The Waterbury Democrat., 1936-05-09
DR. ECKENER IS
 'SIDETRACKED'
(c ,ntinued from Page i.)


 "There has been some question aa to who was in command of the Hindenburg."
 Lehman, short, rudy-faced, im- maculate in 8 navy blue, gold braid- cd uniform, replied without the slightest hesitation:
 T was. Dr. Eckener was aboard in the capacity of advisor"
 Responding as quickly to another question, he said he was in com- mand on the Hindenburg's first fllght--to South America. tHer flight to LakehurBt was her second major flight. She had made several flights in Germany, particularly to arouse enthusiasm for the election that re- gently obtained an overwhelming endorsement of Hitler'S Rhineland policies)
 "But," Lehman added, smiling, "there was never any conflict over authority. There was always close cooperation"
 Eckener said nothing. All through the interview he look old and tired. Lehman beamed constant- ly.
 Unofficial Time
 Although neither pr. Hugo Eek ener or Capt. Ernst Lehman of the Hindcnburg could give the exact time of landing hNe, 1t was cal- culatGd on the basis of the unoffi- cIal time, 6:20 Q. m. EDS, that the dirigiblo made the crossing in 6l hours and 50 minutes.
 The Hindenburg left Frederich- shafen at 4:30 p. m, EDT., Wednes- day.
 According to the Hindenburg's log, the airship traversed 4,38i land miles. Highest speed logged was 93 land miles per hour and the aver age speed was estimated at 7l.3 miles per hour.
 The fastest westward trip of the Graf Zeppelin was OB hours and g minutes.
 ECkener On Result
 E'ckener was asked about the Hin- denburg
 "rhe HindenbtTg," he replied, made 6 rather fast trip considering that 1t was from east to west. Or- dinarily head winds prevail flying in that direction at this season of the year. But they were absent for the most part of this trip"
 What did he think of tho poBsi- bility or regular commercial airBhip flights over the North Atiantio2
 we had especially favorable con- ditions on this trip. I would hcSi- tate to draw any conclusions from such Q journey. My decisions will be determined by future trips when the Hindenberg will encounter adv- erse weather. That is when one can decide how the ship behaves"
 Lehman Enthusiastic
 Lehman said tho airship "be- haved splendidly." He expressed hope that it would be possible to obtain from the United States goV- ernment q sufficient Belium supply to dispense with the more hazardous explosive hydrogen gas now used for lifting purposes.
 Both Eckenor and Lehman were hVptbuuCu WtIOh WiSy Vt"StVN "aN left the room.
 Mrs. Leslie CharteriS, pretty, a. ycar-old wife of the British novel; lst, described here voyage as grand" and "very smooth"
 Her biggest thrill, she said, came when she donncd q pair of khaki trousers and climbed down a narrow gangway to the motor gondola while the ship was high over the ocean.
 Was Hair Raising
 "It was positively hair-raising," she said, laughing. T wouldn't have missed 1t for the world. People were standing in front and behind me to catch mo in case my foot slip- ped"
 Mrs. Clara Adams, of New York and StrourShurg, Pa, who was the first woman to fly In the Graf zep- pelin from the United States to Germany, declared the trip loft her "speechless. 1t was so wonderful" "The difference between flying in the Graf and in the Hindenburg is the same as one would find between an old sailing ship and one of these new super -liners."
 T can tell you lots more," she added, but I haven't entirely col- lected my thoughts"
 
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