GIANT ZEPPELIN'S FLIGHT

Taranaki Daily News, 13 October 1928, Page 13

GIANT ZEPPELIN'S FLIGHT

SCENE AT THE TAKING OFF KEEN DEMAND FOR PASSAGES 10,000 DOLLARS REFUSED By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyrig*' l .- Australian Press Association. Berlin, Oct, 11. Herr Eckener, who ie in charge of the Graf Zeppelin LZI27, which left Friedriehaven- on Thursday morning for New York, was awake all night studying charts. At 4 a.m. he decided to take the risk, and at five o’clock passengers Were knocked up from their bedrooms, and soon the lobbies of the hotels were alive with bustling people. At 7.30 all were on board except the only woman, Lady Drummond-Hay, who dashed up at the last moment and discovered 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 oiit- "Ten thousand dollars if yon take me;’*- ■ ■

Herr Eckener.gave an indulgent smile and shook, his head. Only a moment previously he had, ordered out a personal friend of Dr. Badt, Secretary eff the Prussian Minister 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 th© Zeppelin is an American, Frederick Gilfillen, who lias been marooned in Eorope for I’2 years owing to fear of the sea voyage. He was twice shipwrecked while trying to cross the Atlantic. On tho second occasion he swore ho would not tread the deck of a ship again. Three Americans paid £690 each to travel on the Zeppelin, on which are 20 passengers, who will live sumptuously. A Munich brewery presented 2000 bottles of. beer, and another admirer 200 bottles of champagne. BRITAIN’S USE OF AIRSHIPS. SUITABILITY FOR INDIA ROUTE. Received Oct. 12, 5.5 p.m. London, Oct. 1?. Commenting on tho Zeppelin’s flight across the Atlantic, the Daily Chronicle expresses the opinion that the Atlantic Crossing is not ideal for an airship, and that th© route’, on the other hand, is peculiarly adapted to a combinationof steamer and aeroplane. Th© ideal airship routes ar© to India and Australia, where greater distances and tha indirectness of the sea voyage would multiply th© airship’s supremacy. The Empire has mor© to gain thereby than any other unit, and ought already to have tackled the job. Major Turner, the Daily Telegraph’s aviation expert, writing from Berlin, expresses admiration at th© efficiency and discipline in the delicate operation of the starting out of LZI27. The whole thing called for nerve and skill. The airship fitted th© hangar almost like a glove, with a few inches between envelope and roof.