South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-07-07
BIG DIRIGIBLE
To MAKE SECOND
OCEAN FLIGHT
Completes Trip of 1900
Miles in 1903 Hours.
From Scotland.
n United Press

b. United Press:
MINEOLA. L. T.. July THE
B-!ash cr'gible R-s4. &hici com
pIeted a ~ans-Atlan-te light yes
,erday. viii start on her re-urn trip
% S o.c,acr tomorrow morning. II
-arciticns are favo.oo'e.
More han eight hundred men
assisted in aiding the R-34 to ef-
feet a landing yesterday and they
remained on duty all night. in re-
lays OF $50.
During the forenoon the wind
freshened and the R-34 was hauled
down 81 her gondOlas rested about
nve feet from the ground. The
cable attached TO the concrete an
choraSes were relaxed and man
power substituted in holding her.
Nearly 500 were employed for this
Later some were relieved by three
heavy tractors.
Launching Of Ship.
The R-34 completed its landing
al Roosevelt field at 1888 yesterday
morning. following a fight officially
set at 3.13O miles in los hours. Il
minutes. Major Scott estimated,
however, that because of the de-
vioIs course followed she covered
fully $500 miles. making her aver
age speed 29b knots an hour
When the super Zeppelin arrived
here she had left only enough petrol
longer Her crew almost sleepless
for four and a half days. were weary
almost to the point OF exhaustion,
but happy at the successful COM
pletion OF their epoch-making trip
The return trip will be started Tues
day at a. m.
Crew Shows Strain.
Haggard unshaven, their eyes
bloodshOt from the long vigil and
lines OF care bitten deep into their
faces, Maj. G. r. Scott, the COM
mander, and his officers showed
plainly the anxious hours through
which they lived yesterday while
they were cruising over the far
reaches OF Canada and the bay of
Fundy. beset by fog, heavy winds
and terrific electrical storms.
1T seemed as though the atmos-
phere was haunted by 5000 devils. -
said Lieut.. Guy Harris. the meteor
illogical officer.
with the R-34 long overdue at
its destination, petrol supply run
ming low. and buffeted by strong
head winds. Maj. Scott decided yes
terday while over the bay OF Fundy
TO send a wireless call TO the Amer
lean navy department to be pre-
pared 10 give assistance if ii were
needed This was merely a meas
ure OF precaution and did not In
dictate disbursement While de-
stroyers and submarine chasers were
racing 10 her assistance. the R-34
was plugging steadily ahead on the
way 10 Mineola Once clear OF the
bay of F'undy the atmospheric
hoodoo which had beset the craft
from the time il took the air, was
gradually left in its wake.
Rugged Maine Coast.
The R-34 headed southwest out
across the Atlantic along the coast
of Maine. her nose pointed for Cape
cod with the United States destroy
or Bancroft hanging on her tail
and in constant wireless communal
cation with her. The destroyer
stuck close in the wake of the air
monster. running under forced
draft until Cape Cod was reached
and then the dirigible cut across
lots.
As she cruised over Riverhead
the dirigible came within range OF
the wireless telephone installed at
Roosevelt field ny the naval radio
service and perfect communication
was established. During the night
the wireless calls from the R-34
were received by the navy radio
station in New York
over the wireless phone ii was
explained 20 Mai Scott that a large
part OF the crew assembled 10 assist
him in landing had been sent TO
Montauk Point in motor trucks IN
the expectation that ne would tie up
there and that consequently prep
arations for receiving him had not
quite been completed
sighted at O'Clock.
The mammoth balloon was sight
ed in the distance about 2 o'lcock
and 8 minutes later was over Roos-
cvelt field She cruised about in a
circle at a 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 Prich-
ard jumped of with a parachute.
tie landed safely near headquarters
and smilingly hurried indoors be-
fore an ambulance that had been
rushed 20 the scene. could reach
him. This was nearly a half hour
before the dirigible came 10 anchor.
Lieut.. Hoyt. L. :. y. the ground
or 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.