AIRSHIP ENQUIRY

Hokitika Guardian, 5 December 1930, Page 5

AIRSHIP ENQUIRY

If.lol ENQUIRY

(United Press Association.—By Electrio Telegraph.—Copyright.]

LONDON. Dec. 4

Ast R.lOl inquiry, Sir J. Simon referred to rumours current especially iu France, that a woman aboard and some of those on duty, were not sober and that when it started a large qtiani\:y of Intoxicants were taken aboard. There was nut the slightest foundation for these rumours. Indeed, the lady mentioned, arrived at Rome on a flight yesterday. LONDON, Doc. 4.

Herr Eckiier giving evidence attributed the cause of the fire to a broken electrical wire, giving off a. spark. He expressed the opinion that the ship was probably head heavy, owing to the loss of gas in one of the forward gasbags, causing a steep downward movement. He considered the Commander would naturally have been reluctant to throw out oil ballast until they saw it was impossible to right the ship by putting up the elevators, when ho rightly decided to throw out fuel and slow down the engines, but the continuous escape of gas caused a second dive land then the crash.

INTERESTING EVIDENCE,

(Received this day at 1.5 mm.'

LONDON, December 4.

, Commander Kokener expressed the opinion that the coxswain going on duty at the elevator at 2 a.m. would have to. feel his way into' the static condition, which was most difficult to get immediately. It may have happended that a gust of wind forced the ship downward, which the new coxswain did not immediately correctly counteract, because lie was not clear about the ship’s condition. A greater air pressure was thus brought against the nose, and accentuated the steepness of the dive and the head heaviness. Squadron Leader Booth, in evidence, agreed with Eckcner’s view. He always had tire opinion that something definite must have happened to the airship, notably a steep dive, after the changing of the watch. He added lie did not attach much importance to Disleys evidence yesterday, ,because the after end of a tapered gasbag was always higher than the forward bag. He declared he always felt that RlOl was rushed regarding trials, by the influence brought to hear. She was rushed out for the Hendon flight, against Cardington recommendations. “I am sure she would never have sailed for India, if the Imperial Conference was not taking place.”