GERMAN EXPERTS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 108, 8 May 1937, Page 9

GERMAN EXPERTS.

DISASTER INQUIRY. Dr. Eckener Says Helium Gas] Must Replace Hydrogen. REGARDLESS OF COST. United Press Association.—Copyright. i (Received 12 noon.) - BERLIN, May 7. ] An Air Ministry commission of six, ; with Dr. Eckener the principal mem- . her, is going to the United States in ] the Europa to-morrow. , Germany is in deej> mourning Heir Hitler received a telegram from King!, George stating: "I am deeply shocked! by the news of the disaster and hasten j • to express my sincere condolences." Dr. Eckener, after discussing the possibility of sabotage, said it was possible that lightning struck the Hindenburg while manoeuvring and when the highly inflammable hydrogen gas was being; discharged. He added: "The construction of airships will continue. Naturally no passenger will set foot in a hydrogen-filled airship again. Helium will be used regardless of cost." The official German news agency an- I nounces that the tragedy will not affect the further building of Zeppelins by Germany or the German Zeppelin ' transatlantic traffic, which will be con- j tinned unabated. A new airship is nearing completion j at Friedrichshafen and she will take the . Hindenburg's place. Investigations into the disaster have been arranged in Xew York, states a message from America. The German I Ambassador, Dr. Luther, lias arrived to represent his Government. The Navy Department announces that j it is convening a Board of Inquiry, and the Secretary of Commerce. Mr. D. C, ' Roper, is reported to be on his way by aeroplane to supervise an inquiry by the Bureau of Air Commerce. Also State officials have ordered an inquest. | Most experts say they are convinced that the disaster was due to static, but some have advanced the theory that sparks resulted from the throttling down of the engines "while gas was being valved. | President Roosevelt has cabled his condolences to Herr Hitler. BRITISH SORROW. Sympathy Indicated to Nazi Air Ministry. MESSAGE OF CONDOLENCE. British Official Wireless. I (Received H.SO p.m.) j RUGBY, May 7. The Secretary for .Air. Viscount Swin- . toll, has sent the following message of condolence to the German Air Minister:— | "I desire to express on my behalf and lon that of British aviation sincere sympathy on the tragic disaster to the airship Hindenburg." ! ——

EXPLORER SHOCKED. Sir Hubert Wilkins' Tribute To Lost Germans. COMMENT FROM BRITAIN. LONDON". May 7. The noted explorer, Sir Hubert Wilkins, s-ays lie spent a month on the Hiiidenburg during its jiost-trial flights and became intimately acquainted with most of the crew. He was terribly shocked at the disaster. The death of Captain Lehmann was a great loss to the science of airship construction, when experts could ill bs spared. Sir Hubert stated that his faith in airships was unshaken but he thought that experience ought to be developed with smaller tj-yes, as in the case of aeroplanes, before confidence could be held in the safety of larger dirigibles. Commander Sir Dennistoun Burney, who was responsible for the design and construction of the British airship RlOl, said: "Unless we can get away from hydrogen, I shall find it difficult to retain my confidence in the future of airships." Mr. E. F. Spanner, who predicted the disaster of the RIO], considered that the greater the size of airships, the greater the structural risks. Seventy-five per cent of the insurance on the Hiiidenburg was placed in London, but it was well spread.

"GO ON BUILDING."

ZEPPELIN TOWN MOURNS. (Received 11 a.m.) BERLIN, May 7. The "Zeppelin town" of Friedrichshafen while bells tolled and flags were at halfmast, held a mourning ceremony in the great hangar from which the Hindenburg set out on its last journey. The whole staff crowded into the hall where Dr. Ludwig Duerr, constructor of the airship, read out the names of the dead. A minute's silence having elapsed, Dr. Duerr declared: "We shall go on with the building of the LZI3O, which is nearly completed and will take up the Ilindenburg's task." The Zeppelin Company's workmen are subscribing 1 per cent of their wages to continue the work. It is understood that Herr Hitler is preparing a proclamation urging German people to give money to build a new dirigible. He will give £2500 for the relief of survivors of the disaster.

SCHMELING'S LUCK. CANCELLED AIRSHIP TRIP. (Received 12.30 p.m.) NEW YORK, May 7. Max Schmeling revealed that he had cancelled his trip on the Hindenburg, due to the necessity arrive a day earlier m America.