GERMAN AIRSHIP

Southland Times, Issue 20615, 13 October 1928, Page 7

GERMAN AIRSHIP

FLIGHT TO AMERICA CONSIDERABLE INTEREST IN ENGLAND PASSENGERS WELL CATERED FOR (United Press Assn.—By Telegraph—Copyright.) London, October 11. The attempted flight of the German airship Graf Zeppelin across the Atlantic is being watched with considerable interest in this country, more particularly in view of the projected flight of a British airship to India and Australia. A British airship has already crossed the Atlantic, this-being the R 34, which made the flight in four and a-half days. One British representative is included among the passengers in the Graf Zeppelin. This is Lady Drummond Hay, traveller and writer, the widow of Sir Robert Drummond Hay. A message from Friedrickshaven says that three Americans paid £6OO each to travel on the Zeppelin on which are 20 passengers who will live sumptuously. The Munich Brewery presented 2000 bottles of beer and another admirer 200 bottles of champagne.—Australian Press Association. INCIDENTS AT THE START. TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS REFUSED. SMOKING STRICTLY PROHIBITED. Berlin, October 11. Herr Von Eckener was awake all night studying charts. At four in the morning he decided to take the risk, and at five o’clock the passengers were knocked up from their bedrooms and soon the lobbies of the hotels were alive with bustling people. At 7.30 all were aboard except the only woman, Lady Drummond Hay, who dashed up at the last moment and discovered that she had forgotten her fur coat. A messenger was hurriedly despatched in a motor car to obtain it. Meantime an excited Russian financier from Paris appeared at the hangar flourishing a bundle of 1000-dollar notes and shouting out: "Ten thousand dollars if you take me.” Eckener gave an indulgent smile and shook his head. Only a moment previously he had ordered out a personal friend of Dr Badt, Secretary of the Prussian Ministry for the Interior, as every pound weight counted in view of the possibility of storms. The only drawback to comfort was the strict prohibition of smoking. When notified of the embargo one American was so upset that he tried to sell his ticket, but was dissuaded. The crew and passengers’ luggage weighs four tons. Perhaps the most remarkable passenger on the Zeppelin is the American, Mr Frederick Gilfillen, who had been marooned in Europe for 12 years owing to fear of a sea voyage. He was twice shipwrecked while trying to cross the Atlantic. On the second occasion he swore he would not tread the deck of a ship again.—Australian Press Association—United Service. COMMENT BY BRITISH EXPERTS. EFFICIENCY AND DISCIPLINE. (Rec. 5.5 p.m.) London, October 12. Commenting on the Zeppelin, the Daily Chronicle expresses the opinion that an Atlantic crossing is not ideal for an airship and that the route on the other hand is peculiarly adapted to a combination of steamer and aeroplane. The ideal airship routes are to India and Australia where greater distances and the indirectness of sea voyage would multiply the airship supremacy. The Empire has more to gain thereby than any other unit and ought already to have tackled the job. Major Turner, the Daily Telegraph’s aviation expert from Berlin, expresses admiration at the efficiency and discipline in the delicate operation of starting out. The whole thing called for nerve and skill. The airship fitted in the hangar almost like a glove with a few inches between the envelope and the roof.—Australian Press Association.