New-York tribune., 1919-07-06

rsSched their climax last night, when
Halifax received the following wire
less, relayed from St. John, New
Brunswick:
"Rush help. Making for Boston
from Bay of Fundy at twenty-three
Knots. Come quickly. Gasolene CIV
ling out. Send ship
Earlier in the evening Washington
picked up a disjointed message which
asked if the dirigiblc could land at
6 schatham, Mass.
- The message mentioned the need Of
Hydrogen, which leads naval officials to
believe that the dirigible has been in
jured in some way by the dirty weather
she has encountered. Sufficient gas was
carried in her balloonets to keep her
bueyant for two weeks, unless some
leak occurred. The airship had been
expected to fly back to England without
recharging.
,aThe message was also picked up by
the wireless at Roosevelt Field, Min
cola. where the R-34 was expected to
land. Lieutenant Colonel Frederick W.
Lucas, of the British air service, i'm
nnediately sent reply that the field at
Chatham was far too small for the
great dirigible to alight there and
urged Commander Scott Of the airship
to try for Montauk Point.
There the field is amply large and
there are also supplies Of hydrogen and
gssolene. In anticipation of favor
able reply to the message, 200 mechan-
les were ordered to make ready for in
slant departure for Montauk.
The R-34's supply of gasolene is run
ming low and her wireless is asking re-
peatedly for aid. Ships Of three navies
are searching for her, but up to
late hour last night none had reported
establishing contact.
Buffeted by violent headwinds and
for time yesterday afternoon bat
tered and tossed about by one of the
most violent thunderstorms that has
struck :he New brunswick coast this
year. the last twenty-four hours of
the R-34's flight have been a continual
battle.
All yesterday the great airship
clamored repeatedly and more and
more urgently fos aid Continual as
surances that aid was on the way as
fast as destroyer engines could drive
il have not been acknowledged by the
dirigible.
A message which came through
10 the wireless station at Washing
ton at 7:47 last night was weak and
fragmentary apparently because her
sending apparatus was also breaking
down. 1t read:
a" gasolene .R-34
wishes to land at Chatham. Can you
supply hydrogen and gallons
ensolene early tomorrow mornings"
All Yesterday while fighting her way
down the storm whipped Bay of Fundy
the wireless of the R-34 clamored more
and more importunately for assistance
In response to the calls, caught by eager
listeners at wireless stations all along
the coast. Britain, France and America
have sent vessels to her assistance.
The converted yacht Saltilla headed
OF. from Cross Island, Maine, at the
first cry for help. She was followed
BIZ the Submarine Chaser 4O7, that
scuttered out Of Bar Harbor to the res
cue. and later in the afternoon the
stevens and Bancroft, destroyers. left
Boston Navy Yard under forced
draught.
SOM one Of these vessels should
have got in touch with the dirigible
before dark. They we're all ordered tc
report by wireless as soon as contact
was established. No such report has
come through.
The French cruiser Somme Is head
ing for the mouth Of the Bay Of FundJ
10 lend aid, and the naval authorities
at Halifax have sent tugs to intercept
the .airship, if possible. Evidentl!
these also have missed the R34.
Late reports from st. John, n. B., sa.
the electrical storm that has ragged al
afternoon is passing and the higi
,outhwest winds that have blown sinc'
morning are dying down.
At lO:30 a. m. Eastern time, Halifa'
ported a message had been caugh
.lcm the R-34 saying that she wa
proceeding southwest between Halifa'
:rd Canso. There was no hint at thi
time that she was in difficulties. Late
O note Of urgency crept into the mes
sases from the big graft, and this in
creased in emphasis as the afternoon
wore on.
Lansdowne Sends Me- sage
A. 1925 a. m. Boston go. the frs
word of the R-34's difficulties. Thi
was contained in Wireless signed b
Lieutenant Commander Lansdownt
tho American observer on the dirigibl,
II read:
could destroyer proceed 70 south
end Of Bay OF Fundy and take H. N.
airship R-34 in tow"
An hour later word came TO Halifa
that the R-34 was ~ the south end 0
the Bay Of Fundy, between Yarmout
and Grand Menan. At $50 p. IN Parrs
boro reported by telephone that n
arship had just passed over that towr