The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-08-25
ALL ENGLAND
MOURNS LOSS
OF D|RICIBLE
Great Public Funeral to be
Arranged by Air Ministry
King George Sends Re-
grets.
MAKE INVESTIGATION
(Ry Associated Pressl

LONDON, Aug 25-The American
and British victims of the disaster to
the ZR-2 at Hull last evening will be
accorded a great public funeral, prob
ably in London. it is considered GER
tain. The air ministry today had the
project under advisement and an an
nouncement regarding it was expected
at any time.
The news today from Hull served
in no wise to tighten the weight of
the tragedy which caused a loss of
A lives.
Among the five survivors Of the 40
men who embarked on the airship
for the voyage which ended so disas-
trously is only one American. Nor
man o. Walker. of Commerce, Tex,
whom the admiralty enormously re-
ported last night had died after being
rescued. Walker had a marvellous es-
cape without serious injury. There is
no trace of Air Commodore Maitland
Believe Girder crumpIed
Flight Lieut.. Wann, one of the Brit
ish survivors, and who emphasized
the fact that he was in sole charge of
the dirigible, confirms the general be-
lief that some of the ships girders
crumpled while the craft was making
a turn.
1t was learned today that the ad-
miralty had not authorized the Ameri-
can airmen to accompany the ZR-2
on its fatal trip. Air Commodore
Maitland took the responsibility in
his own hands.
Meanwhile all England profoundly
stirred by the destruction of the giant
dirigible-the greatest of all air disas-
ters-is giving expression to its deep
feeling of mourning for the victims
and sympathy for those bereaved.
In London the atmosphere today was
/ somewhat akin to that which follow.
ed the receipt of news of a serious dis.
aster during the war days. At'the
war ministery which was yesterday a
beehive of activity with elaborate pre-
parations for the transatlantic flight.
there was today a sensible depression
on all sides.
Grief in Home Towns.
/ 1t was at Mowden, Hull, Leeds and
| neiShboring towns, however, where
| lived the wives and relatives of many
of the men whose lives were snuffed
out by the disaster that the loss was
most keenly felt. In these places too
were the English brides of nine of the
American enlisted men who came to
England for the trans-ocean flight
These young women had been eager
ly awaiting the time of the ZR-2's
start for America and had expected
soon to follow on board government
transport to their new homes.
Members of Legion.
/ The American dead included two
members of the American Legion,
Lieut.. Little and Lloyd E. Crowell,
mechanic. Several of the British vic
tins were members of the British
Legion of former service men. Both
these organizations will be represen-
ted at the funeral services.
AS the dirigible was still British
property not having yet been turned
over to the American authorities, all
Investigations of the calamity will be
supervised by the British air minis
try.
: kinq Expresses Grief.
Foremost among the expressions of
coincidence was one from King George
His majesty telegraphing from Bal
moral to Air Marshal Trencherd at
the air ministry said Il am shocked
, and grieved to hear of the terrible
/ disaster which has befallen airship
R-32 (the British number of the dir
| igible) resulting in the loss of many
: valuable lives of Americans and Brit
, ish with the relatives of whom ! SYM
pathize I shall anxiously await fur
! ther information (Signed),
George R. ].
"Chief of Royal Air Forces"
Newspaper Opinion
The impression made upon the pub
, lie was reflected in newspapers this
! morning. all of them expressing pro-
! found sympathy for the relatives of
: the men who met death, regret over
: the loss of the majestic vessel, and
thankfulness over the narrow escape
: of the town of Hull from terrific
calamity.
Pending the inquiry. which it is as
sumed will be of a searching charac-
ter, attempts to account for the trag-
edy are merely speculative, but it is
recalled that during a nine-hour trial
trip on July II some of the girders
o IN the middle of the ZR-2 showed
e weakness which necessitated rein
| forcement
; This work was done Immediately
e at Howden and experts believed that
r the weakness in the structure of the
+ airship had been remedied. 1t Is now
8 regarded significant, however, that
observers below have declared that
. there was buckling amidships
). which seemed TO precede the explo
s CONTINUED on Page Thirteen.l