ZEPPELIN IN ENGLAND.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20991, 30 September 1931, Page 17

ZEPPELIN IN ENGLAND.

BRIEF PLEASURE CRUISE. SPECTACLE FOR LONDONERS. [FROM Oim OWN CORRESPONDENT.] LONDON, August 21. The German airship, Graf Zeppelin, provided a fine spectacle for Londoners on two evenings this week. She passed over the city and suburbs just when people were going home from •work, and she flew so low that the details of the ship could easily be seen. The object of the airship's visit was a 24-hour cruise round the British Isles. On Tuesday the voyage from Friedrichshafen was completed in an hour less than scheduled time, and the airship was able to make a leisurely tour over London. The weather conditions were ideal, and the majority of Londoners probably caught a glimpse of the ship at some stage of her leisurely cruise. The Graf Zeppelin first arrived over the aerodrome at Hanworth at 6 p.m., but made no attempt to land. Escorted by a fleet of aeroplanes and flying at a low altitude she slowly made toward St. Paul's Cathedral, and city people were rewarded with the magnificent spectacle of the giant airship gracefully circling the dome against a background of heavy clouds. The airship then proceeded to the south-eastern suburbs, where for a few moments she appeared as a stationary object. Then turning north-east she made her way hack to St. Paul's and headed in a south-west direction for Hanworth. The escorting aeroplanes circling round appeared like toy models hovering over her. She flew so low that her name painted in red was easily distinguishable and her silver grey framework, rigid in the air, presented a memorable sight in the fading light of the early evening. At 7 p.m. to the minute the visitor landed at Hanworth, where the police had some difficulty in controlling the immense crowds. There were 22 passengers on board. These were landed at Hanworth and were replaced by English passengers, to make the journey round the British Isles. The first person on board her was Colonel tho Master of Sempill, who had been largely responsible for getting the Graf Zeppelin to England. After the British passengers had been taken on board Dr. Eckener left the control cabin and with much difficulty fought liis way with Mr. Montague, UnderSecretary for Air, to a position immediately below the control cabin on the ground. Here he was presented by Mr. Montague with a gold casket. Dr. Eckener, in his speech, said he felt confident that Britain and Germany would work together closely in the future.