The Washington times., 1928-10-13
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and set forth across the
Atlantic.
It was a fitting occasion for
The start of this epic voyage,
for it was the anniversary of
the discovery of America by
Columbus In 1892. But, while
Columbus journeyed in tiny
shallops, requiring months to
cross the Atlantic, the Yep
pelin was racing through the
clouds at express-train speed.
The general belief on both sides
Of the Atlantic is that the flight
will be a success and that it will
arouse fresh interest in dirigibles
as swift passenger and mail car
riers.
Air Worthiness Proved
The air worthiness Of the Graf
was shown by the fact that she
bucked headwfnds for 500 miles
after starting her historic journey.
Even with this handicap she
travelled at a speed of about so to
So miles an hour. After leaving
Funchal, Madeira, aided by a
steady tail wind, the dirigible
worked her speed up to nearly IS
miles an hour.
This was maintained steadily for
hours until well out over the At
1antic.
In Communication
The Zeppelin has kept in con-
slant wireless communication with
ships. reporting ''all is well on
board" at intervals.
Weather bulletins were trans
mitted to the air liner, enabling
Commodore Eckener to change his
course at will to avoid squalls and
gusts Of windy transforms.
LAKEHURsT, N. J., Oct. 1s.-At
$3.50 a. m. today the naval radio
station here heard a radio CONVEX.
sation between the Graf Zeppelin
and an unknown ship in which the
dirgible gave its position as about
% north latitude, 36 west longi-
tude."
The position given is about half.
way between Madeiras and Ber-
muda.
Later the naval station received
word from the Radio Marine Cor.
poration's station at East Moricnes.
Long Island, that a message had
been intercepted there giving the
ulrgible's position at 5 a. m. least
ern standard tine) as about 1,400
miles west of the Madeiras.
This would indicate that the Yep
pelin was maintaining an average
speed Of about 20 miles an hour
since passing over the Madeiras at
about 9 O'Clock yesterday morning.
The Zeppelin was in conversa-
ton with DIED." believed to be the
call letters Of a steamship. The
naval station operator could hear
the conversation only very indis-
tinctly and said the call letters
might have been wrong.
The conversation ended when the
Zeppelin's operator asked "Ded' to
call again on a wave length of 1850
meters as static was causing too
much interference"
BERLIN, Oct. 13-The German
dirigible, Graf Zeppelin, was last re-
ported here today as being 200 kilo-
meters east of the Bermudas.
1t is now estimated here that the
dirigible will not reach Lakehurst,
N. j., until Monday morning. Ac-
cording to information received here,
there are two depression areas
ahead of the Zeppelin which presage
stormy weather. 1t is believed here
this may cause Eckener to again
Veer to the southwark seeking better
weather.
1t is expected that the Zeppelin
will reach Bermuda some time Sun
day morning.
The War Department today took
steps to provide an aeroplane escort
for the Graf Zeppelin when she ap-
breaches New York city on her
transatlantic flight.
Six planes will take off from
Mitchell Field, L. l., as the big
dirigible swings up the seaboard
constituting the first American re-
ception committee to greet the ship.
Major W. o. Ryan viii be the flight
leader.