Evening star., 1924-01-17
POLAR DASH is ASSURED
BY BLIMP'S SAFE RETURN
Moffett Will Command
Shenandoah on Trip.
DENLY Jubilant.

Emerging safely from the worst
gale ever encountered by any dirig-
ible in the world, with only minor
damage, the L. S. s. Shenandoah
Daughter Of the Stars" has proved
her worth as the greatest Of all
lighter-than-air craft and will un-
dertake her exploration of the Artic
regions next summer as originally
planned for her.
"She will make the journey and
will be with her from the time she
leaves Lakehurst until she returns,
Rear Admiral William A. Moffett
chief of the bureau of aeronautics
and in complete charge OF the flight
told The Star today. She will never
meet conditions that existed last
night. Why, the strongest winds in
the Arctic at the time we plan to go
are only about thirty-five or forty
miles an hour"
The Shenandoah, Admiral Moffet
stated, was torn away from her
mooring by a sixty y-eight-mile wind
"The strongest wind ever withstood
by any dirigible was fifty-five miles
an hour" he declared. (Reference
was made to the British R-33.)
Bureau f. Jubilant.
The bureau of aeronautics today
was jubilant over the splendid per-
formance of the pride of the Navy
Secretary DENLY. wreathed in smiles.
arrived at Admiral Moffett's Office in
the new Navy building about 9 o'clock
this morning and extended his con-
gratulations to the naval air chief.
Later he issued a statement outlining
what was known SO far at the Navy
Department Of the Incident. He con-
cluded with paragraph disclosing
the determination of the Navy De-
partmeut to get the Shenandoah
ready promptly for the polar expedi-
ton she is to make this summer.
From all our information" he said,
''it may be asserted with positive
certainty that there is hardly a possi-
bility that this ship will encounter
in her arctic expedition any test so
severe as that she has already met
successfully"
He also telegraphed his congratu-
who brought her back In safety after
her wind-driven flight. Mrs. DENLY,
who christened the ZR-1 L. S. S.
Shenandoah October 10. was so great
ly impressed by the story Of the night
that she also sent her congratula-
tions to the airship personnel.
Crfticism Diminished.
If congressional criticism of the
proposed flight of the big airship to
the north pole ever existed. the safe
return of the Shenandoah will tend to
diminish 1t. in the opinion of Repre-
sentative French, republican, idaho
chairman of the House appropriations
committees subcommittee on naval
affairs.
THE Shenandoah accepted about
the most severe test that could be
conceived and she met it successful
"" Mr.. French said. Although there
is a resolution pending in the House
calling on the Navy Department for
information as to the reasons for the
proposed flight, 1t is my opinion that
members of Congress, generally, will
as evidence of the ability of the Shen.
andoah to undertake and accomplish
the polar voyage"
The Shenandoah was secured to the
mast at Lakehurst Saturday and
scheduled to remain in that position
for d week. Valuable data on the
ability of the ship to remain fast By
it's nose already had been obtained
by Charles P. Burgess, an aeronau-
tical engineer on duty here, and who
was aboard the dirigible with his in
struments at the time the nose plate
tore loose. Thus, officers stated. val
liable. scientific information concern
ing the ship was obtained while she
was being lashed back and forth by
the gale.
Safe in Her Hangar.
This dispatch was sent to the Navy
Department by the commanding Off
Ger at Lalehurst today:
The Shenandoah is safely housed
in hangar. Her battered condition is
sufficient evidence of a wonderful
piece of airmanship and Judgment
on the part of the officers and men on
board.
"A detailed report of her condition
will be made after a Thorough exar1i-
nation. In general her present con-
dition is as follows: Gas cells de-
fiated. large sections of outer cover
gone from starboard bow. many holes
in outer cover, upper stabilizing fin
collapsed, large hole In bow and col
lapse of upper fin made steering very
difficult"
1t was learned at the bureau today
that great Improvement in the
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