The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1919-07-02
MAI. SCOTT REPORTED
THAT ALL WAS WELL
Start of the Great Machine
Was Not Attended by Ger
emony, and Not Many
People Gathered to See
the Crew Off on Their
Hazardous Voyage - Silk
American Flag Presented.

London, July 2.-The British dirigible
R-34, which left East Fortune, Scotland,
at las o'clock, Greenwich time, this
morning on her attempt to fly across the
Atlantic, had reached So degrees, so min
utes north latitude, Is degrees, so min.
utes west longitude at 2 o'clock, Green
wch time, this afternoon 40 o'clock
New York timel.
Major Scott, the commander in his
wireless dispatch, said that the dirigible
at that time was making 80 knots an
hour in a thick fog. He added that all
was well.
The position of the R34 at II o'clock,
Greenwich time, was approximately 800
miles west of Penzance, England, indi-
eating the big airship had travelled in a
southwesterly direction along the coast
of Ireland since her previous report at
o'clock, Greenwich time, when she was
at 55 degrees, so minutes north latitude
and 10 degrees, so minutes, west longi-
tude.
The mail carried by the R-34 includes
letter from King George to President
Wilson.
East Fortune, Scotland July tBy the
Associated Pressl The British dirigible
R-34 started on her long .heraIded trip to
America this morning with little more
ceremony than that which attended the
departure of dirigibles for their monot-
onous North sea patrol during the war
Shortly before the first streaks OF
dawn broke over the plains near here
the great airship was quietly taken out
of its airdrome and turned around until
her nose was pointed straight west The
command Hands off" was given and the
huge envelope quickly rose Before the
height of 800 feet was reached she was
lost to view in the mist
The whirr of the propelIers could be
heard for several minutes after the air,
ship went out of sight.
The weather reports indicate that the
R.34 will meet unsettled conditions, with
variable winds, until she is some distance
out into the Atlantic. Then it is ex
pected she will have following winds
which will assist her.
Not more than score of people mo
tored the 2l miles from Edinburgh to ths
airdrome here to witness the start, but
among them was one American womar
who presented a silk American flag tC
Lieutenant Commander Zachary Lans
downe, American flight commander, iust
before he stepped into the gondola.
Aside from these few persons the only
spectators were the 300 men and l6t
women stationed at the airdrome They
had been called out at 2 a. m. by tn,
usual landing party bugle, and th'
drowsiness of many of them indicated
that the start of this historic trip hat
not kept them awake in the earlier hour
Of the night. They took their accus
toned place at the guy ropes and bars a
the lower parts of the gondolas. Tn
great airship then was released, excep
for her human anchors and to test he
lifting powers, loaded as she was witt
more petrol than ever previously ha'
been in her tanks, the men at the gon
dolas were ordered to release their hold
The ship quickly rose and just a
quickly the order was given to pull be
down After this test the men and WON
en- holding the guy ropes slowly starte
tOWdIu tHe opeH uooIs VI tHe diGuFOIHt
She was towed to point about 30
yards from the airdrome, and after bein
turned around, all five of her powerful
motors we're started humming.
Then the "hands off" huge was sound
ed, the airship started to rise, her pro
pellers began to spin and almost befor
the cheering had ceased, the great file
had disappeared in the mist.