ATLANTIC CROSSING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17234, 9 August 1919, Page 9

ATLANTIC CROSSING.

BRITISH AIRSHIP'S TBI P. INCIDENTS BY THE WAY. HEAVY RAIN ENCOUNTERED. LONDON. July 13. The British airship R34 came tfi earth this morning in Norfolk like a giant ship sliding smoothly and securely tc her berth. It was a memorable scene. The weather was calm. • The monster gasbag glistened in the early sunlight, circued thrice, and then descended sedately. A hundred fsger hands seized the guy-ropes, while ihe crowds which had gathered despite the uarliness of the hour, cheered lustily, and the R.A.F. hand played " See } the Conquering Hero Comes." - Major Scott, tired and unshaven, bat smiling, directed the berthing with a huge megaphone. Then he stepped out from the glass doorway and said, "We had a damned fine trip." He was handed a bunch of congratulatory telegrams, including one from King George, extolling " this memorable and unique air voyage." On the voyage there was little incident. Things went swimmingly. General Maitland's log tells the simple tale. (< Over New York, which at midnight 'looked a wonderful fairyland of twinkling lights," the air was much disturbed by the beat rising from the great city. They sped at 74 miles an hour, across the American coast, four engines goiii«and the fifth cooling. They found the rum ration most enjoyable owing to the increasing cold. New York admirers had provided scores of thermos flasks. These produced acceptable coffee, but, the main sustenance was sandwiches and condensed food.

General Maitland gives an interesting picture of sorting the mail while the scientists discussed the future system of getting meteorological reports from tho sea, and the night-watch slept The journey home took 75 hoars three minutes.

Easy, Comfortable, and Safe. Major Scott, in an interview, said that ho distinctly saw hundreds of thousands of white faces, turned up amidst the garish light of New York. Sometimes the speed exceeded 82 miles, hut those spurts usually only lasted an hour. " We struck Light head-winds, slanting winds, and extreme cold, but generally it was pleasant holiday weather, though rain and gales never were far distant. Most of the journey was above the clouds, but sometimes as low as 500 ft altitude." '■•■■■" The ofScers agree that it was an easy comfortable, and safe trip, and proves the capacity of airships for lor- commercial journeys. Major Scott says that it was easier than he thought it would be. A large airship unquestionably is the best, type for trans-ocean work. "We saved a thousand gallons of petrol on the homeward run, and could have carried another dozen men. Future success, depends largely on the size and petrol-carrying capacity and speed. We., soon .will" be» ™ to travel at a consistent isp'eed. of from 70 to 80 miles." .-~ . . . . General Maitland declares that airships soon will be commercially used for long distances, aeroplanes radiating from the airship termini on short-distance runs. The officers say, that the. airship cabins •were comfortable. There was no rocking, while .the heaviest ' seas.. i were running beneath. The vessel maintained wireless contact with the shore throughput, and sometimes -wireless v telephony wai used. • The, Skipper's "Log/ # A typical page of General Malaria's log u> as follows >-« 10/7, &£s&n.' Averaged 55.3 knots an hour since leaving; Broadway. Steady as a rock, andj unless one. looks out of window one cannot realise that one is travailing.! ?'4.50 R.tm Petrol- comMnption is working out at a gallon a" mile. Oooke getting easy observations on she sun.' with a sea horizon. We managed th/ only twice . coming out. ' s^/; ;v'-* , -SiS ""6.15 p.m. Five-masted * 'bsgMxJ&?' full sail on starboard. An miew<?> contrast between old an&'iiew. ■ C/ much colder. ; "v *T "8 p.my Supper is I'oM£-b6%% . eggs and cocoa. ML discuass. Imprest of American women around the 'dm, table.. ' _._'-""'' ■ \ . " 11 '^F- m - The forward engine cranV m aotcfced and unrepairable; , Cooke is Bleeping under the diningrta&ls. Seems the most popular -place. .-.;: : % -'.s.. -~','■ "5.40 a.m. ; Descended --'-Ho *sGGft in order to get under clouds. Fine northerly ■wind beneath, south-westerly above; therefore rise.. It is due to Gulf Stream. "7.15 a.m. Getting full benefit of the o»-knot south-west wind., , -.,.'« " §£% See **»*» eastwards, fantastic streaky;, cirrus . •-■■lurid■floured, and hundreds of miles away*''" .'■*?■!' "12,30-p.pa. Lt%ch. The gramaphons is a great asset. Two members of crew can.be seen doing a-, oneistep. '■••;• v-i -30 m> Eta>w not seen the eea since O.OU, * .: •. '' '-.' • :*':■• ■■■' „' 1 " 4-30 P-m; 00 ** brings ship down to try and find water. - At 900 it still iavisible. so climb' again, passing through five dis- : tinct separate strata of clouds. ■■' 4.45 p.m. Above moments of beautiful cloud and panorama ■ range Bpoa range 'of wm'te uunj gfaty mountains, with - deep wide valleys, and ' occasional glimpses of bright blue sky. "5 p.m. Heavily raining. *> "8.30 p.m. Still pouring. Windows and doors shut. Climbed, but unable to get out of this teeming rain. ' 7 J Land Ho! >

" 9.15 p.m. Dominican speaks us. Gives her position and barometrical readings. We are quite close, but cannot «ee her. " Midnight. Still pouring. Dropped . a calcium flare, and estimated, the drift. As we lay in our hammocks listening Ho the rain beating pitilessly on the roof of our trusty ship our feelings were of complr's confidence and security. ,■> " 6 a.m. Aft engine broke valves. Cooke unable to get observation for 24 hours, though an average ..day* in midAtlantic.

" 12.30 p.m. Overlooking' 1&.2G9 square miles, yet do not Ree a single shfp in this gigantic Atlantic. 3 The log described the excitement ?t sighting Ireland. The officers g&therr ! over a large chart aad tried to pick o.;i their position. What a i strange, yhappv coincidence -These two little islands are the same which appeared oat. of the fog,* and delighted the gaze of "-Alcbck and Brown, in their historic flight." The rugged coastline and mountain-tops peeping out of fleecy clouds were, a--magri-' cent panorama welcoming back'the nrt-i----gators to British soil. "A northerly er.urae* would have saved time, -and undoubtedly captains of the big aerial liners of the future will become wily and cunning Piasters in selecting the right' Way, height detours, and advantaging winds. '.'■,?'