The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1929-08-05
LARGEST DIRIC|bLC
IMPROVESIIS Time
INCROSS|NCOCEAN
Flight Across Atlantic Con.
sumes 95 Hours and 21 Min.
utes; Weather Varied
HAVE AN ENJOYABLE TRIP
Will Start Back to Germany on
Wednesday for First Leg
Of World Journey
HAVE AN ENJOYABLE TRIP

Naval Air Station, Lakehurst. N.
j.. Aug. 5.-(AP)-The German
dirigible Graf Zeppelin was safe in
port today after its third crossing
Of the Atlantic.
And day after tomorrow it will
start back f,r Germany, a flight that
will be the first leg Of a journey
around the world.
Graf Zeppelin. largest Of airships,
left Friedcrichshafen at 9:29 E. S.
I. Wednesday night and was pulled
to the ground here at 6:48 last night
after a5 hours and 19 minutes in the
air. The westward crossing last
year took Ill hours.
Not that is was all favorable
weather this time. "There was every
kind Of weather." DR.. Hugo Eckener,
commant',r of t, ship. laid on land
ing. 1T was very interesting
flight. We had no snow and no hail,
but there was storm close to US
at the start and there were strong
head winds Tor the last IA hours in
the air."
Danced at Midnight
I'VE had a very enjoyable time
he told reporters. AT night we
danced and sang and drank wine."
There were other amusements,
too. Passengers told of a bridge
tournament and accounted with
laughter how they had "kiddcd"
themselves in face Of the rule
against smoking by carrying por-
cclain cigarettes which they ait"
with electric flashlights.
The 18 passengers, including two
women, showed no signs of weeri.
ness from the trip and said they had
enjoyed perfect comfort. Soon aft
er they had been passed BY customs
and immigration agents they left
for New York in special train.
The Graf could have landed
couple Of hours sooner but for
gusty wind Of about 40 mile velocity.
Brings Cheers
The dirigible first f,oated over the
field here just as the sun was set
ting red in a bank of slate gray
clouds. The crimson rays made the
silvery leviathan of the air shine
like polished metal, sight that
brought pr olon-ed cheers from t.
crowd at the field, estimated at
100000. The Graf clipped as though
in preparation for landing, but on
radio advice from the field it rose
again and turned its shining blunt
nose toward New York, which it
circled before returning for night
landing.
After the passengers had been
discharged the great ship that HAD
carried them safely across the sea
was left swinging in the starlight
at the stations stub mast and with
one third of the crew of two score
aboard.
At midnight the wind had died to
no more than brisk breeze and the
dirigible was walked to the hangar
where it was snugly berthed beside
its little sister. the navy dirigtble Los
Angeles, and two baby airships that
cuddled under the los Angeles flanks.
! Prepare TO Refuel
Immediate preparations were made
to start refueling the Graf and re-
plenishing her supply Of nitrogen, 90
that she might leave on her return
| journey to Friedrichshafen Wednes.
day night. From there the ship will
ny to Tokyo. thence to the west coast
Of the United States. and so back to
Lakehurst. This girdle Of the globe
completed, the ship will fly back 70
its home port across the Atlantic,
bringing its total OF Atlantic cross
ings to five.
The Graf Zeppelin was escorted
\ H@A - 1&SAA -
Lakehurst today by hah . do1en
planes, most of them news picture
planes. and from one Of which .
description was broadcast over nation
wide radio hookup and reporters tale
phoned stories about the Oraf's ar.
rival at her destination direct to their
offices BY radio and land telephone
connection.