The Washington times., 1929-08-19
tcontinued from First Pagel


40 hours, but was fully prepared
to have to spend $50 hours in the
air Il headwinds hampered the dirf-
gible's progress.
Tokyo was en- fete for the occasion
Of the Graf's arrival, and thousands
upon thousands of japanese from all
over the country had flocked to the
city to watch the majestic craft soar
overhead. The Graf arrived over ths
capital Is minutes after leaving
Kasumigaura, and after circling the
city while virtually the entire popu-
lation tumbled into the streets to
watch the sight, flew southwark 70
visit Yokahama.
The huge crowd upon the landing
field had been waiting since the
early hours Of the morning for the
Eeppelin's arrival. They had been
Informed that the ship would proceed
10 Tokyo and Yokahama after first
rircling the airport, and virtually all
waited patiently until the air liner
returned from its courtesy trip in
order to give the passengers and
crew q fitting welcome.
BY its early arrival here, the Graf
Zeppelin has performed even better
than the most sanguine hopes Of its
commander. Before leaving Fried.
kichshaven last Thursday, DR.. Ecke.
aaer said he hoped to make the trip
IN four and q half days, but was
fully prepared to take at least 120
hours for the journey.
Fearing that head winds might
seriously hamper his progress, the
commander informed his passengers
that they must be prepared to spend
even as long as 1S0 hours in the air,
and in the event that such a long
time might be necessary to span the
.Asiatic expanses.' DR.. Eckener made
the flight with only four out of the
ships five motors in operation.
BY this means, he conserved fuel
10 allow leeway in the event
adverse winds were encountered.
However, despite the fact that at
several points along the long route
rainstorns and winds of consider.
able velocity were met, the ship
proceeded on her way with the
regularity of speed Of an ocean liner.
Changes Course Twice
Because Of head winds and d
severe rainstorm, the worst weather
the Graf Zeppelin had encountered
in all it s6,600-mile journey from
Germany to the Flowery Kingdom,
the dirigible was forced to change
it's course twice while nearing
Japan.
The first detour took the great
ship across the southwestern arm
of Hokkaido in the direction Of
Shiriya, on the principal island Of
the japanese archipelago. The sec.
ond shift took the Zeppelin across
!. Vulcan Bay, on the opposite side Of
TFokkaido, and from there DR.. Eek
ener followed the eastern or
Pacific coastline of the main island
mf Hondu south toward Tokyo.
Crowds massed in the streets of
sites and towns along the route
xave the dirigible q vociferous greet.
ing az she SCARED majestically over
head, while ships plying in the water
gaps over which she leaped beloved
forth a symphony Of sirens and whis-
ties as she proceeded on her way.
On the stroke of noon 10 p. m.
Sunday, Washington time), a fleet
of Japanese military airplanes took
off from the Kasnigaura Field to
meet the dirigible at point about
Zoo miles north Of Tokyo, ana escort
che triumphal air monarch to the
landing field. AT about the same
time, group of Germans residing
in Kobe arrived at the field to well
come the dirigible and its hardy
goyagers.
All Conveyances Used
Every imaginable type of convey
ance, from railroad train to rick
shaw, brought an unending stream
A JapanesA and foreign residents
from Tokyo and other parts of Japan
to the field to witness the landing.
Hours before the Zeppelin arrived,
there were more than 100000
gathered at the aerodrome. Tn
weather was brilliant, and the crowd
In a holiday mood. Thousands OF
Riars. Japanese, German, English
and American fluttered in the light
breeze and a jabber Of tongues like
that of the famed Tower of Babel
filled the air.
From the moment the airship
crossed the shore Of the Asiatic
mainland and sped out over the
sea of Okhotsk at Port Ayan, COM
pleting its journey over the forbid
ding Siberian wastes, it's progress
was watched by millions in the
Flowery Kingdom.
Following approximately the 142d
meridian, the ship was first picked
up by watchers along the east
coast as it raced at speeds rang.
ing from 55 to IS miles an hour
toward its goal.
Passengers Relieved
Messages from the dhiSible told
OF the relief felt by the passengers
q
height Of more than 5000 feet to
tains, on the fringe of the. eastern.
most Siberian coast. had been
cleared safely. Almost Immediately
afterward, the Zeppelin shot out
over the water, and found balmy
weather and the familiar sight of
tossing waves in place of the
and impenetrable forests which had
Siberia.
Then southwark the great ship
raced, picking it's way through
storm areas, but always proceeding
with speed undiminished toward its
destination. Past Karafuto Island
and Sakhalin, Japan's rich oil re-
gion, the Zeppelin tore it's way to
Hokkaido. most northerly Of the
big islands Of the Japanese group
and then across Vulcan Bay.
When the Graf swept over Port
Ayan and out over the Sea of
OkhotSk. virtually entering japanese
territory, the great ship had been
in the air u hours and 80 minutes
since the time it left Friedrich.
shafeu At that time half of Eurone
Russia and Siberia had rolled away