New Britain herald., 1929-08-29
GRAF S7OWED AWAY
 IN JERSEY HANGAR
(COn;inucd From First Page)

(Con;inuod From First Page) minutes After q four day lay-OVer for rcfuclins it flew to Tokyo, GS60 miles in 101 hours and 5G minutes, being held there five days by the necessity of refuclins and damage done the rear motor bondola in talk ing the ship fr,,m the hangar.
 The $500 miles from Tokyo 10 Los Angeles was covered in 7S hours and 5S minutes and the last leg, which was completed today, was begun with less than full day spent in refuelling.
 In getting away from Los Ange- les the Graf had difficulty in gain ing altitude and even after dump ing out canned goods to Tighten It's load it dragged it's tail over some high tension wires which luckily feet of explosive hydrogen gas in the great bag.
 Rudder slightly Damaged After the ship was berthed today it could be seen that the wires had crumpled the under edge of the rudder but there were no signs of any burns. IL was this sort of same accident some years ago that caused the explosion Of the dirigi- ble Roma.
 Shortly atfer the ship was berth , cd Dr. Eckener went to the press room in the hangar where he was cheered by the more than 100 re-. ! porters assigned to the final act of the world flight. As he was talking 10 them rumors flew thick and fast about the hangar.
 One was that the rudder was so badly damaged that it would take two weeks to repair even though the necessary duraluminum was at hand here with which to do the work. Another was that two of the five engines had shown signs of 'tiring" and would have to be re- placed. Still another had it that the weather of the Siberian wastes had 70 eaten away the silver coating on | the dirigible that it would have 10 i be rccoated before beginning it's journey homeward which will marx l it's fifth crossing of the Atlantic.
 Beside D.. IIc'loner as he talked was William A. MacCracken, assist ant secretary of commerce for avi- atiOn, who flew here to deliver a message to the dirigible commander ! from President Hoover The plane in which the assistant secretary was coming here crashed at Bridgeton, N. J., last night but MacCraoken suffered only a cut of the knee and was able to proceed by autOm obilc.
 Eckcncr to Visit in |. S.
 During his interview Dr. Eckcncr revealed that he. would not go back to Germany on the Graf which he said would take off Saturday night, but would stay in this country about | 12 days visiting Washington and Akron, Ohio This will be the first ! flight of any extent the Graf will | have made without the commander on board. Captain Ernest Lehman, second in command, will take the dirigible back to it's home port.
 Hoover WeiComs E"kcncr
 The Hoover message to Eckencr read
 "On my own behalf as well as my | fellow countrymcn it gives me great satisfaction to welcome you and the members of your party upon the completion of your memorable flight around the world. It has been a great adventure which again Gtirs the spirit and interest of all men and women.
 "lt marks another step in the pro- gross of aviation. The German peo- pie are to be congratulated upon this evidence of their great contri- buttons 10 the art, and you are to be congratulated upon your cour- age and skill. MT. Hearst, who I un- derstand has importantly aided the trip financially is also to he con- graduated upon 'its outcome"
 Didn't Hit Wires
 Lieutenant J. C. Richardson, [. s. y L. talked to the reporters after pr. , Eckencc. He said that the damage 10 the rudder was done in pumping the ground in leaving Los Angeles. Asked about Striking the wires there, he said "We didn't quite hit them. thank God" All previous re ports including q wireless from the ship indicated that the tail dragged over the wires.
 Lieutenant Richardson said the Graf would be given a new 'ovcr- coat" when it got back 10 Fried richshaftn thus dispOsng of the rumor that if would have 10 be re- ] coated here just as Dr. Eckener's announcement of the departure i date blasted the report that two engines would have 10 be replaced
 May Come Again i Leeds told reporters the Graf 1 planned 10 make another visit to America in october but this could not be confirmed either from off