GRAF ZEPPELIN

Hokitika Guardian, 15 October 1928, Page 5

GRAF ZEPPELIN

THE ZEPPELTN’S PROGRESS. (United. Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright). NEW YORK, October 15. The Zeppelin is now proceeding to Lakehurst. In good weather she increases her speed, but lias still to> pass through an unsettled area, but it is believed will arrive before noon. Since making up for the time lost in the rain squalls and while the disabled fin was being repaired. At present she is making 71 miles an hour. Bermuda reported the dirigible passed there at 11,' Eckener- following/ a twisted course (for Cape Hatters in an attempt to dodge scattered bad weather. Three cruisers and 18 desroyers continue ready to aid in case they needed, which is most doubtful. A radio apparatus installed at-Lake-hurst to receive the broadcast from the airplane meeting the dirigible is to relay an account of the arrival to United States and Europe. The zeppelin’s radio equipment has been worked perfectly all day by the Radio Corporation of America transmitting and receiving over one hundred personal messages.

ATLANTIC FLIGHT. LONDON, Oct. 12. The Graf Zeppelin’s position at seven o’clock oh Friday was:—G.M.T.: 37.13 deg North; 33.43 deg West. That was west of the Azores. A strong westerly wind was then increasing, with some rain. LONDON, Oct. 13. Nows of the Graf Zeppelin’s progress is schlhty, and" is most disappointing. It is in nowise as full and as interesting as that of Captain Kingsford Smith’s Pacific epic flight, and it leaves Europe considerably in the dark as to the happenings aboard since Thursday afternoon. The longwave wireless contact between the airship and Germany is sparse and unsatisfactory. A .feeling is already growing that the elaborate communication equipment on the Zeppelin is hardly up to expectations. the few spasmodic attempts from Commander Eckener are coded for the purpose of secrecy, because it wasa revealed tonight that a German newspaper syndicate had purchased the exclusive rights of the narrative. There are indications the airship is hearing reports considerably better than it is heard itself.

WHAT SPANIARDS SAW. LONDON, Oct. 13. The inhabitants of Funchel, in Spain, had a wonderful view of the German Zeppelin this (Saturday) afternoon. It descended to a level of within six hundred feet, and dropped mails at- Funchel. The Zeppelin appeared to be in splendid trim. The only direct message that was received after its disappearance over the Atlantic was picked up at Funchel, viz., “All well. Passengers exi ceedingly airsick.” Frau Eckener confessed that she was considerably worried, because during the flight she had received no-per-sonal word from Commander Eckener. “I sincerely 'wish. that the flight was over,” she said.

ENGLISH WOMAN’S CHEERY MESSAGE. Lady Drummond Hay, a passenger, has sent by wireless a cheery account of the flight. She states: “There is a wonderful feeling of security and safety in riding through the clouds. Not a word of fear is to jbe heard in the lounge, where the passengers gather. I- spent two, hours on the bridge at Commander Eckener’s invitation, to watch a glorious sunset and the gorgeous colouring of the mountains as we flew over Spain. We could see the thousands of twinkling lights of the towns and cities of the Spanish coast. It is now night. We have left behind us ,thc twinkling lights of Spain. The men .are playing cards in the lounge. I’m preparing for bed. 'Below there is the ceaseless roll of the ocean.” NEW RADIO DEVICE.

Tt is interesting to note that the “Lokal Anzieger” claims that, following several hours of silence, the Zeppelin has re-estabislied connection with the big German stations at Norddeich and Kiel by means of a novel, secret,, and hitherto untested radio short wave of forty metres, with which the contents of the messages remain secret.

Nevertheless information from the Azores Islands inspires complete confidence in the success of the trip.

It is anticipated that the Zeppelin’s long detour via Madeira will be. further lengthened by the maintenance of a southerly course by way of Bermuda to avoid known storm centres to the northward, and will delay the airship's arrival in America until Monday. Commander Eckener has wirelessed the United States Navy Department asking for weather forecasts for the region between the Azores and Bermuda. Experts imply from this that the Zeppelin will reach the American coast either in Texas or Virginia.

1240 MILES IN DAY. The whole trip is expected to occupy one hundred hours. Yesterday the airship covered 1240 miles, at an average speed of sixty miles per hour. Thus she accomplished one-flfth of the journey, as against “ZR,3’s” record of one-fourth, of the journey in the same flying time. In any case there are no grounds for apprehension, a s the airship has sufficient fuel to take her half way round the world.

GERMAN INTEREST. LONDON, Oct, 13. The question as to how far an airship that is at the mercy of every unfavourable turn of the weather is likely to be reliable on a trans-Atlantic flight is now raised*in Germany. The whole German nation is intensely excited. Its viewpoint appears to he that the arrival of the Zeppelin in America will be a sufficient success* A GRIM FRENCH JOKE. BERLIN, Oct. 13. The German newspapers are angry at a report of the French naval authorities at Toulouse that: “An airship of unknown nationality passed over Toulouse.” The “Doutcho Tage s Zeitung” says: “For the purpose of furthering Franco-German relations, we have telegraphed the French naval authorities informing them that it was the Graf Zeppelin, and adding that it was not its intention to bombard Toulouse, but that it was merely en route on a friendly mission with mails and passengers for the United States.”

ACCIDENT TO AIRSHIP GEARS. NEW YORK, Oct. 13. At 0.30 o’clock this morning, the Graf Zeppelin sent a message that her port horizontal had been damaged, and requested that a surface ship be sent to follow her course. Warships were then ordered to he ready if needed. ' At nine o’clock the Zeppelin reported that limited repairs had (been effected. It was then 950 miles from Bermuda, indicating fair progress. Advice's at 12.31 p.m. reported that no trouble had been experienced.

ZEPPELIN’S PROGRESS. WASHINGTON, Oct. 13. The Graf Zeppelin reported the horizontal pin dtimaged the fabric near the tail dropping the dirigible, which at present is proceeding towards Lake Hurst, New Jersey, at a reduced speed. The Radio Corporation of America reported everything well on hoard but the Navy Department directed cruisers and destroyers to stand by in case they were needed. She is expected to reach her destination to-morrow afternoon, although unfavourable weather conditions may delay her arrival still further.' Speculation is developing regarding the fuel remaining on the Zeppelin, but experts consider the reported damage is not serious. HAMILTON (Bermuda), Oct. 13. The Zeppelin passed over Bermuda at 7.35 to-night dropping red and green signals, and she was sighted at Dockyard. It is possible to reach Lake Hurst to-morrow morning. NEW YORK, Oct. 13. At p.m. last Saturday the Zeppelin reported self 100 miles no'rtheast of Bermuda, Expect to reach Lake Hurst on Sunday afternoon. It appeared the Bermudans, were mistaken in reporting the Zeppelin earlier.

SALE OF ZEPPELIN. VANCOUVER, Oct. 13. Fox Brothers International Corporation announced on Saturday that the Colon Trans-Aerial Company of Spain had purchased the Graf Zeppelin for about 1,200,000 dollars.