THE GRAF ZEPPELIN

Evening Star, Issue 19999, 17 October 1928, Page 6

THE GRAF ZEPPELIN

m ECKERER IKTEffIfIEWEQ FORGED TO USE HALF-SPEED REPAIRS IN MID-ATLANTIC. Pres? Association ByTelegraph—Copyright. •% VANCOUVER, October to. (Received October 17, at 11.10 a.m.) Dr Eckmicr, in the course of an interview, said: “ e wore forced to oil. onr speed down i.o half, because tbo rear of tho ship dipped alter the lower cover had been torn away, and there was a. danger of fearing away the upper cover. The fact that, we repaired tho damage in mid-Atlantic and came happily to America is a sign of the great stability of those ships. Tho weather was extremely had, hut tour mcm climbed out in the terrible wind and rain and rode tho girders, with tho Atlantic under them, while they secured the loose ends of the fin fabric. The Graf is not tho ultimate si/.o for transatlantic work. Wo shall build them bigger and bigger until the most efficient siae has been achieved.”— United Service.

OFFICIAL WELCOME. NO SHORTAGE OF FOOD ON VOYAGE. NEW YORK, October 16. (Received October 17, at 9.25 a.m.) The Zeppelin crew is scheduled to receive an official welcome in the city today, commencing with a visit to the City Hall, and a parade up Broadway, after which there will ho a private dinner, then a. ihcat.ro, at which they will he given a further reception on the stage during the intermission. Dr Eckencr said to-day that lie saw no signs of excitement among the passengers at- tho time of the accident to tho fin. Ho stated that when they had learned what had occurred “ (hey raised their glasses and drank to the health of everybody.” Dr Eckcner seemed very tired, anc said ho had not slept for more thai eight hours during the whole of th« trip. Ho denied that there was a shortage of food aboard, but several passengers agreed that the wafer supply almost gave out. Fortunately there was plenty of beer, wine, and liquors put on board, all of which was consumed, with the exception of one bottle, when tbo airship lauded.—Australian Press Association. CHARTERED FOR ARCTIC TRIP. REPORT FROM BERLIN. BERLIN, October 16. (Received October 17, at 8.55 a.m.) It is reported that the Graf Zeppelin has been chartered for an Arctic trip in 1929.—Australian Press Association. BROADCASTING THE ARRIVAL. RELAY IN ENGLAND. (British Official Wireless.) press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. RUGBY, October 16. (Received October 17, at noon.) A running commentary on the arrival of the Graf Zeppelin in America, after its boisterous four days’ journey across tho Atlantic, was broadcast last night from Lakehurst, and vvas relayed from tho British broadcasting stations. The signals were relayed irom the new experimental station at Chelmsford, which is not yet complete, and last night was the first occasion on which it has been used for this purpose. Atmospherics hampered tho reception, hut tho Announcer at Lakehurst could h<> heard describing tho scenes as the great airship was anchored. ’The Graf Zeppelin spent 112 hours in the air, tho time taken on tho journey having been longer than was anticipated owing to contrary winds necessitating a wide dotonr and causing some damage to the vessel. Tho gas fuel and petrol carried would, however, have boon sufficient for 120 hours; flight. Of tho other transatlantic airship flights the ZR3, it is recalled, took eighty hours four years ago, and the British airship R 134, which first flow across tho Atlantic, took IUS hours to reach America., and completed the journey homo in seventy-five hours.