Washington, Oct. 13—The Zepplin ZR-3 was floating today over the broad expanses of the Atlantic and the navy on the alert was standing by to render any help that might be needed by the great airship in its epoch-making journey from Frederickshafen, Germany.
No direct word from the ZR-3 came to the navy bureau of aeronautics because her radio range had not reached the point where the station could make contact but the ships stationed at strategic points on the ocean and through other sources of information efforts were being made to keep in touch with the airship.
Capt. Geo. W. Steele, American naval officer aboard the ship who will take command of her upon her arrival at Lakehurst, told the navy department in a belated radiogram today of the departure from Germany where she was built for the American government in conformity with the terms of the armistice, adding she sailed smoothly from the start.
The southern route is being followed, putting the big craft in the steamship route across the Atlantic, which goes by the Azores and the Bermudas.
Weather conditions when the Zeppelin reached Bermuda doubtless will influence the German officers in command in selecting the route they will take northward. If the ship is headed on the regular steamship course she would reach the American coast either at Charleston, S.C., or the mouth of Chesapeake Bay. As the southern route is the long route is the long route, it is assumed the commander will select the shortest course from Bermuda to Lakehurst in order to save fuel. Besides Capt. Steele, two other navy officers and an army officer are aboard the Zeppelin.
The first stage of the journey was across France and there Capt. Steele reported an average speed of more than 60 miles an hour with all engines running. Only four engines were in operation when the ship pushed off for the Azores as it was desired to conserve the fuel supply.
The ZR-3 was built for the United States at the Zeppelin plant under an agreement which makes her unavailable for military purposes.
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Berlin, Oct. 13—The ZR-3 was sighted off the Spanish coast shortly after 8 o’clock tonight, and at 9:36 p.m. passed Cape Orgetel, on the Bay of Biscay, and then headed for the open Atlantic.
Before leaving the Bay of Biscay, the dirigible’s officers and crew sent last off short greetings to their families and friends at Friedrichshafen.
Dr. Eckner reports favorable winds and auspicious weather generally. On account of the favorable weather in the Bay of Biscay, Dr. Eckener decided to take the southern route from the Gironde by way of the Azores and Bermuda. The distance from Friedrichshafen to the Gironde is estimated at 858 miles and was covered in eight hours. It is certain, however, that the speed of the dirigible will diminish at various points owing to shifting winds. The latest estimate of the time required for the passage of the Atlantic from the Gironde to New York, via the Azores and Bermuda, is something less than 60 hours, which would bring the ZR-3 to her new home late Tuesday or early Wednesday.
[Name was spelled ‘Eckner’ in first sentence in this paragraph and ‘Eckener’ in the next sentence. Location in Germany was spelled ‘Frederickshafen’ in the first story and ‘Friedrichshafen’ in this section. According to the web, the second spelling is correct.]
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Azores Island, Oct. 13—The giant dirigible ZR-3 passed Fayle at 2:35 this afternoon (local time) on her way to Lakehurst, N.J. She was flying in a westerly direction, traveling at a good rate of speed.
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Washington, Oct. 13—The giant dirigible ZR-3 reached the Azores Island at noon G.M.T. according to wireless message received here.
From the front page of the Wilson Times, Oct. 14, 1924
newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn92073953/1924-10-14/ed-1/seq-1/#words=October+14%2C+1924
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