Evening star., 1921-08-08
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS,
OF ZR.2 ACROSS OCEAN
Huge Rigid Airship viii Visit Washington and
Other Cities 4fterAuivingi in US From
England Navy Makes Statement. 4. =

Ihe tentative route of the United
States Nays great. new rigid airship
the ZR-2. which will leave England
ION her maiden voyage across the At
iantic Thursday. August %, was an
nounced today by the Navy Depart
ment. The course. of the dirigible
lwfll bring her across the north At
lantic and carry her across some of
the largest cities of the Atlantic coast.
including Boston and New York. end
ing at the great hangar at Lakehurst.
N. j.. which is being rushed to COM
pletion to house her.
Leaving Howden. where she was
built. the ZR-2 will be heavily laden.
carrying her full capacity of fuel and
in order to prevent loss of gas and
low altitude. AS she proceeds to sea
she will climb to "a higher altitude.
which 1t is expected will be maintained
until the American shore is reached.
! Winds May Retnrd.
/ In July, 1919, 1t took the British
airship R-34 1Os hours and twelve
pinutes to reach Hazelhurst Field.
\. y. from East Fortunte Scotland.
The ZR-2. which is faster than the
R-34. it was said should make the
trip in less time. provided the west
crly winds are not too strong. Dur
ing this time of year. it was pointed
out. the winds across the Atlantic are
from the west and blow with
strength of from twelve to twenty
miles an hour. In spite of this handi-
cap. which will hold the ship back
fifteen or twenty miles an hour naval
officers believe the ZR-2 will have
plenty of gasoline to spare when she
reaches the Atlantic coast.
Food for the crew of twelve Off
dirigible will be cooked by the hot
exhaust flames from the motors and
the menus announced by the Navy
Department compare .favorably with
those of first-class hotels. Breakfast
will include cereal. fruit. bacon an6
eggs and coffee, while the luncheon
card shows soup. roast beef. sliced
tomatoes. green onions. cheese cakes
and even candy. For dinner regu-
lar two-dollar spread is scheduled
including cham chowder. roast beef.
saute potatoes. spaghetti. pickles and
canned peaches.
Every. member Of the American naval
crew assigned to bring the dirigible to
the United States will be specially Sc
lected and specially trained as result
of the program laid down for the flight
by the Navy Department. Most of the
crew participated in the construction OF
the airship, while at the same time taking
intensive courses in technical subjects
bearing upon her operation. Between
times they took part in track sand field
events and in other physical exercises
designed to keep them fit for the 3.100-
mile trip.
Will Visit Washington.
After it's arrival in this country Wash
ington and many other large cities will
be given an opportunity to see the
worlds largest airship. To secure coun-
try-wide interest for the efforts OF the
Navy to keep the United States in the
van of air offensive power. which the
acquisition of the mammoth airshlp nowY
gives, cross-continent flights will be
made both for training and propaganda
purposes.
1t is believed by naval officers that
with a practical demonstration OF the
tremendous potential power of the
ZR-2, coming on the heels OF the re,
cent bombing tests. the country Will
be so awakened to the needs of air
feet maintenance that Congress Will
be forced to make generous appro-
pri riations for future building.