New Britain herald., 1929-05-16
ZEPPELIN SAILING !
 ALONG OVER SPAIN
(Continued from First rage)

wife of . New York utilities broker, who made the trip despite urgent pleadings of her husband and moth CT. Among the men was Captain Sir George Hubert Wilkins. arctic ex- plorer.
 The ship was trundled from its hangar at 5:t5 .. m. and at the pic lots command was reelased for its long voyage at 5:57 .. m. u1:57 p. m.. e. :. t.. Wednesday). It rose slowly in an intermittent drizzle. while 200 or more spectators cheer ed. It circled the field once, and dis appeared in 10 minutes in the di- rection of Lake Constance and Basel. Switzerland.
 After flying over Walashut and saeckingen the dirigible arrived over Basel at 7:s0 a. m., fog obliging it to descend close to the ground to discharge its first load of air mail. Five Swiss airplaneS joined 1t there and acted as an escort as far as the French frontier which 1t wirelessed it had crossed at 1855 .. m.
 Eckener Announces Course
 Dr. Eckener before he left an- nounced his course. After leaving France we will go along the coast of Spain until we reach Gibraltar and then we will see what next. If we went above the mouth of the Loire we would have strong south- westerly winds against us which would delay us 50 much we would lose five hours more time than by going by way of Gibraltar, even though that is 450 miles farther. :
 T have advised the French gov ernment accordingly. Whether we will cross the Azores I cannot tell as yet. When we get out there we'll stick our noses in the air, take . good sniff, and decide where to trun next"
 The decision to pass over Gibral- tar indicated that an almost ex- treme southerly great circle course probably would be followed, the distance to be covered thus ap- preaching 7,500 miles as against . 1000 mile minimum distance if the northern great circle course were followed.
 Passengers and members of the ships crew. began to arrive at the dirigible's hangar shortly atfer five o'clock. The gorilla, 'Susi," was taken aboard first, the dirigible's human freight following.
 Mrs. Pierce Aboard ...
 Mrs. Pierce was one of the first at the field. She was attired in beige travelling costume. straw hat trim med with feathers, tan shoes and silk stockings. The silk stockings. how. ever, she changed for woolen golf hose on the advice of a newspaper correspondent. At 5:35 her French maid brought her small bag which contained a costly brown fur coat
 uU nope II zee you ASdiH, the maid said with catch in her voice.
 Mrs. Pierce replied: "Oh! Certain ly, and don't forget to send the mes- sagss told you to send" K
 Fckener Goes On Ship
 Dr. Eckener was the last aboard the zeppelin. It was taken from its hangar. poking its nose imposinsly into the dreary grey mist. At 5:5S he gave the command to start the motors and the next minute the vast Girigible was on its way, first des- cribing loop over Friedrichshafen
 All the windows on the starboard side were lined with faces, whose owners waved their hands in answer to the "hochs" of the crowd below. All seemed in a cheerful jovial mood. If the frenzy of former flights was nlissin, it was because the Graf's flights had lost their novelty; cer-