ZR-3

Delayed by many small mishaps, the ZR-3, giant dachshund of heaven, built for the U. S. under the terms of the Treaty of Versailles, at length left Friedrichshafen, Germany, for her long flight across the Atlantic.

Route.--Taking the direct route from Friedrichchafen, the big ship passed over the French Midi, over Bordeaux, along the Spanish coast of the Bay of Biscay, and out to the Azores Islands. Thence she was to have flown to Bermuda and thence west-by-south to Lakehurst. A "local tornado" encountered an hour west of the Azores forced her to slow down to 25 m. p. h., however, and when the storm had passed, she veered northwest direct for Manhattan, a missing engine tuned in again to help hit up her pace to 75 m. p. h.

Purpose. Unlike the Shenandoah, the ZR3 is designed for commercial use, not warfare. She is 24 ft. shorter than the Shenandoah, but has 300,000 cu. ft. more gas-capacity and luxurious quarters for 32 passengers. Upon her arrival at Lakehurst, she was to be given over to the U. S. Navy for experimental work, the German crew and commander (Hugo Eckener) staying on to train a U. S. personnel.

The experiments will be conducted to ascertain the profitability of establishing commercial airlines between important U. S. cities.

Other Facts. The safe arrival of the ZR3 was insured by Dutch and German companies for $600,000. Some said her purpose in sailing direct to Manhattan was to aid the German loan, the securities of which were offered to U. S. investors just previous to the big ship's arrival. The only Americans on board were the four members of the U. S. Naval Commission, pictured by The New York World as sitting "like drummers in a Pullman car" playing cards in mid-air and mid-Atlantic.

U. S. receiving stations began picking up intelligible wireless messages from the ZR3 soon after she passed "the top of the hill," as mariners call the halfway line between the two Continents. The first message ran: "Alles wohl an bord schiff" (All well on board ship).