Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1936-05-11
.ECKENER IN CITY,;
ZEPPELIN RETURN
TO START TONIGHT
Famed Navigator Calls on
PreSident-leaveS This
Afternoon.
RECORD HELD LIKELY
ON WEST-EAST FLIGHT
Take.0ff Set Between 10 PM. and
Midnight From Lakehurst
Base.

DR.. Hugo Eckener Of the Zeppelin
Hindenburg made q flying" trip to
Washington today, into which he
crowded a call on President Roosevelt,
a round of official visits, an interview
and luncheon at the German Embassy.
Following brief stay at the White
House, DR.. Eckener. with his party,
proceeded to the German Embassy
He was to leave washington at 8
o'clock for New York.
DR.. Eckener's time here was limited,
since the Hindenburg will sail from
Lakehurst, N. j., at Between 10
o'clock and midnight tonight on her
return voyage. He plans to return
by plane If weather permits.
He paused long enough to talk to
newspaper men during a call at the
Navy Department. The veteran de-
signer of Zeppelins said the newest
craft can make 80 miles an hour and
may break the Atlantic speed record
If aided by favorable winds.
Silent on Politics.
Questioned concerning German poll
tics, DR.. Eckener said: II am not a
politician. I read something about
troubles in Germany, but they are all
wrong"
The visitor. 1t was supposed. refer
red to reports that he had had q dis
agreement with Chancellor Hitler.
A reporter asked as to the linden
burg's possibilities in event of war.
I'VE are concerned with commercial
developments" DR.. Eckener said. "As
to the possibilities Of war, we are not
concerned with those"
DR.. Eckener was asked If he hoped
to break any transatlantic speed rec
ords on the return crossing.
II fear that at this time we will not
break the Lndbergh record of SO
hours. But at some later time" he
declared, shaking his finger at report
ers, I'VE will do so. It should not be
impossible with q favorable wind to
cross In 80 hours or less"
Recalls Previous visit.
DR.. Eckener recalled that on an
other visit to Washington several years
ago he inspected q possible site for
dirigible landing field in Hybla VAL
ley. near Alexandria, with the late
Rear Admiral william A. Moffett,
since killed in the crash Of the Akron.
ut is . good field" DR.. Eckener
said.
A reporter reminded him that on
the inspection trip he had been chased
by a bull.
YES" smiled the visitor, cit was
q good fence which protected U.S."
DR.. Eckener's party was shown
through the Navy Department by
Capt. William D. Puleston, director
of Naval Intelligence, in whose office
the press conference was held.
With DR.. Eckener was Capt. Ernst
Lehman, commander of the linden
burg; H. Won Meister, American rep
resentative of the Zeppelin Co., and
Lieut.. Gen. Friedrich Won Boetticher,
military and air attache at the Ger
man Embassy.
Calls on STANDBY.
The party called on Admiral William
H. STANDBY. Acting Secretary of the
Navy, and then went to see Rear Ad-
miral Ernest j. King. chief of the
Bureau Of Aeronautics. While the
party was there 1t was Joined by Ad-
miral Kings successor. Rear Admiral
Arthur B. Cook, who has just been
transferred here from command of
the U. 8. s. Lexington, aircraft car
rier. Admiral King is to leave for sea
duty soon.
DR.. Eckener also went for q chat
with Rear Admiral Gilbert j. Rowcliff,
director of Naval Communications,
whose bureau kept in touch with the
Hindenburg by radio during the voyage
across the Atlantic.
The party then paid calls at the
Commerce, State and Post ONCE De-
(See ECKENTR poOa A.CN