The Washington times., 1924-11-25
NAVYGlNS
To BOOM
SALUTE
Continued from First Pags.l

chiefs OF the navy and army. Rear
Admiral william .A. MOffett, head Of
the navy bureau Of aeronautica, and
Major General Mason M. Patrick, !
chief Ct the army air service, win
be accompanied by their full Stats.
Naval, military and air attaches of
the foreign embassies and legations
are expected to attend.
Captain Lowell H. Smith and the
other heroes Of the army's round
the.world flight, who arrived IN
Washington yesterday for the first
time since the completion of their
! epochal journey, win be present at
the ceremonies.
of the most impressive aviation
events which has taken place In
Washington.
LAKEHURST, N. j., Nov. 26.-
The IRIS slipped away from its
nnooring- mast on It's christening
journey to Washington at 9:OS
a. IA. today. The big dirigible
faced . 2O-miIe-an-hour wind for
its southern trip, but Commander
James r. Klein said he expected to
maintain an average speed Of fifty
miles an hour along the southerly
course, which lay over Trenton,
Camden, Philadelphia, Wilmington
and Baltimore.
A light blush haze lay over
the home field as the dirigihle
started on it's first American
manned trip. On the sides Of the
huge air cruiser, in red, white and
blue letters, shone It's new name,
"Los Angeles" by which It win
Be known after it's christening at
the hands Of Mrs. Calvin Coolidge.
Running Lights Clean.
Red, white and green lights on
the gondolas and at the port holes
also cleaned Ike jewels through the
rapidly lifting fog as the dirigible
slid away.
correspondent was one Of forty
two, counting passengers as wen
as crew, making the first trip on
the dirigible since its delivery to
America. Weather conditions have
prevented a test trip, but Com.
mander Klein expressed complete
confidence that q successful trip
would be made.
The home field soon disappeared
as the zRs3 moved south, the fog
swallowing the home hangers at
S15 a. m.
Two hundred civilian spectators
saw the IRA depart from Lake.
hurst. They gave a cheer and
waves Of hands as the ship got
away.
Four motors were going when
Commander Klein gave the signal
Tor the ground crew Of $50 to let
go OF the last ropes holding the
big dirigible to earth.
Rises To 500 Feet.
The airship gradually rose to a
height Of about 500 feet, and then
took>a course southwest.
Commander Klein said he did
not intend going to a great altitude,
- there was strong wind blowing
at $500 feet. He expected to ny
b an altitude Of between 1900 and
1900 feet between Lakehurst and
Washington.
The ship, however. win come
down to below an altitude Of 1000
1eet when it passes over Trenton,
Pniladelphia, Chester, Pa, and
Lieutenant Commander J. M.
Deem was navigator for the Wash
ington flight.
This. afternoon, according to
schedule, the first lady Of the land.
win pull silken cord leading ia
one Of the gondolas, after the shin
has been placed in the hands OF the
ground crew at Boiling Field. and
trap door will fall, releasing 4
score OF pigeons to wing their way
back to Lakehurst.
christen thee Los Angeles, =
VIII be her words, before the dirig-
lbie rises again to start the home
ward "trip.
A diver miniature Of the air
liner, attached to the silk cord
which releases the pigeons, win be
Mrs. Coolidge's souvenir.
Another gift from .Lakehurst "a
the Waite House was aboard the
dirigtblo as 1t headed South. 1t was
q large turkey, destined for the
Presidential Thanksgiving dinner,
Helium Is Used.
The dirigibIe Will try for no
records, COMMANDER Klein an.
nounCA. It will head southwark.
passing over Camden, Philadelphia
and Baltimore in its leisurely course
toward the Capital, It Is the first
trip Of the dirigible with helium
for its lifting power. a noninfIan.
nable gas, with slightly less lift
than hydrogen which was used in
the Transatlantic trip.
In Good Condition.
Gossip among the populace OF
LAlzehurst, reporting OF the big
engines out of order, was repu.
dated by the navy officers, who
said the air liner was In good con.
dition.
There was an unusual stir today
as the populace prepared Ia bid the
dirigible godspeed.
DirigibIe Faced 2O-MiIe