Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-12-26
D|RICIbLE SHENANDOAH
CHOICE SPECIAL NAVAL BOARD
FOR PROBE OF POLAR REGIONS
SAFETY OF BIG
FRENCH BALLOON
STILL UNCERTAIN

Paris. Dec. Is (By A. P.)-Hope
that the French dirigible balloon
Dixmude. last reported floating out
OF control over the coast of Tunis,
Will be saved, is apparently waning,
judging from communique issued
by the navy department tonight.
The communique begins: "News
received this afternoon tends to in
crease the uncertainty of the Dix
nudes position" and then says that
investigation has shown it to be
doubtful if the lights reported to
nave been seen Sunday night could
nave been from the Dixmude.
investigation has also shown that
the reports from Bizerta and Sfax
on the Tunis coast, Sunday afternoon
to tho effect that the Dixmude was
going out to sea apparently in q
damaged condition, were incorrect.
tho statement says. 1t concludes:
1T 'esults from these facts and
the absence of news, whici, is partly
due to the difficulty and slowness of
communication, that the greatest
uncertainty reigns as to the present
situation of the Dixmude."
A wireless message received from
Fort Flatters, in the Sahara, Sunday
morning, reporting the Dixmude
drifting towards the Gulf of Gabes
and asking for help seems to have
been the last reliable news from the
dirigible. (Fort F1atters is about 43O
milth south of the Gulf of Gabes.)
Later reports that lights were OBJ
served which were believed to he
those of the dirigible seem to be err
roneous; only these lights were seen,
no outline of the airship. and it is
thought possible that the lights were
stars.
The Cuer- Pierrefeu station, which
has been sending out messages to the
dirigible, but receiving no replies, re-
fuses to despair.
The normal crew of the Dixmude
numbers 49,. including the staff, but
81 men, of whom II were officers,
started at six o'clock last Tuesday.
several of them obtaining permission
TO make the voyage as they were
only q few hours short Of the fifteen
/ hours flight which is necessary each
three months to secure a flight
premium.
On reason for doubling that the
lights reported as having been OBJ
served Sunday and Monday even
1ngs were the Dixmude's is that this
would mean she had electricity for
lights, yet was unable to operate her
wireless. which has been silenced
since Sunday morning.
Toulon, France, Dec. 27-Every
torpedo boat destroyer in the harbor
is being kept under steam in readi-
ness for dash to sea in case word
is received of the definite location of
the missing dirigible DiXmude.
Says Ship Has Little Chance
Lakewood, N. j., Dec. 25.-The
French dirigible Dixmude, which
has been in the air over northern
Africa since last Tuesday, apparent
ly helpless from motor trouble, has
slight chance of being saved. in the
opinion of Anton Hefnen, consulting
engineer of the Shenandoah and
German commander of the Dixmude
| on its first flight in Germany, where
it was built to bomb New York.
Captain Heinen said today he felt
no anxiety for the so persons aboard,
who, he said, could leave by ropes If
| the ship could be lowered near
| however, he said. the ship would
probably be lost unless it was low
! cred where enough persons could be
| Immediately gathered to hold it
down by the ropes. The chief dan
ger, he said, was that storm might
| carry the ship oee TO sea.
|, Captain Heinen declared reported
| movements of the ship indicated
| that the commanding officer believed
he could repair the motors in the
| air and eventually return to the
home station under his own power.