The New York herald., 1921-06-19

mander Scott and Lieut. Harris, the
meteorological officer, were able to
attain some surprising results in this
field; surprising IN the accuracy of
their representations. The obvious
need Of the airship navigator Of the fu-
ture will be fuller information as to
what is going on in the upper air, over
the whole ocean and over both conti-
nents The suggestion is made that
"one good method of getting informa-
ton at small cost would be to eouip
all cable repair ships with a meteoro-
logical observer ana a suitable outfit
of kites and Instruments" 1t is found
that kites can he flown at 1000 feet
in winds up to seventy-five miles an
hour. bearing the Marvin meteoro-
graph" which records force Of wind.
altitude. temperature and humidity.
Doubtless some day the international
weather bureaus will be able to tell
In detail what is happening through
out many thousands of square miles
OF clouds for the benefit of aerial nayi-
gators.
The outward trip of the "a was
made under difficulties that are easily
avoidable. The return voyage. the
diary says did not present half the
difficulties of the outward Journey. The
crossing to the east took only Is hours
and z minutes, as compared with 10S
hours and IL minutes for the west
ward trip. though the home journey
was slightly longer. the landing being
made at Pulham England. instead of
the East Fortune base in Scotland.
The time can be reduced considerably
with more accurate knowlege of air
conditions and experience.
The airship is said to be steadier
and potentially more comfortable than
its sea travelling ancestor. but it has
its bumps" which may be dangerous
as well as uncomfortable. On the OUT
ward trip. Gen. Maitland records sew
eral such trying experiences:
violent temperature bumps. evil
IDENTIFY caused by rapid variation of sea
temperature beneath ms. Shin is first
lifted 400 feet and then dropped 500
feet-measured on-our aneroid. Scott.
who has his head out of "A window in
the forward car, states that he saw
the tail OF the ship bend under the
strain, whilst her angle is so steep at
one moment that Cooke. resting I'm his
hammock in the keel is unable TO get
out for minute or two. as he Is head
downward" But In spite of the actual
violence Of thes, bumpings the pas
sengers were i'm no case the victims of
any feeling of seasickness. as the
movements seemed to them to be
gradual. "As aerial liners undoubt-
af1 txiu %,
says Gen. Maitland "this Immunity
from seasickness should prove one of
their most valuable commercial as
sets"
The voyagers had plenty of excite
ment, especially In violent squalls and
thunderstorms. and the darist re-
marks. incidentally. during one storm
that I'VE wear our parachutes. and life
belts are all ready"
They ran 1t pretty fine coming over
and used practically all their fuel,
thinking until the last moment that
they might be forced TO land short o.
their goal at Mineola But skilful
plotting and good luck just brought
them through. Their provisioning
also was not as well managed on the
first leg of their trip as 1t might have
been; defect that was remedied on,
the return voyage by the addition Of
some delicacies. including case OF
rum. 1--WE thought America had gone
dry" says the log, but were quickly
undeceved on this point"
Unforeseen difficulties. Of course
turned mp. but their ingenuity was
ready to meet them. In one case OF
engine trouble a loose screw was made
secure with piece of copper sheeting
and the entire supply Of crews chew
ling gum (Which was hastily chewed