Evening star., 1925-12-04

continued from FIRST PaReD
enough about rigid airships to know
when one should or should not be
navigated?"
Il do not consider that | know
enough about them to specify exactly
when or when not TO navigate one, "
replied the witness.
Capt. Lincoln said that Admiral
Eberle initiated the plans for the
Shenandoah's Western flight and ad-
mitted he was not a flying officer.
Where did YOU get your first
knowledge that the Senandoah was to
make q flight to the Midwest" asked
Mr.. Reid.
From Admiral Eberle or it may
have been from Admiral Jackson, re-
piled the witness, adding that this in
formation had been conveyed verbally
on June or 10 of this year. Capt.
Lincoln said that he was told at this
time that it was desired to have the
Shenandoah fly over the route origi-
nallyp tanned for the Los Angeles,
namely, to Minneapolis and the Middle
West. He said the Los Angeles trip
had been proposed for June.
Lansdowne Visit Recalled.
lie said after this conversation with
downe, June or 10, regarding the
proposed flight. 1t was brought out
that the Shenandoah commander was
crdere here to discuss the flight and
under pressure of CroSS-eAamination
by Mr.. Reid the witness said that
Comdr L4ansdowne had discussed the
difficulties of making the trip in June,
laying stress on the possibility of the
Shenandoah being endangered by
storms while ION the ground
He said that Comdr. Lansdowne
later wrote letter recommending
that the flight be made the second
week Of September because of the
limited time TO prepare the facilities
for receiving the ship at Scott Field,
in Detroit.
Did you concur in this recommends
tion of the Shenandoah commander
asked Mr.. Reid.
II investigated the reason for his
recommendation, and. upon finding
the conditions he mentioned would no
longer exist, his recommendations
were not approved
Mast Assured to BE Safe.
who investigated conditions at
Scott Field and Detroit"
Lieut.. Comdr. RoSenthal. The Bu.
reau of AeronauticS assured us that
the mast at Detroit was satisfactory
and that preparations could be made
at Scott Field in ample time for the
flight as planned
The telegram dispatched by Capt.
Lincoln to the Shenandoah com
mander on June Q was produced by
Mr.. Reid. 1t informed Comdr. LanS-
doWne thar orders would he issued for
the Shenandoah to make the mid
western flight planned for the Los
Angeles. Another message dated June
10, sent by the Bureau of Aeronautics
to Lakehurst. ordered the naval air
station to concentrate on getting
ready for the mid-western fight "at
the earliest possible date"
At the request OF Mr.. Reid the wit
ness produced the entire correspond
enCe on the Shenandoah flight between
the Navy Department and Comdr.
Lansdowne and. by direction of coun-
sci, Capt. Lincoln read excerpts of
letters on various dates concerning
plans leading up TO the final decision.
All of this correspondence previously
had been made public at the Shenan.
doah court of inquiry and had been
read into the court ma rtial record be,
fore.
nder cross examination on the
question of what direction Comdr
LanSdownc had on the flight the wit
ness declared to his knowledge the
only definite request was to arrive at
Des Moines, Iowa, on September 4. AS
far as the itinerary was concerned the