ATLANTIC CROSSING

Taranaki Daily News, 23 August 1919, Page 12

ATLANTIC CROSSING

BRITISH AIRSHIP'S TRIE. ' INCIDENTS BY THIS WAT HEAVY RAIN ENCOUNTERED. London, July 13. The British airship R34 came to earth this morning in Norfolk like a giant ship sliding smoothly and securely to Jier berth. It was- a memorable scene. The weather was calm. The monster gasbag glistened in the early sunlight, circled thrice, and then descended sedately. A hundred eager hands seized the guy-ropes, while the crowds which had gathered despite the earliness of the hour, cheered lustily, and the R.A.F. band played ''See, the Conquering Hero Comes." Major Scott, tired and unshaven, but smiling, directed the berthing with a huge megaphone. Then be stepped out from the glass doorway and said: "We had a damned fine trip." He was handed a bunch of congratulatory telegrams, including one from King George, extolling "this memorable and uuique air voyage." On the voyage there was little incident. Things went swiminingsly. General Maitland's log tells the simple tale. They sped at 74 miles an hour across the American coast, four engines going and the fifth cooling. They found the' rum ration most enjoyable owing to the increasing cold. New York admirers bad provided scores of thermos flasks. These produced acceptable coffee, but the main sustenance was sandwiches and condensed food. General Maitland gives an interesting picture of the sorting of the mail, while the scientists discussed the future system of getting meteorological reports from the sea, and the night watch slept. The journey home took 7»hr- 3min. EASY, AND SAFE. Major Scott, in an interview, said that he distinctly saw hundreds of thousands of white faces turned up amidst the garish lights of New York. Sometimes the speed exceeded 82 miles, but these spurts usually lasted only an hour. "We struck light head-winds.'slanting winds, and extreme cold, but generally it was pleasant holiday weather, though rain and gales never were far distant. Most of the journey was above the clouds, but sometimes as low as 500 ft. altitude." The officers agree that it was an easy, comfortable, and safe trip, and proves the capacity of airships for long commercial journeys. Major Scott says that it was easier thanjhe thought it would be. A large airship unquestionably is the best type for trans-ocean work. "We saved a thousand gallons of petrol on the homeward run, and could have carried another dozen men. Future success depends largely on the size and petrolcarrying capacity and speed. We soon will be able to travel at a consistent speed of from 70 to 80 miles." General Maitland declares that airships soon will be commercially used for long distances, aeroplanes radiating from the airship termini on short-distance runs. The officers say that the airship cabins were comfortable T.here was no rocking, while the heaviest seas were running beneath. The vessel maintained wireless contact with the shore throughout, and sometimes wireless telephony was used. THE SKIPPER'S LOG. A typical page of General Maitland's log is as follows:—"10-7, 3.35 p.m. Averaged 55.3 knots an hour since leaving Broadway. Steady as a rock, and unless one looks out of window one cannot realise that one is travelling. "4.50 p.m. Petrol consumption is working out at a gallon a mile. Cooke is getting easy observations on the sun, with a sea horizon. We managed that only twice coming out. "6.15 p.m. Five-masted schooner in full sail on starboard. An interesting contrast between old and new. Getting much colder. 8 p.m. Supper is over—soft-boiled eggs and cocoa. All discuss impressions of American women around the diningtable. "11.7 p.m. The forward engine crank is notched and unrepairable. Cooke is sleeping under the dining-table. Seems the most popular place. %M a.m. Descended to 500 ft. in order to get under clouds. Fine northerly wind beneath, south-westerly above; therefore rise. It is ductoCulf Stream. "7.15 a.m. Getting full benefit of the 35-knot south-west wind. "9 a.m. See storm eastwards, fantastic streaky cirrus ventosus, lurid colored, and hundreds of miles away. "12.30 p.m. Lunch. The aramaphone is a great asset. Two members of crew can be seen doing a one-step. "3.30 p.m. Have not seen the sea. since 5.30. "4.30 p.m.. Scott brings ship down to try and find water. At 900 ft still invisible, so climb again,, passing through five distinct separate strata of clouds. "4.45. Above clouds, a few blissful moments of beautiful cloud and panorama; range upon range of white and slaty mountains, with deep wide valleys, and occasional glimpses of bright blue sky.. "S- pm. Heavily raining. "5.30 p.m. Still pouring; Windows 'and doors shut. Climbed, but unable to get out of' this teeming, rain. LAND HO!: • I "9.15 p.m. Dominican* speak* us.. Gives her position aud barometrical readings. We are quite close, but, cannot see her. "Midnight. Still pouring. Dropped iu calcium flare, and estimated the drift. As wo lay in our hammocks listening-; to the rain beating pitilessly on the roof of our trusty ship our feelings' were of complete confidence and security.. "(i a.m. Aft engine broke valves. Cooke unable to get. observation for 2t hours, though an average day iu midAtlantic. "12 30 p.m. Overlooking H),200' squaremiles, yet do not see a* single ship, in this gigantic Atlantic. The log described the excitement at sighting Ireland. The officers gathered over a large chart and tried to pick out their position. "What a strange, happy coincidence! These two little islands are the same which appeared out of the fog, and delighted the gaze of Alcock aud Brown, in their historic (light." The rugged coastline and mountaintops peeping out, of fleecy clouds were a magnificent panorama welcoming back ihe navigators to British soil. "A northerly course would have saved time, and undoubtedly captains of the big aerial liners of the future will become wily and cunning masters in selecting the right way, height detours, and advantaging winds.