Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-11-02
AKRON SALUTES
CHIEF EXECUTIVE
Dips Its Nose Above White
House as President
Watches From Porch.

U. S. s. Akron, paid It's first visit to
the Nations Capital today
| While thousands looked on from
streets and housetops, the newest ad-
dition to the Nays air feet SCARED
over Washington, dipped respectfully in
salute to President Hoover and sailed
away into the north.
Like some great monster, the giant
airship showed its blunt nose through
the haze from the northeast at $50
| o'clock It's escort, the veteran u. S. s.
Los Angeles. previously had come into
view. but had turned back to allow the
Akron to sail over the city first.
Statutes White House.
The Akron. with the morning sun
glistening on its silvery sides. glided
malestically over the city, passing
above historic points and up Pennsyl
vania avenue to the White House.
There It dipped its nose gracefully.
President Hoover. hundreds Of feet be-
low on side porch of the Executive
| Mansion. received the salute. He had
first been notified of the Akron's en-
trance into the city by the Navy De-
partment. Shading his eyes from the
bright sun, he followed the course of
the two airships. Mrs. Hoover looked
up from the White House roof, sur
rounded by her secretaries and aides.
The two dirigibles then pointed their
noses toward the Potomac River.
Statutes Unknown Soldier.
Floating lazily above the Potomac.
the Akron crossed over to Arlington
National Cemetery. where 1t dipped in
salute to the Unknown Soldier. The
Simmer and Shorter Los Angeles also
saluted the unknown representative of
Americas war dead.
Circling over the cemetery the great
fighting craft turned back toward
Washington, entering over Georgetown
Passing over the White House a sec
ond time, and dipping again in salute,
the Akron and Los Angeles nosed their
way into the haze to the North, their
fln-like sterns disappearing in the mist
shortly after 10 o'clock.
Jahncke Sends Greetings
Radio greetings were transmitted by
the Assistant Secretary of the Navy
Ernest Lee Jahncke. He congratulated
the service and the ships command.
Mr.. Jahncke radloed those aboard that
Mrs Hoover, the sponsor of the great
ship, was viewing the voyage from the
roof of the White House
She sends greetings and best wishes
that all voyages of the good ship may
be successful" Jahncke asserted
with the completion and commits
sioning of the. U. S. S. Akron we now
lead the world in the lighter than air
branch of aviation. The American
people should be justly proud of this
achievement.
THE Navy has built the Akron not
only to demonstrate her usefulness for
naval purposes, but for a new and more
rapid means of international communi-
cation and commerce.
AN airship will cruise at a speed
three times that of the fastest surface
vessel. We firmly believe that the Akron
will so fully demonstrate the great value
of rigid airShipS not only for naval but
for commercial purposes, that by the
time the second ship, the zRS-5, is COM
pleted, the first great commercial airship
. Will be begun, the forerunner of feet
OF airshipS flying the American flag
that will, indeed, make us first in this
merchant marine of the air, and bring
4, back to us some of the pride, glory and
honor our forefathers had in the days
when our country had wooden ships and
iron men.
Moffett Is Congratulated.
Congratulations to you, Admiral
Moffett," said the Assistant Secretary.
addressing the chief of the Bureau of
Aeronautics. Navy Department. who was
, aboard the craft, for your faith and
confidence in the future of air trans
portation; to you, Comdr Rosendahl
, Gieut. Comdr. Charles E. Rosendahl,
commanding officer of the AKRON for
! the, splendid manner in which you are
navigating the ship over Washington
this morning
And now just a word of credit to the
Goodyear Zeppelin Corporation which
undertook the construction of this fine
airship; to their president and his con-
freres, and to the men who worked
with them and who deserve much praise
for the successful construction of this
craft which has become a part of the
United States Navy"
The greetings from the Assistant
secretary were transmitted to the Akron
and over the country by the National
! Broadcasting' Co.
A half dozen airplanes played about
the Akron in the haze of the horizon
as she emerged from the northeast
after visiting Annapolis, Md.
Navy Department officials got their
! first glimpse of the giant ship from
! the roof of the Navy Department Build
; ing Work at the department slowed
: down as clerks craned their necks out
OF the windows to see the mighty
ship as it came toward the Potomac
! PdoSlIis 10 LIE nOTCn OF the
washington Monument, silhouetted In
silver against the sky.
Los Angeles Follows.
The Akron passed directly over the
Navy Department Building, and her
: propellers could be plainly seen whir-
ring along as she sailed past. After
came the U. S. S. Los Angeles, which
i, appeared undernourished compared
I with the plump Akron
d Many naval officials for the first time
e mao a chance to see the mighty Akron
IN reality, for they had dreamed and
S worked over her in mere outline and
a blueprint.
A number Of naval officials were or
: TIE roof of the Navy Department to
greet her when she sailed over. After
! crossing above the Potomac River, the
e AKRON and the Los Angeles turned ia
starooard after they had flown above
: the great city of the dead at Arlington
Both ships circled rather sharply and
T ire Akron passed over the White
!, House, where she dipped to President
Hoover. The Los Angeles followed suit
and then both ships passed above the
Navy Department again
:, The Akron dipped almost directly
5 over Secretary Adams Office. far above
. the nag that marks the center of the
7 Navy Department Building as the
u Nays newest airShiD paid honor &c