FEAR OF CATASTROPHE

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 15, 18 January 1924, Page 7

FEAR OF CATASTROPHE

CREW CONFIDENT ACCORDING TO WIRELESS.

NEW YOBK, 16th January. The- Soran, popularly called theShenandoah, was fastened to a 300----foot mooring mast for the last four days as a test -preparatory to the coming Polar trip. The gale drove the airship towards the sea-,- with the crew aboard and the motors going. The dirigible has supplies for a 4000----mile, cruising trip aboard, but it is un- ' known what injury she has suffered. The ciew had been maintained aboard for just such an eventuality, but great uncertainty is felt regarding the vessel's fate, since the gale continues. A,short radio message from the dirigible indicates that the crew are confident that they will ride out the storm, but Commander Weyerbaeh, of Lakehurst station, eaid that he had little hope of tho ship returning to safety. Experts believe that the metal nosecap, where the entire frame-work of the vessel converges, had been torn out, when wrenched free from the mast, thus weakening the vessel, endangering tits safety.

The Shenandoah is identical with the naval airship ZR.-1, which.cost 1,000,000 dollars, took two years to build, and has a cruising range of 500/ miles. It uses the non r inflarnmable helium gas. It is pro.posed that the ZR-1, with six aeroplanes and two sea vessels, with mooring masts, should explore the unknown area between Alaska and the North Polo. This expedition is to[ determine the commercial : practicability of trans-Polar,.. air. routes.