THE RI01’S TRIALS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17410, 7 November 1930, Page 11

THE RIOI’S TRIALS

WERE THEY ADEQUATE? POINTED CROSS-EXAMINATION (Eloc. Tel. Copyright—Dnitod Press Assn.) (Received November 7. 3 p.in.) LONDON, Nov. 6. At the airship inquiry Sir John Siinoii and Col. Moorc-Brahazon pointedly crossexamined witnesses regarding alleged lack of trials. The latter asked Sir John Higgins if he had dismissed Lord Thomson’s urgentpressure from his mind would he have ordered the start for India aflet oiie trial, in view of tlie airship having practically a new arrangement of the gasbags, including a change of one, and also in view of its running for the first time with five engines, while it had not been fully tested with four. Sir John Higgins replied that if anyone had thought the trial unsatisfactory lie would have had no diffidence abouttelling Lord Thomson.

Air Vice Marshal Dowding denied cutting down the trial flight. due to the “rush,” and added that lie had instructed Wing-Commander Co]more to carry out full power trials as soon as possible after leaving for India. If they were unsatisfactory tlie airship could return. He added that the fact that tlie engines were running, at cruising speed until the crash showed that the instructions were not followed. He did not know the reason for that.