The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1925-07-15
JOIN 7 FLIGHT
To POLE IS
URGED
Dr., Hugo Eckener Proposes
U. S. and Germany Co
operate on Trip
By s. D. WEYER.
international News Service.

international News Service.
BERLIN, July 15.-America to-
day was asked to join Germany
in dirigible expedition to the
north pole, each country to fly
ITS own giant airship, but with
the two keeping in constant touch
and assisting and supplementing
each other.
The invitation was extended by
Doctor Hugo Eckener, pilot in it's
transatlantic delivery of the
naval dirigible Los Angeles.
Guarantee OF Safety.
''I cannot imagine a greater
guarantee of the success and
safety Of this epoch-making Arctic
exploration with airships than in
your country and mine joining
hands in the same spirit of en-
thusiasm that marked the Los An
geles transatlantic flight on the
part of two peoples on both sides
of the ocean," Doctor Eckener
said in an interview with Inter
national News Service.
IF each country starts building
an Arctic zeppelin in the immediate
future we can start together next
spring" the famous dirigible design
er pilot continued. Leaving
simultaneously and meeting in the
Arctic, we can proceed with COM
rad-like mutual assistance.
Regular Route,
''I think the ultimate result will
be the establishment of a regular
air traffic from Spitzbergen via the
North Pole to Alaska and back. I
visualize the summer tourists of
both hemispheres, in some future
year, spending their vacations in
taking cross-arctic airship trips. /
believe the expedition would result
also in invaluable study of the I'M
explored regions between Alaska
and the Pole.
mo two countries are more emf
nently fitted for this enterprise
than the home Of the Zeppelins and
America, which has shown such
wonderful aptness in handling big
dirigibles and which has already
done so much in arctic exploration"
Doctor Eckener said there should
be two bases for the joint expedi-
tion-one in Alaska, established by
bergen, established by Germany.
Both must have radio stations, all
needed supplies and provisions for
emergency landings,
Size OF Dirigibles.
In answer to a question as to the
size Of the dirigibles, Doctor
Eckener said:
IF, as I believe. America will
fill the. gas-bag with helium, it
should be between 10000 and $780,
600 cubic meters capacity, while
the German vessel, filled with n.y.
drogen. should be between 100. 900
end ITO, 900 cubic meters in size"
He would leave the details of con-
struction and cooperation to those
in charge of the trip.
The eyes of the veteran aero
nautical expert were alight with en-
thusiasm as he unfolded the plan
Of the polar trip. He is an ardent
admirer of America and looks upon
the double-barreled Arctic expedi-
ton as an absolute safeguard of
success. He paid high tribute to
American dirigible experts.
Exploring Groups.
Both airships must be equipped
to land, in water and ice, which he
thinks, could be done with COM
plete safety. He believes exploring
groups could be left on the ice and
later picked up by the airships.
Your captains Steele and Klein
have shown admirable skill in navi'
eating the Los Angeles" he said.
He praised Rear Admiral Moffett.
as 1.-THE guiding genius Of airship
in the American navy"