GAS LEAKAGES R101

Taranaki Daily News, 5 December 1930, Page 9

GAS LEAKAGES R101

MORE EVIDENCE AT INQUIRY

CAUSE OF LOSSES. EXPLAINED SHRINKAGE OF GAS BAGS FRENCH HELPERS HONOURED By Telegraph—Press Assn .—Copyright. London, Dec. 3. The* inquiry -into the wreck of Airship RlOl was resumed to-day. . / Herr Eckener conferred with Sjr.Jo|in. Simon and'.the assessors for half an-hour, after which he entered the court arm in arm tvith Sir John Simon, by whom' he was seated. ...... Mr. A. E. Gerrish, sheds. manager at Cardington, gave evidence that during the two months RlOl was in the hangar until September 26 the average gas leakage daily was 22,588. cubic, feet, totalling 1,467,000 feet.. / . ■, . ' To the 1 Solicitor-General he expressed the opinion that this would:be due-to the permeability of the fabric, which would account for 2000 cubic feet, valve leakage accounting for 4000 (eet, the remainder passing through holes due- tp chafing during the Hendon flight. . These , holes were later mended, after which the total lots was not serious. • ''

Mr. Gerrish added that RlOl lost 80,000 cubic feet daily when in the hangar after the Atlantic flight. . Sefton Brancker appeared more concerned oyer the cost of the gas than oyer the actual loss. Mr. Gerrish said that the gas lost on the flight, would be compensated by, a . decrease in weight due to fuel consumption. . Disley, a survivor, gave evidence that 10 minutes before the start of . the -fatal journey he noticed that No.- 4 gas bag had shrunk 19 to 24 inches. Chief Coxswain ;Hunt, after.inspecting;t.Ue gas bags,; did not seem concerned' ithe: shrinkage. i z. - • •; r-T< ftij,' ■ The inquiry was adjourned-, ’ FRENCH SERVICES:; PRESENTATION OF ITONOURS. British Wireless. Rugby, Dec. . 3. The British Ambassador, 'Lord Tyrrell, visited Beauvais to-day to present the de-corations-and-gifts awardee} .-those who in various ways assisted on , the- Occasion of the RlOl disaster. ■ 1 ■, The decorations granted; . King, the insignia of which were presented today, included knighthoods of the Order of the British Empire to Monsieur. Couch; Secretary-General of the French Air Ministry, and to Monsieur Le Beau, Prefect ofthe Department of the Oise. The Mayorsof Allonne and Beauvais, the Commandant of the subdivision of Beauvais and the Commandant of Gendarmes of the Oise are appointed Commanders of th,e.-' British Empire Order. .. ’ • < - ; Membership of the same order wa£ granted to. five persons and. the Meritorious Service Medal of -the British Empire to' 157 persons. ■ ' ’.V The Mayor of Allonne also received a gold watch and chain..with the. Royal Arms inscribed. - Two doctors who attended the survivors Received silver inkstands inscribed with the Royal Arms. Others received silver .cigarette cases, .silver trays and brooches, while the nuns received rosary, boxes, all-inscribed with the Arms. .The town .of Beauvais was presented with a large silver...rose. bowl. A cheque for £l5O was presented jo the Beauvais Hospital, while the .'Mother Superior of the nuns at the hospital was given a cheque-for £25.' / ' A letter from Lord Tyrrell to the. French Foreign Minister conveys the deep appreciation of the British Government of all that was so spontaneously done in France to assist the victims of the disaster and to salve the wreckage. ‘ ' V-