Evening star., 1936-05-09

its first trip over the ocean. flying
| the commercial route across the South
Atlantic to Brazil. On its return
from this voyage the Hindenburg ex-
perienced motor trouble of the Span
ish coast, but made its home port
safely.
On other trips to the United States
the German Zeppelins were always
| under the command of DR. Eckener.
In view of recent political differences
in Germany, however, the famous de-
signer has been relieved of the COM
mand of the Hindenburg.
On its voyage across the South
Atlantic and on the maiden trip to
the United States the new dirigible-
the largest lighter-than-air craft ever
built-was commanded by Capt. Ernst
A. Lehman, German airship
veteran.
AS soon as the ship was made fast
to the movable mooring mast, i'm
migration officers-just as if it were
big liner at Quarantine in New York
Bay-went aboard and made the
routine inspection.
A special post Office crew was on
hand to care for the largest mail load
ever transported by air across the
North Atlantic. 2,200 pounds, including
much material of value for stamp COL
lectors.
Passenger Capacity Occupied.
The entire passenger capacity of
the airship was occupied on this first
OF 10 round-trip voyages during this
Summer. Next Monday midnight the
Hindenburg will leave for Friedrich
shafen, again with a full complement
of passengers.
Although the speed Of the Hinden-
burg in last few hours over the At
lantic was reduced considerably by
adverse winds. the average speed for
the trip was 7l.3 miles per hour. The
maximum speed attained on the voy-
age was SO miles per hour.
Despite the early hour it reached
the metropolitan area. thousands of
persons were up to greet the Hinden-
burg.
1t was first sighted coming up Am
brose Channel from the lightship.
Ships sent forth welcoming blasts
from their sirens.
Despite the early morning haze, with
the sun not yet up, the ships huge
hulk was easily discernable.
The din Of the welcome awakened
many residents. who hurriedly popped
their heads out of apartment house
windows to catch glimpse as it
cruised over Battery Park, at the
lower tip Of Manhattan Island, and
headed north over the city.
Glides Up Broadway.
Broadway. was the course which
guided the Zeppelin on its first trip
over Manhattan. At the Battery.
where Broadway begins, some 1000
persons were gathered and from them
came a great cheer.
At Columbus Circle 1t appeared as
II the ship swerved slightly and left
Broadway, circling over Central Park
to 10th street.
A searchlight amidships played on
the towners of Manhattan.
After circling over the city the
Hindenburg headed directly down the
Jersey Coast, and cut inland to Lake
hurst. After it was moored at the
naval base, 1t took ! hour and 2
minutes before the Zeppelin was safe
ly berthed in the hangar.
Lieut. George F. Watson, COM
munications officer at the naval base.
said the landing crew was probably
the smallest ever to bring down q
dirigible."
Field officers said they had tried to
signal the ship to remain In the air
until the soldiers could arrive from
Camp Dix to aid the naval Regulars.
The officers of the Hindenburg ap-
parently misunderstood the signals.
Comdr. Charles A. Rosendahl, Lake
hurst commandant. said the soldiers
were not late, but that the ship was
early. It came In about 20 minutes
ahead of the latest information given
to the field. With the soldiers unavail-
able the civilians grabbed at the ropes
alongside the Navy men, dug their
heels into the sandy soil Of the landing
circle, and the ship was tied to the
mobile mooring mast without mishap.
Pay Fee for Field.
The use by the Hindenburg Of the
naval facilities at Lakehurst Is in ac-
cordance with an ofiicially drawn
permit available to the German zep-
pelins since 1928.
There are no privately-owned airship
facilities on the seaboard suitable to
ships of this size. The Zeppelin op-
orators pay o fee to the Government
for use Of the field.
The Hindenburg's time Of 81 hours
and 53 minutes from Friedrichshafen
was a new airship record for the west
ward crossing OF the Atlantic from
Germany. 4