Fulton County tribune. (Wauseon, Ohio) 1883-1925, 1919-07-11
|R-34 ARRIVES AT
MINEOLA FIELD
DirigibIe, All but Out of Gas
Lands on American
Soil.
DENSE FOG CAUSES DELAY
Big "B!:mr" Was Under Perfect Con
troll When She Hovered Over
Roosevelt FieId-Anchored by
American Soldiers in
Five Minutes.

Mineola, L. L, July 7.-Anothef
aerial triumph was recorded when the
huge British dirigible R-34, the first
lighter-than-air machine to fly across
the Atlantic ocean, rounded out its
voyage FROM Europe to America and
landed at Roosevelt field here.
After being in the air exactly 10S
hours and u minutes from the time
it left East Fortune, Scotland on the
history making air trip. it descended
to the ground at Mineola without mis-
hap, to the vociferous cheers of thou
sands.
Travelled 5000 Miles.
The distance travelled by the
''blimp," the largest airship in the
world, is computed at 1884 miles,
$500 from England to Trinity bay and
1914 from there to Mineola. When
the R-34 did arrive here it had gaso-
line enough to carry it only 80 miles
farther, and, according to the officers
of the airship. if this had been ex-
hausted the trip might have ended
disastrously.
When it started on the special jour-
ney at 8 :4S p. m. (New York time),
Tuesday last, it had full supply.
which was considered ample to take
it back on return trip.
Almost Out of Gas.
An aimless cruise through dense
cloudbanks over Newfoundland and
Nova Scotia, however, depleted this
supply. which became so low that it
was feared the gigantic bag would not
be able to reach Mineola. but would
have to land at Montauk Point.
That the commander and officers of
the R-34 were apprehensive was indi-
Gated by the fact that a wireless mes
sage was flashed ashore requesting
that the United States navy send out
destroyers to take it in tow if il
proved necessary. Fortunately it die
| not require assistance and managed
to reach its goal without the slight
est mishap.
If the weather permits, the. R-34
may start on its return flight across
the Atlantic on Tuesday, according t.
an unofficial statement made - Brig
Gen. C. T. Menocher. in charge of the
air service of the United States army
Tentative plans, as outlined by Gen
eral Menocher, call for visits to New
York city, Philadelphia and possibly
Washington, when the big dirigibl;
will circle over. these cities for al
hour or more.
Ship Under Perfect Control.
The ''blimp" was under perfect con
troll when she lowered over Mineols
and started to descend to American
soil. 1t came down as gracefully a
a bird on the wing and settled a
snugly as could be in the center o
the spacious aviation field.
AS the great dirigible hove int
view hundreds of American soldier
and sailors who had been special.
! drilled for the task made ready +
secure it Immediately it touched ter
ra frma. The first rope ancho
thrown overheard was seized by g
men, who fastened it to the concret
piling, and the historic voyage of tn
huge airship was at an end.
Five other anchors were throws
over and made fast to the other moor
ing blocks.
When the R-34 had been secure
Gen. Edward NJ Maitland of the Brit
ish royal air force. the official oh
server, and his companions steppe
to the ground. All were dishevele
and on the verge of collapse. none 0
them having had more than two Q
three hours sleep since the voyag
began.
Trip "Rather Sweet"
The British officers of the big dirie
ible ran true to form when attempt
were made to interview them upo
their historic flight They were ez
tremely reticent but one of them de-
clared that the trip was uneventfu
and rather sweet"
Considerable praise was heard q
the field of the expert manner j
which the American soldiers and sal
ors secured the cumbersome dirigibl
to its moorings when it landed. The
had been drilled in their work, but
was not expected that they could hav
secured the craft in five minutes, /;
they did.