FINAL STAGES

Southland Times, Issue 20633, 3 November 1928, Page 7

FINAL STAGES

ZEPPELIN’S FLIGHT ENTHUSIASTIC SCENES AT LANDING FASTER SERVICE NECESSARY (United Press Assn.-By Telegraph-Copyright.) Berlin, November 1. The Graf Zeppelin, in the last stages, had considerable difficulty in keeping her bearings, and she repeatedly asked Le Bourget and Friedrishshafen for direction. The weather conditions forced her to keep further south than was expected, making the journey across France. The fog was so thick that she could not be seen above Basle, though the engines were clearly heard. Finally she slowed down and hovered above Lake Constance for two hours in order to allow the weather to clear and also to have the benefit of daylight. When above the landing ground the silvery hull was a striking spectacle, and in the glare of the searchlights the passengers could plainly be seen at the cabin windows waving hats and handkerchiefs. She landed at 7.10 a.m. amid the firing of salutes and the singing of the German and American national hymns, including the “Star Spangled Banner” and the Deutschland Über Alles.” Passports and Customs formalities were quickly settled and the passengers were greeted with thunderous cheers and pelted with flowers as they emerged from the Customs shed. Dr Eckener and the crew were also given an ovation. The stowaway received a provisional passport from the American Consul from Stuttgart in the cabin of the airship, and he was then spirited through a side door of the Customs shed in order to foil the efforts of pressmen. Dr Eckener refused to talk into the microphone, as did the woman passenger, Mrs Adams, but the landing broadcast was heard by millions of listeners in Central Europe. Before going to bed Dr Eckener emphasized that the dense fog in the last stages made navigation difficult, and he added: “The Zeppelin stood the test excellently. You should have seen the steamers we met rolling in the heavy seas, but we had not the slightest trouble with the engines.” The Zeppelin’s average cruising speed was just under 60 miles hourly throughout the 4000 miles. Dr Eckener clearly recognies that this is inadequate to compete with liners. “The Graf Zeppelin is finished as far as a regular passenger service is concerned,” he said, “and we must build quicker and stronger airships.” He added that both trips were entirely without luck, encountering the worst possible weather. The storm over Newfoundland was terrible, and brought the airship almost to a standstill for two hours, though the engines were running all out, and the ship heaved, rocked, and trembled, and only with the greatest difficulty he succeeded in manoeuvring to less hostile regions. President Hindenburg telegraphed a welcome, inviting Dr Eckener to Berlin. It is believed he will go there next week. While the other passengers descended the ladder from the Graf Zeppelin, Clarence Terhune squirmed through a porthole and two police who were awaiting him took him to the office of the directors. Meanwhile the spectators bad been shouting: “Where is the stowaway?” From then on Clarence became the hero of the occasion and was besieged by autograph hunters. He was busy signing albums in hundreds while the others had breakfast and slept. Terhune said he was refusing all jobs and intended to return to the dear old United States within a week. The airship brought 101,683 letters and postcards, weighing a ton, for which the German postal administration is credited with £15,142 by America.—Australian Press Association-United Service. DIFFICULTIES OF OCEAN FLYING. STRONGER MACHINES NECESSARY. (Rec. 7.15 p.m.) Friedrichshaven, Nov. 2. I Dr. Eckener, addressing the crowd during a torchlight procession, described the difficulties of the flight through fog and He said he never underestimated the trans-ocean journey. “Our experience coming home was so serious that I am convinced we are still far from conquering the ocean. The head wind attained a velocity of 150 feet per second. The Zeppelin was driven down within 50 yards of the sea; only Providence saved us. We had a feeling that the Zeppelin was breaking to pieces, but finally it mastered the storm. We saw the ice and mountains of Newfoundland beneath and recognized the greatness of the malicious drift of the Atlantic. The Zeppelin only steadied herself after a broken down engine had been mended. We must build stronger engines that no longer will be a plaything in the grip of the elements. I now realize why so many trans-ocean flyers found graves near Newfoundland. We must build airships strong enough to enable them to cross the ocean not solely by avoiding the storm centres.”—Australian Press Association. TRUTH ABOUT THE STOWAWAY. SMUGGLED ABOARD BY REPORTERS. (Rec. 5.5 p.m.) Berlin, November 1. The unromantic truth about the stowaway was revealed to-night. He was smuggled aboard by Hearst reporters among the mail bags two hours before the start to lend a “human interest.” The press viewpoint of the adventure has considerably changed. —Australian Press Association.