruise Of the British dirigible R-34
across the Atlantic Ocean Will not
start until shortly after dawn on
Wednesday. The proposed plan to get
the giant airshfp away at . a. M on
Tuesday was abandoned tonight after
local weather conditions which in
cluded adverse, bumpy winds made it
impossible for the dirigible's crew to
overhaul the engines during the al
ternoon. Without such overhauling 1t
would be impracticable for the ar
ship to take off on her venture. as
quantities of carbon accumulated IN
the engines during the 10S hours in
which the craft was aloft on the un-
preeedented journey which ended al
Roosevelt Field here Sunday morning.
Tonight the R-34 swung at ease
above this flying ground, her grace
fu- hulk, scarcely moving. in the
gentle breeze, Illuminated by great
searchlights, which made her visible
TO thousands of spectators who had
come here in motor cars. trains and on
foot to watch the early leaving.
IN contrast with conditions as the
darkness fell on Sunday, the dirigible
was not riding in danger tonight. on
Sunday she was suspended with her
tose pointed towards the ground and
her stern swinging at an altitude
several hundred feet higher, in jeop-
ardy of being dashed 70 pieces on
Roosevelt Field. This situation does
not prevail tonight.
Shortly before D. ~. the wind hav-
ing died down until the atmosphere
was listless, a stream of water de-
scended from ami6ship. AS this bal
last left the craft, the R-34 moved
upward Slowly.
From both sides we'll forward and
from the under surface, also we'll for
ward, three cables were connected
with anchcrages on the ground. The
lystern was lett 70 swing with what
ever breeze might stir during the
night. There was no possibility, Maj.
G. H. Scott, the commander, said, that
the stern would rise, as 1t did Sun-
day night, until her massive form as
sumed at times an almost perpendica-
lar position. 1t was explained that
on Sunday too much water ballast
had by mistake been emptied from the
stern. Tonight the amount OF water
ballast let go was equally distributed
throughout the length.
With the ship aloft. the balloon
company doughboys, veterans Of the
American expeditionary force, found
their frts relief for many hours OF
strain and excitement. In crews Of
25 each, ten crews throughout the
day had by their own strength ken
the dirigibie from escaping.
The rising sun today had expanded
the hydrogen with which the big Ship
This expansion added eight IONS 10
the ships lifting capa> ity and
wrenched out the cross girder to
which the anchorage ropes were at
tacned The breaking Of the girder
tore a hole about four feet square in
the outer envelope Of the dirig!ble
but this has been repaired.
At times during the day ground
crews swinging to hand lines from
l!lS SHIP "eiS lIllSo /! OIi lIlSi lcCl
as the wind blew the ship about. At
no time, however, did the R-34 get
beyond the control Of her human an
chors.
Maj. G. E. NJ. Prichard, executive
officer of the -3+,s crew, discussing,
the difficulties in keeping the ship
from injury said:
We did not come anyway near los
ing the snip and allow me to say that
it would have been all right if we had
lost it. When we planned TO come
here the British government asked
the United States to build shed in
which TO house the ship during hey
stay in this country This the United
States government refused to do.
When the British government learned
this. it said something equivalent to
all right
Feeling that the voyage was well
worth the risk, that it would tend TO
increase the friendship between the
people Of the United States and Eng
land. that it would be we'll worth the
cost if the ship were lost, the British
government authorized the flight"
Tonight in the event Of any emer-
gency which might require their pre-
sence 800 men in khaki were held in
reserve. The ship itself remained
securely anchored and only man or
two were at the hand ropes. But IL
the camp buildings the balloon boys
were prepared 10 come running TO the
rescue should an alarm be sounded.
This alarm onsists Of series OF sirens
at Mitchell and HaZclilufst fields.
Brig. Gen. Lionel Charlton Rritish
attache in the United Sttaes, this af-
ternoon conducted Mrs Francis IS
Sayrc and Mrs. William G. McAdoo
daughters Of President Wilson and
Airs. Archie Miller wife OF Colonel
Miller. commandant of HaZcihurst
field, through the R-34
No other visitors We're allowed on
the dirigib!e because the swaying Of
the giant craft in the wind made it
impra cticable and Maj. G. r Scott.
the commander. was anxious that
there should be as little Interference
I, ~,