New Britain herald., 1929-08-14
ZEPPELIN ROUTES
 OVER WILD AREAS
Vast Plains, Mountains and Roaming Tribes in Path of Graf

edSI SeUSl dpis, llt pSt"cSh Friedrichshafen, Germany, and Tokyo. Japan. the next leg of the Graf Zeppelin's world flight.
 Savants of the National Geo. graphic society declare that no matter what route the eompander. Dr. Hugo Eckener follows in the long sail to the Japan or Okhotsk b seas, he must cross pioneer Siberia, of vast uninhabited areas, where there are hodge -podge of peoples speaking literally scores of different + languages, and where there are few transportation and communication facilities.
 Due to postwar changes, some of the Geography is very new in .- deed. Should the airship unexpect- 'r edly come to grief and be con- pelled to descend, Americans fol- lowing the flight will have to be- 9 come familiar with regions, many of which have never been heard of, and unless the radio apparatus IS a in first class working order, just right for transmission and recep- ton of signals, pr. Eckener may be days and even weeksmaking his position known.
 Scientist Crossed Siberia
 Only last year, Dr. Gilbert Gros- venor, president of the National Geographic society, crossed Siberia. His reports. with those of other ex- plorers of the society, provide basis for coniectures on the most z feasible route for the Graf Zeppelin 8 and give indications of what the ~ dirgible travellers might encounter. = Should present low pressure con- ~4 tinue over Russia, forcing Dr. Eek = ener to take the southern route, as : dispatches from Friedrichshafen in- . dicate, he will have to go farther but a more beautiful and interest ing earth-scape will reward him.
 Mountain chains fringe this trail from the Caucasus to the Hindu kush and the Altai. The ship would first cross old Turkestan, with the many new soviet coined names, Uzbekistan, Karakirghizia, Turk menistan. A map of its racial popu- lation would look like crazy quilt with every bizarre block a desert tribe.
 Desert Comes Next
 Then would come thousands Of miles of semi desert, the region to which Leon Trotsky was exiled, Sarts, Tartars and Asatic Kirkghiz roam about Russian settlements re- claimed from aridity by irrigation. Severe earthquakes shake the towns. The architectureis all of one story. Brave falst fronts, more elaborate than those of Americas Pioneer west, simulate the second story.
 Should the Graf Zeppelin passen- gers come down into one of these towns, they would find in hose false fronts, so like the saloons of the old west, a correct keynote on the life farther on, from krasno- yarsk to the coast For travellers have agreed that the "howling wolves and snow weighted pine trees' concept of Siberia must go, Siberia should be thought of rather as another frontier, like the Amer ican west of 50 to 100 years ago.
 LawIessness Rules
 "Lawlessness. freedom, opportu- nity, a place to live life over again. great distances, vastness. nd gloriousness of scenery" was the word picture of one recent rambler who insisted that the only changes required to transform the present 'wild east into the old American "wild west" would be details of language and custom and names Of places.
 Another visitor found "all the in- teresting people in Siberia explain ing that the old exile system sent many of Russias brightest and most fearless citizens there. Night life is never dull" was anoth=r comment and high tribute was paid to the colorful Siberian sunset--a chance for the Zeppelin to find a proper frame.
 Geographers consider it likely that Dr. Eckener may follow rather closely the trans Siberian railway on the eastern half of his trip, because of communication protection i; would afford in an emergency. They also suggest that the strained rea- tions between iussia and Chin, might lead him to stay over Rus sian soil all the way to the sea, in- stead of taking the short cut across Manchuria. Since there is Rus sian meteorologst aboard. and since so much of the route must be made with Russian cooperation, they say it would appear to simplify dipIo, matte problems to remain in Rus sia.
 May Avoid Gobi Desert
 If that is done, the travellers would avoid the great Gobi desert and would cross the defunct "Fal East Republic" which fourishel briefly after the World War. The people of this region, which lies 1T the southern" route. are a mixture of Russian and Buriaat- -Mongol anl will soon have for their neighbors the largest Jewish state in the world, to be created in the Birt Bidjan district along the AmuI river.
 A middle route along the siXtetf parallel would be wilder and nor, primitive all the way. but wildes and most primitive would be dis ance-shortening swing to the north ward. There, aboriginal Yakuts Fungus and Yukashire trek tn, "Taiga," forest such as only Si beria raises, or chase reindeer ova the frozen Tundra For these rel sons, however, Dr. Eckener is ey peeted to avoid both of those route if possible.
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