The Washington times., 1929-05-17

motors was due TO sabotage. Never.
stheless. most rigid investigation
twiu be conducted. DIR. Eckener,
Pwhile keeping the Zeppelin Works
Uniformed as to progress homeward,
Us withholding details Of the acci.
Sdent. Zeppelin Company win not
make an official statement until DR..
fEckener reports.
Il was pointed out that the motors
sanctioned perfectly on previous
voyages, totaling more than $4,000
kBaiies, or the equivalent to around.
bhe-world trip.
Rushed Over France
N IL held possible that the motors
swere overstrained due to the desire
sOf Dr.. Eckener to ny over France
I'm the quickest possible time. The
French government allotted such .
short time for the ship to remain
over French soil that DR.. Eckener
may have crowded" the motors to
get quickly beyond the restricted"
area.
This suppositicn is sustained by
the fast time made by the Graf
while flying over French territory.
The dirigible had completed nearly
1000 miles Of the voyage when the
two rear motors ceased working.
The sabotage questio was brought
up 500 after DR.. Hugo Eckener, com.
mander Of the dirigible, sent brief
wireless to the headquarters Of the
Zeppelin company here, stating that
the accident had caused him to post.
pons the transatlantic crossing and
return to Friedrichshafen immedi-
ately.
Too Many Strangers
The large number Of would-be
stowaways found aboard the ship
and in her hangar before the start
brought up the possibility that
damage might have been done to
the dirigible's motors, either by
!. eranks or parties who might be in
Continued on Page 3, Column II
, terested In seeing the Zeppelin come
/. to grief.
7 It is not believed that any Of the
disappointed adyenturers themselves
were In any way concerned IN the
near disaster. but the fact that the
closely guarded hangar was no per-
eastently besieged by strangers while
preparations for the flight were
under way, led to demands that an
Immediate investigation into the
possibility Of criminal interference
be made.
Details Lacking.
Through the long hours Of the
night officials Of the Zeppelin COM
spany anxiously awaited messages
ffrom DR.. Eckener. telling Of his prog.
Hesa. Few details Of the mishap
AnSa
&irSt message merely stating that
StrOubla with the crankshafts and
stNonnecting rods on two Of the en-
xinss had rendered them useless, and
Ehat he deemed it advisable to return.
Zeppelin officials today continued
DO characterize the return merely as a
N'precautionary measure" stating
&fiat DR.. Eckener was too consider.
ate Q commander to take any possible
risk Of tnisadventure while It was
still possible to return.
!. Early today. radio was received
From the dfrisible's commander, stat.
eng that progress on the return jour.
hey was slow because the ship was
hncountering Q "mistral," a heavy
3scounter-wind blowing from the
North, and q typical condition IN the
$SAANARN
g., Return Ii Slow.
Z. Dr. Eckener's latest message
stated, ''the Graf is 80 miles south of
THE Rhone estuary, making only slow
speed because Of mistral."
. This position placed the limping
dirigible above the Gulf of Lyons,
about 176 miles northwest Of Mar
seiIles. .......
The Graf Zeppelin turned back
while near the Capo de Ia Mao. off
the coast Of Spain over the Mediter.
Sanean, just ct the time when the
passengers were hoping momentarily
TO catch a glimpse Of the ocean they
were to conquer, from the cabin OF
the airship.
Word was received here that at.
tempts may be made to repair one
OF the crippled motors while the
ship il In flight, which would en-.
able her to make greater speed.
: But even at its present rate Of
progress, the ship would arrive
!. back over Lake Constance early
/, this afternoon.
Works In Gloom
A pail Of gloom hung over the
Zeppelin works today as the great
ship. which only IL hours earlier
: had started out triumphantly on
: what was to have been the first
purely commercial transatlantic
: Zeppelin flight, limped back home.
~ Officials of the Zeppelin company
;. were reticent to talk. They gave
:. out the meager messages received
= from Dr.. Eckener graciously enough
= but their conversation consisted
mainly Of expressions Of poignant
regret that the Graf Zeppelin had
failed for the first time in her
glorious career.
!. Nearly 1000 miles Of the voyage
- had been accomplished when the
!. sudden and dramatic accident &C.
CURED and It became necessary ia
turn back.
Zeppelin officials had hoped "a
&Nrove by this trip the efficacy and
A6eky Of dIrigIble transportation
'acEOss the Atlantic.
Taking Il Hard
Everything connected with the
night had been conducted with the
same businesslike, unromantic eff
ciency that characterizes the start
Of an ordinary transatlantic pas
senger steamer on an every day
.yoyage. ,
.spre comes az Q great blow. bul
andleatiQn0 ere that The damag<
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