ESCAPE OF GAS

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 135, 5 December 1930, Page 10

ESCAPE OF GAS

WAS THE SHIP RUSHED?

United Press Association—By Electric Tel»« graph—Copyright. ; (Bcceived sth December, 1 p.m.) LONDON, 4th December. Dr. Eckener, in his evidence, said that the commander would naturally, have been reluctant to throw out th« oil ballast until he saw that it was impossible to right the ship by putting up the elevators. Then he rightly decided to throw out the fuel and slow down the engines, but the continuous escape of gas caused a second dive and then a. crash. Dr. Eekener said he thought that the coxswain going on duty at the elevator at 2 a.m. would have to feel his way 4 into the static condition of the ship, which it was most difficult to get immediately. It might have happened that a slight gust of wind forced the ship downward, which movement the new coxswain did not immediately correctly counteract because he was not yet clear about the ship's condition. The grlater air-pressure thus brought against the airship's nose accentuated, the steepness of the dive, and the airship's heaviness at the head. Squadron-Leader Booth, in his evidence, agreed with Dr. Eekener's view. He always had, he said, the opinioa that something definite must have happened to the airship, notably a steep dive after the changing of the watch. He added that he did not attach importance to Disley's evidence yesterday, because the after-end tapered gasbag was always higher than the forward bag. He declared that he had always felt that ElOl was rushed regarding her trials, by influence brought to bear. She was rushed out for n *,tho Hendon flight against Cardington'si recommendations. "I am sure she would never have set out for India if the Imperial Conference had not been taking place." ;";„ , STORIES ABOUT LIQUOR. :'' Sir John Simon referred to rumours current, especially in France, that a woman was on board the airship, that some of thoso on duty were not sober when the journey started, and that a large quantity of intoxicants was. taken on board. There was not the slightest foundation for. these rumours,' he said. Indeed, the lady mentioned arrived'at Borne on a flight yesterday.