Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-05-21
FRENCH OFFICERS
ZEPPELIN GUESTS
Naval Observers to Be
Aboard DirigibIe on Flight
to Friedrichshafen.
Py the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
CUERS, France, May 21-Seven
French naval officers will fly to Fried
richshafen. Germany. guests of DR..
Hugo Eckener aboard the German
dirigible Graf Zeppelin when it returns
home Thursday or Friday.
Their trip will be as observers of
lighter than-air craft behavior for the
French navy, but at the direct invita-
ton of the German ships commander.
The offer is DR.. Eckener's mark of APP
probation for the favors shown him by
French authorities since he landed his
ship here last Friday.
Motor Fuel Is Short.
There was some doubt today as to
the exact date of the take-off for the
trip home, Capt. Lehman awaiting re-
turn of DR.. Eckener from Germany be-
fore making a definite announcement.
It was understood an unexplained
shortage of motor fuel, Improbable in
this country, might further delay take
off.
The two motors which were sent from
Friedrichshafen have been installed.
giving the ship now four good motors
Tor the trip. A fifth, which was being
sent from Genoa, can be installed Ell
route.
Herr Dvorak. the engineer from the
Zeppelin works, said today he was still
at loss to explain the cause of the
breakdown of the engines, but indicated
he would undertake long and careful
investigation with view to eventual
determination.
Practically all of the Crafts pas
sengers on it's westward trip, with the
exception of three or four who have
made other arrangements, will be
aboard it when it starts back to Ger
many. The passengers include: Lieut..
Comdr. Vincent Clarke, United States
Navy observer; Sir Hubert wilkins,
British explorer, and Mrs. Mary Pierce.
the only woman aboard. who also will
return to Friedrichshafen with the Yep
pelin.
"Susi" Making Money OFF Trip.
The 20-mile road from Toulon to the
airtield here was one continuous line
of automobiles yesterday and the crowd
was SO dense that special force was
obliged to clear the field.
The guards then permitted only so
cars to enter at time and to remain
only IS minutes. This soon resulted
in blockade of several thousand auto
mobiles along the highway.
The gorilla "SuSi" seems to be the
only passenger making any money out
of the trip. She was taken to Nice for
exhibition at the Zoo, but was brought
back Grated and shipped to Friedrich
shafen by rail today. where she will be
shown to the curious at two gold marks
look.
Gas Supplied by France.
French naval authorities here today
supplied the Graf Zeppelin with 5000
cubic meters OF hydrogen lifting gas
necessary to enable it to make its return
trip to Friedrichshafen.
1t was explained that the big ships
lifting gas supply had been carefully
apportioned to the load to be lifted, and
which, while sufficient for the trip to
America was not sufficient for the adj
ditional persons who intend to fly back
to FriedrichShafen.
Capt. Lehman. by increasing the
gas content of the bag thousand cubic
meters per person, could Offset this
extra weight. Until the French came
forward with their offer he had fore
seen the necessity of further delaying
the trip back to Germany or leaving
behind some of those who wanted to
go along.
The dirigible will have 81 passengers
in addition to a crew of 40 on the re-
turn trip.