CAUSE OF CRASH

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22724, 10 May 1937, Page 9

CAUSE OF CRASH

FANTASTIC STORIES

mysterious death.ray

PRESS CAUSES SENSATION

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (■Received May i>, 5.5 p.m.)

NEW YORK, May S

A sensation has been caused by the prominence which is being given in the newspapers to the theory of sabotage as accounting for the disaster to the airship Hindenburg. The press quotes threatening letters which are said to have been received at various times by Dr. Eckener and other dirigible commanders. ror example, the Chicago Tribune publishes a fantastic article speculating whether the Hindenburg tragedy and many recent aeroplane disasters were due to a death-ray perfected in secret by some scientist who has been making fiendish tests of its possibilities.

Mention is made of news despatches published since 1931 relating to successful experiments with rays by American, French, German and British scientists.

The reports that the Zeppelin Company recently received threatening letters which emphasised the possibility of sabotage, prompted an investigation by a committee of the Senate under the chairmanship of Mr. R. S. Copeland. Congressional leaders expressed the almost united belief that the disaster will militate against any dirigible building in the United States. General von Boettiger, German air attache, who accompanied Dr. Luther :to Lakehurst, stated that it was i impossible for the crash to have been j caused by the firing of an incendiary I bullet into the gasbag. This is one |of many sabotage rumours. Dr. I Luther, after talks with many survivors of the crew, reiterated his faith j in lighter-than-air craft. He said it | was just an accident. | A naval officer on the scene de- | clared that the lack of training of the civilian ground crow, which was substituted for the former American naval crews, may have been partially | responsible for the accident, j In official quarters no serious credence is given to the sabotage theory. TOWN IN MOURNING ZEPPELIN HEADQUARTERS MORE AIRSHIPS PROPOSED BERLIN, May 7 The "Zeppelin town" of Friedriekshafen while bells tolled and flags were at half-mast held a mourning ! ceremony in the great hangar from I which the Hindenburg set out on her last journey. The whole staff crowded into the hall where Dr. Ludwig Duerr, constructor of the airship, read out the names of the dead. A minute's silence having elapsed, Dr. Duerr said: " We shall go on with the building of the LZI3O, which is nearly completed .and will take up the Hindenburg's task." The Zeppelin Company's workmen are subscribing 1 per cent of their wages to continue the work. It is understood that Herr Hitler is preparing a proclamation urging German people to give money to build a new dirigible. He will give £2500 for the relief of survivors of the disaster. BRITISH SYMPATHY MINISTER'S MESSAGE British Wireless RUGBY, May 7 The Secretary of State for Air. Viscount Swinton, has sent the following message of condolence to the German Air Minister: — "I desire £o express on my own behalf and on that of British aviation sincere sympathy on the tragic disaster to the airship Hindenburg." LAKEHURST RESCUERS GERMANY'S APPRECIATION BERLIN, May 7 The Minister of Air, General Goering, in a cablegram to Commander Rosendahl, of Lakehurst station, a survivor of the disaster to the Shenandoah dirigible, states: "Thanks for heroic rescue, which is a beautiful proof of the spirit linking the airmen of all nations."