Evening star., 1928-10-16
ZEPPELIN. BERTFIED AT 3 AM.
GUARDED AGAINST EXPLOSION
Even Sparks From Nailed Shoes Feared
Wind Hampers Hauling Dirigible Into
Hangar After Mooring.

sarily limited by an agreement they had
been forced to sign that they would
not talk about the flight for publica-
ton for eight days after landing. This
agreement was called for in contract
between the Zeppelin Co. and an Amer
lean news syndicate. which purchased
the story rights of the flight.
Even Lieut.. Comdr. Charles E. RoSen-
dahl, U. S. NJ, commander of the Los
Angeles and Official observer" for the
American Government on the flight of
the Graf Zeppelin, was muzzled by
this contract. He met reporters with
DR.. Hugo Eckener, the Graf Zeppelin's
pilot, after landing, but prefaced his
rather perfunctory remarks with the
statement that what he could say was
limited by the agreement he said he
had been required" to sign.
Some Of the reporters covering the
landing protested to Assistant Secretary
Of the Navy for Aeronautics Edward
Warner. asking how a Government Of
f1cial could be gagged" by purely
commercial contract, but he disclaimed
any power to alter conditions.
"Comdr. RoSendahl is an officer of
the United States Navy" he said, "and
was official observer for this Govern
ment on the flight, but his position
on board was that of an invited guest,
and If he found it necessary to make
any promises he naturally had to keep
them"
Considerable Irritation was evident
among Navy officers, who felt that 1t
was presumptuous on the part of any
commercial organization to limit the
speech of a Navy officer. Many of
them were extremely outspoken about
the matter, but none would permit
his name to be used.
After the Graf Zeppelin was ground
ed 1t was walked by the landing crew
to the open doors of the hangar, but
a 12-mile cross wind was blowing and
it was decided that under these condi-
tions 1t would not be safe to try
to shoe-horn the great ship in beside
the others. After the passengers were
taken of and escorted under guard
to the custom room in the hangar the
ship was walked out onto the field
again and attached to the stub mast
nearby the high mast.
Await Favorable Wind.
There 1t swung, with a skeleton crew
aboard, until 3 o'clock this morning,
when the wind died. Then a landing
crew routed from its hunks walked the
ship neatly into the hangar, where it
stretched from end to end, proud cock
Of the air with the Los Angeles for its
hen and the two blimps for her eggs.
The officers and high officials among
the passengers slept long after their
lengthy and stormy voyage, to rest for
the arduous business of New York
welcome today.
Because of the news monopoly con-
tract and the forced agreement of the
passengers the conversation Of the air
voyagers was limited. but one important
piece of information was forthcoming
It was definitely established that the
Graf Zeppelin, which was built as a
commercial ship largely by popular SUBJ
scription had been leased for two years
to Spanish company planning trans
atlantic passenger and mail service be-
tween Spain and the Argentine. The
lease carries with 1t an option to buy,
but it is understood that the Spanish
company only wants the ship for use
until 1t can build air liners of its own.
AS the Graf Zeppelin lay in the
hangar, its silver 1anks rising almost to
the vaulted roof, persons on the ground
could plainly see the damaged portion,
from which the fabric was torn by the
storm while over midocean Prepara-
tions were made today for quick repairs,
which probably will be made while the
Los Angeles is out of the hangar on a
projected training fight set to begin
some time today or tomorrow.