The Washington times., 1929-08-20
| NPE ROR
To HONOR
ECKENER
CONTINUED from First Page

In lnIcENAlS OIL ICIGG anu hOCldl
functions the air sailors and passen-
gers went sightseeing. Arrange
ments are being concluded for the
Graf to carry q considerable quantity
Of mail to the United Sites from
Japan. The present understanding
"A that the rate win be a dollar an
ounce to Los Angeles, $50 to New
York nd $3.50 an ounce back to
Friedrichshafen.
Woman Included
Eleven officers and passengers Of
the Graf Zeppelin, including Lady
Grace Drummond Hay, the only
woman aboard the air liner, have
been commanded to appear at the
imperial palace in the imperial COM
pound tomorrow afternoon to take
tea with the emperor and recount
the story Of their thrilling flight
over half Of Europe ana all OF Asia
from Friedrichshafen, Germany to
Japan.
Few visitors to Japan of any
degree have been so honored by
the Mikado, sovereign Of the oldest
unbroken ruling dynasty in the
world. Emperor Hirol1ito, the 124th
Mikado to sit on the throne of the
flowery kingdom, IL intensely in.
terested in aviation, and has done
much to foster its development iE
Japan.
His patronage of the Graf Zeppe-
Inns pioneer commercial flig h t
around the world places upon this
venture the stamp Of highest ap-
proyal, and accords the passengers
and crew an honor which even the
most ambitious had not dared to
hope for.
Getty Ready
But in spite of the elaborate pro-
gram Of festivities mapped out for
the passengers, and the officers,
there has been no let up in the work
of refueling and inspecting the mon
arch of the air, in order that 1t may
Angeles early Thursday morning.
DR.. Eckener is determined to
leave at this time IL humanity pos
sible, and while expressing utmost
appreciation of the accolade which
Japan has accorded him and his
companions, has made it plain that
speedy completion of the epic flight
is of greater Importance than fes-
tivities.
Almost before the passengers had
left Kasumigaura aerodrome for
Tokyo by special train following
the arrival, Brigades of engineers
and inspectors, provided by the
Zeppelin company. swarmed over
the great ship. The motors were
subjected to minute inspection. the
steering and stability apparatus
tested and additional fuel taken
aboard.
Crowds Still Come
Other employees began the task of
replenishing stores, and the i'm.
naense quantities of mail and ex-
press packages destined for trans.
portatlon across the Pacific Ocean
were stored aboard.
Twenty-four hours after the Zep-
pelin's arrival here, the ship still
remains the focal point Of Nippon.
eso curiosity. Throughout the day,
an unceasing swarm Of Japanese,
anxious to see the great air mon
ster which swept across the desc
late Siberian wastes with thrice
the speed Of the fastest train, jour.
neyed to Kasumlgaura field. Under
the watchful eyes Of police and air.
port officials, they passed in a
single line through the hangar. gaz
ing in silent awe at the silver
sides and silent motors of the huge
dirigible which had brought Orient
and Occident closer together than
ever before in the history Of the
world.
Wednesdays program, exclusive
Of the emperor's tea, will include a
meeting Of welcome staged by the
citizenry of Tokyo at Hibiya Park,
to be attended by many national
dignitaries.
The first official reception took
place outside the Kasumigaura
hangar soon after the Graf's
arrival, when Japanese statesmen,
aeronautical officials and about 800
especially invited guests gathered
in the hangar to welcome DR..
Eckener.
Pressed to speak of his brilliant
achievement in plotting the huge
d1rtgtble across the unchafted wastes
of Siberia. DR.. Eckener addressed
modesty, and paid tribute to the
nations Of the world which had co
operated in making the flight
possible.
Fights the Typhoon
"All in all, taking every item as
now recall them in my memory,
it is the most wonderful, most
marvellous journey I ever had, DIR.
Eckener said. Nothing could com.
pare with that speedy flight over
the utterly desolate regions of
Siberia, where littIe-known inhabi.
tants still live in primitive tepees,
end to whom an airship is a thing
of deepest mystery.
And nothing could have been
more impressive than our battle
With the typhoon in our course
down the Straits of Tartar over
Vulcan Bay and out into the
Pacific. From the air, the Island
Empire Of Japan is one of the
most beautiful sights in the world.
And our reception here, where no
commercial airship had touched be-
fore, Is simply stupendous."
FRIEDRIcHsHAFEN, Germany
Aug 20 Q.N.S.l-Dr. Schmidt.
legal adviser Of the Zeppelin works,
announced he would leave for New
York today to prepare for the ar
rival Of DR.. Hugo Eckener, com.
mander Of the Graf Zeppelin and for
the opening Of negotiations for the
formation of a German. American
airship corporation.
The proposed company would es.
tabHsh airlines between Europe
and North and South America.
American financiers are reported
70 be inclined to back the project
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