AN AIRSHIP’S ADVENTURES

Hokitika Guardian, 23 May 1929, Page 2

AN AIRSHIP’S ADVENTURES

(“ Otago Times.”) The essay to take the airship Graf Zeppelin on a second flight from Germany to the United States has been interrupted in a decidedly dramatic, though fortunately not disastrous manner. Early in the voyage trouble was experienced with the motors upon which thd airship relies ifor propulsion, and it was decided to return to Friedriehshaven. That intention could not be carried out. Unable to contend with a strong adverse wind, the Grgf Zeppelin was carried rapidly southward over France. A rather deplorable spectacle of impotence was afforded by her drift, the seriousness of which led to her commander making constant use of the wireless to ask where he might land and to request the assemblage of troops as a necessary precaution at the landing place. The communications received (from the Graf Zeppelin were indicative of a state of considerable nervousness and trepidation on the part of her officers.

The landing of an unwieldy airship is a somewhat difficult business, but it was necessary that it should be accomplished, even in France, if the risk was to be avoided that in her disabled condition the Graf Zeppelin might lje driven out to sea. To Dr Eckener’s anxious request ifor permission to land at the chief aviation base in France the reply was, “ Land anywhere you like at any time—we will do everything to facilitate it.” Undoubtedly the Germans are greatly indebted to their French neighbours for the assistance which enabled those on board the Graf Zeppelin to descend' in safety, ,

There is irony in tlm circumstance that , the airship was forced to come down at Toulon, olf all places, after the French Government, while giving permission that it should pass over 1’ rcnch territory before beginning its transatlantic flight, had firmly stipulated that it should be accompanied by French aeroplanes while it passed over France and that all photographic appliances should 1)0 sealed up. The considerations which dictated these requirements on the part of the Irench Government were, of course, not permitted to weigh in the balance against an appeal for assistance, and French soldiers cheerfully helped to moor the wandering aerial visitant.. Jt is possible that the Graf Zeppelin may make no more transatlantic flights. Her first voyage to the United States was by no means a great success. The second has come near to ending in disaster. The experience of the Graf Zeppelin do not thus far offer a very favourable augury for the future of the big passenger airship. The great transatlantic steamship companies will not be unduly anxious as yet respecting competition from the air. It seems to be admitted in Germany that the flights olf the Graf Zeppelin have shown that the Atlantic crossing is too hazardous for craft of the type of Dr Eckener’s airship, and that larger and stronger vessels, of the type which Great Britain is building, are necessary if flights df this kind are to be commercially successful. Certainly the performances of the two great airships upon which so much time and thought have .been expended in Britain will have to be a good deal better than those o«f the Graf Zeppelin if they are to fulfil the purposes for which they have been designed.