R 34 remained at Mineola until midnight of July 9th according
to American time. During the four days in which she was moored out
variable weather was experienced, and in a gale of wind the mooring
point was torn out, but fortunately, another trail rope was dropped and
made fast, and the airship did not break away.

It was intended that the return should be delayed until daylight, in
order that spectators in New York should obtain a good view of the
airship, but an approaching storm was reported and the preparations
were advanced for her immediate departure. During the last half-hour
great difficulty was experienced in holding the ship while gassing was
completed.

At 5.57 a.m. (British summer time) R 34 set out on her return voyage,
steering for New York, to fly over the city before heading out into the
Atlantic. She was picked up by the searchlights and was distinctly
visible to an enormous concourse of spectators. During the early part
of the flight a strong following wind was of great assistance, and for
a short period an air speed of 83 miles per hour was attained. On the
morning of July 11th the foremost of the two engines in the after car
broke down and was found to be beyond repair. The remainder of the
voyage was accomplished without further incident. On July 12th at
noon, a signal was sent telling R 34 to proceed to the airship station
at Pulham in Norfolk as the weather was unfavourable for landing in
Scotland. On the same day at 8.25 p.m., land was first sighted and the
coast line was crossed near Clifden, county Galway, at 9 p.m. On the
following morning, July 13th, at 7.57 a.m. (British summer time), the
long voyage was completed and R 34 was safely housed in the shed,
having been in the air 75 hours 3 minutes.

Thus a most remarkable undertaking was brought to a successful
conclusion. The weather experienced was by no means abnormally good.
This was not an opportunity waited for for weeks and then hurriedly
snatched, but on the preordained date the flight was commenced. The
airship enthusiast had always declared that the crossing of the
Atlantic presented no insuperable difficulty, and when the moment
arrived the sceptics found that he was correct. We may therefore assume
that this flight is a very important landmark in the history of aerial
transport, and has demonstrated that the airship is to be the medium
for long-distance travel. We may rest assured that such flights,
although creating