The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1924-10-24
NEWS REVIEW OF
CURRENT EVENTS
ZR-3, Our Big Gernan-Built
Zeppelin, Breaks Record
on Trip Across Ocean.
BY EDWARD w. PlcKARD


BY EDWARD w. PIcKARD
ZR-3, the giant Zeppelin built by
Il Germany for the United States as,
war reparations, successfully made the
flight from Friedrichshafen, Germany,
to Lakehurst, N. J., last week in 81
hours, II minutes. The distance over
land and sea covered by the huge gilt
tering airship was 5,066 miles, and she
broke all flight endurance and long
distance nonstop speed records. The
average speed for the entire trip was
62.35 miles an hour. She crossed the
Atlantic at about twice the speed Of
the fastest ocean liner.
DR.. Hugo Eckener, president of, the
Zeppelin company, commanded the
dirigible on the trip and the crew was
German. Three American naval off,
GERS and one army officer were aboard
as observers. AS soon as the landing
was made at Lakehurst, Doctor Eek
ener lowered the German .colors, and
the airship became the property Of the
United States.
Not single mishap marked the
epochal flight from Europe to America,
but head winds and fogs caused the
navigator to change his course when
approaching our shores and instead Of
coming by the more southern route the
Zeppelin headed toward the northwest
and then came down the coast Of Nova
Scotia and New England. Reaching
New York about s o'clock Wednesday
morning, she Unanswered over the
metropolis In great crescent, to the
admiration Of millions Of watchers.
Congratulations from President Cool
idge greeted the commander Of the
ship as he stepped from the gondola
at Lakehurst.
OF the 126 dirigibles built by the
Zeppelin company. the ZR-3 is the
best, according to Doctor Eckener.
Over in Germany, pride in the me-
chanicaI achievement is mixed with
chagrin because America gets the ship,
and because, according to the terms Of
the Versailles treaty, Germany can
build no more big dirigibles that would
be capable Of being transformed into
war craft. The French are urging that
the Zeppelin factory be dismantled at
once, and already many expert en-
ployees Of the company have been sent
to America, Spain and Sweden, where
arrangements have been made to con-
tinue the manufacture Of ships Of this
type.
Shenandoah. which is still the pride
Of the navy" having arrived safely at
San Diego, CAL, on her long continen-
tai trip, was held there for days by re-
ports Of stormy weather along the
Pacific coast further north. Sixty-mile
gales were blowing on the Oregon and
Washington seaboard and Commander
Lansdowne, being in no especial hurry
to reach Camp Lewis, kept the dirigi-
BILE anchored to her mooring mast.
.CHANGHAI has been abandoned by
~ the commanders of the Chekiang
forces that were defending the city
against Kiangsu armies, and at this
writing the latter are within few
miles Of the city with practically
nothing to keep them from occupying
It. The Chekiang generals. who are
accused Of being bought Off. fed to
Japan and their troops Immediately
became utterly demoralized. ceased
fighting and sold their equipment. Sew
eral officers who did not run away
tried to reorganize them, but the for
eign authorities there attempted to
stop this plan in order to prevent fur
Their warfare in the district. They
felt they would have their hands full
in protecting the 10000 foreigners who
live in the International settlement
They have modified the entire for.
eign defense force and the streets in
their part of the city are defended by
barbed wire barricades. sand bags and
machine guns.
Little Hsu, a notorious Anfu leader
Is chief Of the crowd still resisting the
Kiangsu forces. and he has been re
Enforced by two battalions Of Hupeh
troops which had been aiding the at