Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-08-22
BAD WINDS FORCE
ANOTHER DELAY IN
TAKE-OFF OF GRAF
Broken GondoIa Repaired
When Eckener Decides
on Postponement.
NEW PASSENGERS TAKEN
ABOARD CRAFT AT TOXIC
Big Crowd Disappointed Because
Departure for America Is
Again Put Off.

BY the Associated Press.
KASUMIGAURA, Japan. August "a
The departure of the dirigible Graf
Zeppelin for her transpacific flight to
America was postponed shortly before
midnight tonight because of unfavor-
able winds. At the same time 1t was
announced that the dirigible might
leave early in the morning.
A vast crowd was waiting to watch
the Crafts departure when the post
ponement became known. The late
hour of the postponement Shortly be-
fore midnight, Japanese time, would be
shortly before 10 am, Eastern standard
time) disappointed great numbers OF
country folk who had left their fields
and farms to be present on the historic
occasion Of the first airship flight from
the Orient to America.
Struts Are Broken.
Two broken struts on its rear gon-
dola had previously delayed the start OF
the Graf Zeppelin's flight.
The two struts we're broken before
dawn today as the Zeppelin was being
taken from the hangar here preparatory
to beginning the long fight to Los
Angeles. For some unexplained reason
the tail Of the giant ship dipped. allow
ing the rear gondola to strike the
ground and smash the wooden supports
Three minutes later and the Graf
would have been in the air. on its way
across the Pacific. AS 1t was. Dr.
Eckener hastily gave orders delaying
withdrawal from the hangar and him.
self stepped out of another gondola to
the ground, where he examined the
damage. He recognized at once the ne
cessity for repairs and announced de-
lay Of at least or 10 hours in de-
parture.
Passengers Go TO Toxic.
Passengers disembarked and left by
automobile for Toxic. while workmen at
the naval airport here Immediately be-
gan to repair the damage. The motor
contained in the gondola was not In
jured, the harm being confined princi-
pally to the gondola's superstructure.
Crowds had stayed all night long ut
the outskirts of the air field with the
hope OF witnessing take-off of the
Graf. The last-minute accident disap-
pointed them, but at least half RENAMED
in their places with true Oriental pa
tience trusting the promised thrills
would be fulfilled In due course
Although the accident was in every
sense minor, 1t was recalled that 1t was
the first Of its kind in the life of the
Zeppelin. On the Crafts first westward
transatlantic crossing gust of wind
ripped some Of the fabric from a rear
fin and on its unsuccessful westward
crossing attempt last May three of five
crankshafts we're broken. Landings
and take-offs heretofore have been
without incident.
$40 Miles Ahead.
The course of the Graf Zeppelin to
Los Angeles has been calculated to be
over a mileage of $40. The night
probably will occupy about 100 hours,
putting the Graf into Los Angeles about
Monday noon. Pacific time. About g.
500 miles will remain ahead of the
Zeppelin before it can complete its
round-the- world venture at Lakehurst,
N. J.
The damage was found to be entirely
envelope of the gondola and the basket
underneath, both we're slightly damaged,
but were easily mended.
The engineers in charge OF the work
expected to finish the last of their work.
connecting of the gas line to the en-
gine in the damaged section, shortly
after sunset.
The majority of the dirigible's pas
sengers. after motoring to Toxic. spent
the day abed, returning to the airport
here at sunset, and going on board the
dirigible at $50 p. m. today (7:30 am.
Eastern standard time).
Has New Passengers.
Nineteen passengers and crew of AZ
were aboard the airliner for the voyage.
In addition to the Is passengers
whose tickets read from Lakehurst to
Lakehurst. a Japanese naval oficer and
another officer from the general STAN OF
the army. and newspaper man from
a Japanese news agency Joined the air
ship.
They replaced Prof. Karklan. Rus
sian geographer: Japanese naval Of
ficer and two newspaper men who came
from Friedrichshafen to KaSumigaura.
The new passengers are Lieut.. Comdr.
RyunoSuke Kusaka of the Japanese
naval general staff, ,Dofu Shirai corre-
spondent Of japanese news agency,
and Maj. Shinichi Shibata Of the gen.
eral staff OF the army.
The officers and crew were increased
to ~, including DR.. Hugo Eckener, by
the addition Of Chief Engineer Karl
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