SLOW PASSAGE

Evening Star, Issue 19999, 17 October 1928, Page 5

SLOW PASSAGE

GRAF ZEPPELIN’S FLIGHT JIHPLEASAHT INCIDENTS DASSEXGEBB AND UEKiriAI.S. l’rc*s Association “By Tclvgr;ij»ll —Copyright. NEW YORK, Oc 1.u1.-r 15. Nous fioni Lakchursfc states thufc the Graf Zeppelin covered 5,600 miles. Upon arrival ifc called lor a largo quantity of fabric lo repair llio font .lin. '.flic ship was "reefed by Bear-admiral MolTcff, high German mid American olHcialsi and Govcrnnicnb leaders. Thousands of people thronged the field and broke the police lines to swarm about the dirigible, bub flic police and marines finally cleared tbo Held. Dr Eckcucr was the first to appear, and greeted the crowd with: “ We arc delighted to bo hero.” He received a tremendous ovation. Customs, immigration, and health officers boarded the Zeppelin and performed their duties as they would on a liner. Tim owners of the dirigible feel that the flight has proved the feasibility of using gas bags for commercial transportation, despite tho fact that tho Zeppelin took nearly as long. to cross the ocean as do last steamships, Tho Zeppelin is proving most difficult to place in tho hangar, and soldiers are still attempting to move it in to avoid the stormy weather, hub they will probably have to moor it to a mast and load water ballast aboard as the passengers leave. Considerable, unpleasantness has been aroused by statements from German and American officials that members of the opposite groups were most discourteous, although unfamiliarity with tho languages probably caused this. One passenger, Theo. Matiko, stated that be was struck on the face by an official when alighting. lie added that tliis was his first visit to the United States, but he had found more courtesy among the natives of Albania and Bulgaria. , , ~ , Dr Eckencr described the accident to the fin as “ a little bust which never happened before, and such as will never happen again. Ho stated that his son Knute was the hero of the occasion when ho climbed on tho fin to *ffect repairs. . The passengers grouped together in an indignation meeting, and stated that they would boycott the receptions planned for them if the Customs officials failed to allow them to leave quickly. However, Carl Von Lewinski, the Consul-General, advised tho passengers that tho delay was duo to Dr Eckener’s command that nobody should approach the airship, and ho stated that he had been struck in the face by a o-uard, and that the Assistant Secretary of tho Navy (Mr Warner) had been threatened with arrest by one of ■iis own men.—Australian Press Association.

UTILITY OF THE ZEPPELIN. NOT YET DEMONSTRATED. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. BERLIN, October lb. German aviation experts, despite the popular jubilations, are awaiting the tests of tbo two British airships before giving a final verdict on the practicability of airships for _ regular passenger work. They consider the Graf Zeppelin’s flight a fine feat, but that it demonstrates that tho risks are too great and that airships are still too susceptible to weather conditions, which have little or no -effect on heavicr-than-air machines. Tho flights of the two British airships next year will therefore bo awaited with great interest, and will settle tho controversies as to tho usefulness of dirigible machines compared with a flying boat liko the lingo Uoruienval, which is now being built to carry fifty passengers 3,(100 miles on a non-stop flight.—Australian Press Association-United Service.

COMMANDER BURNEY’S VIEWS. Tress Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, October Hi. Commander Burucy, in reviewing the llight, considers that neither the Oral Zeppelin nor 11100, which is now nearing completion, possess sufficient speed to carry out a regular transatlantic service/ He points out that the cruising speed of tho Zeppelin is sixty-five miles an hour, and that of IHOU will be about seventy-five miles, but for tho passage against tho prevailing westerly winds there must be a cruising speed of 100 miles an hour to complete tho voyage in from two to two and a-half days, before it cun become a practical commercial proposition. The Airship Guarantee Company had considered this problem, and it was hoped after the 11100 had successfully passed her trials to construct a ship capable of cruising 100 miles an hour and cross to New York in tho heaviest weather without refuelling. The 8100 was 1,250,1)00 cubic feet larger than the Graf Zeppelin, and would passengers instead of twenty. These are the chief differences. . , American eye-witnesses’ descriptions of the landing of tho Zeppelin were broadcast throughout England, and the increasing roar of tho engines as it approached tho aerodrome _ was an impressibe feature. —Australian Press As-sociation-United Service. SPANIARDS LEASE ZEPPELIN. Press Association —By 'Telegraph—Copyright. NEW YORK, October 15.' A Lakohurst message states that Colonel Emilio Errera, of the Royal Spanish Navigation Department, who was a, passenger on tho Graf Zeppelin, announced to-night that Spanish interests bad leased it lor a. period ot two years, with an option to hn.v it. Australian Press Association-United Service. ,