Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-10-16
A Thrilling Day.

Two marvellous inventions OF tIllS
marvellous age combined yesterday 20
give the people of the United States a
thrill that they probably never will for
get. The first invention was the airShip
and the second was the radio, which,
coupled together, awed millions by their
wonders. Thousands we're at the field
at Lakehurst when the giant Zeppelin
came to port after record-breaking
flight from Germany-record-b breaking
in the number of hours in the air and
In that it was the first commercial trip
of its kind. At the field, on top Of the
giant hangar were two expert, word
picture radio men, and Is the big ship
slowly settled on the ground at the end
of her epochal voyage the scene was
described over a network Of stations
which extended west, north, south and
east.
OF course, the main interest in the
stirring events of yesterday is in the
Zeppelin. Radio, despite Its wonders, is
more or less commonplace. There was
nothing commonplace, however, in the
pioneer voyage taken by the sixty peo-
pie in the gondoias and cabin Of the
air monster. Germany to the United
States in one hundred and twelve
hours! And this despite the fact that
adverse weather conditions forced the
dirigible out Of its course and broken
stabilizing fin slowed down the speed.
America welcomes the Zeppelin, Its
passengers and its crew. They are the
pioneers in a new era Of transportation.
They sought to prove the practicability
Of lighter han-air craft for overseas
voyages, and they proved 1t beyond
doubt. They proved that despite handi-
caps Of weather and injury the ship
was staunch enough to push her way
through.
And in proving these things they re-
vealed a world Of air-minded peoples.
the numbers of which could never be
even estimated before this demonstra-
ton took place. Europeans did not
have the benefit Of radio for the land
ing, but dispatches from the ship were
received by an eager populace. In
America those who could not get within
the field Enclosure either read avidly the
news of the flight or hoped fervently
that radio programs would be inter-
rupted to give them the final word of
arrival through the air directly from
Lakehurst. No greater demonstration
of ir-mindedness and air interest has
ever occurred. and this interest BODIES
well for the future of commercial trans
portation through the skies.
Within ten days or two weeks the
Zeppelin will start on her return voy-
age, and If DR.. Hugo Eckener, the dar-
ing, reseurceful and skillful navigator
and designer Of the ship, held any
doubts that his cabins would not be full
to the overfowing. they must surely
be dispelled by the enthusiastic recep-
ton given him and his crew yesterday.
Only twenty cabins are available, but
these twenty will be bid for sover and
: over again. When the Zeppelin starts
back on the second lap Of the round
trip there is every possibility that new
air history will be written, but 1t will
be on the side of speedy transportation
OF large numbers of people from the
United States to Germany. With her
in repaired and prevailing winds on
her tail the gianteSs of the air should
carry her passengers over the sea at a
record pace. Congratulations are as
suredly in order on feat that will go
down in the annals of aviation as one
of the greatest single contributions to
air progress.