The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1914-02-24
Transatlantic Flight.


Transatlantic Flight.
Rodman Wanamaker's proposal to fly
across the Atlantic in twelve hours,
though not to be taken too seriously,
l is significant OF aviation's giant strides.
Almost anything is possible in aero
nautics. We have but to consider its
ten years. history to realize this.
The short time allotted is less note
worthy than the fight itself, "If the
motor is only strong enough" to quote
Lincoln Beachey's recent wisdom, 1t will
be possible. Put no motor capable OF
developing the necessary 200-mile an
hour speed has yet appeared Vedrines
averaged l25 miles last summer in the
Gordon Bennett contest, but only for an
hour Assuming that even this speed
could be maintained, it would require
eighteen hours to cover the 1900 miles
between Ireland and Newfoundland.
The attempt would be foolhardy, even
among aviators. The longest continu-
Gus flight has been but third of this
span. The longest endurance fight has
been only fourteen hours. The feat
would, however, be possible in ''easy"
stages, with no stretches of over 700
miles. From the Shetlands to Seydis-
ford, the nearest point in Iceland, is but
AIS miles, Isaford, the other end OF the
island, is 2275 more The closest shore
of Greenland--Cape Grivel-is scant
200 miles to the northwest. From here
the coast could be skirted to Cape Fare
well, the southernmost tip of the Are
tic continent. The direct span to Lab
rador is only 700 miles at this point,
and assuming that the return should be
made to civilization" an overland
fight OF 700 miles additional would
bring the air pilot TO the northern part
OF Newfoundland,
BY this circuitous route 22,S50 miles
would be covered, with no single fight
of over 100 miles Fuel for but twice
that distance would have to be carried.
The peril Of the direct trans Atlantic
crossing would be much diminished.
Such a flight would be possible to-day,
though even Lloyds might well hesitate
to insure the ayiator.Boston Herald.
"The Simple Truth About Pindell."
Mr. Pindell OF Peoria was unquestion-
ably fit to be ambassador to Russia, and
the last bit OF convincing evidence is his
most excellent and admirable letter to
the president declining the nomination
which the Senate has unanimously con
firmed.
An ideal nomination it was not; it
was, for all that, better than the aver
age nomination TO such posts. The aver
age American ambassador for years
past has had million year of private
income to spend. but he has had no pre-
yious diplomatic experience. Mr.. Pin
dell had no million year. He was
nothing but western editor and moth
ing whatever of snob. But he was a
public spirited and intelligent student OF
affairs, entirely capable OF as good serv-
ice at St Petersburg as three-quarters
of the men this country has sent to
represent it at that capital in the past
quarter of a century. We have heard
that former American ambassador to
a European court remarked, after an in
terview with Mr.. Pindeli. "The news
papers have been abusing that man"
The Pindell case has a humorous side
IL began absolutely as a Bryan hunt
The name of Pindell was quaint, and it
was unknown to the eastern editors who
chase the secretary of state with broken
crockery. Bryan was then being at
tackled for debauching our diplomatic
service and it was promptly assumed
that PindelI the "obscure" Illinois edi-
tor, was one OF Bryan's old pals, for
whom the arch-spoilsman of the Wilson
administration was finding place in
payment of old political debts Such
chance to nail Bryan had not before
been offered. A former stenographer of
Senator j. Hamilton Lewis of Illinois
increased the excitement by forging a
letter that made the Pindell nomination
look almost like crime. *Pindellism"
began to be talked about in a serious
way
The exposure of the forgery was some
thing of blow. Further embarrass-
ment came when it was demonstrated
that Mr.. Pindell had for years in IL
linois politics been an anti-Bryan man,
that the secretary had no possible per-
sonal interest in the nomination and
that the president himself was solely
responsible for the choice. When the
Senate, after an investigation, unani-
mously confirmed the appointment,
everyone seemed 10 pc Trying 10 loigct
the case The whole thing had so fiat
tened out that Mr.. Pindell could have
started for st. Petersburg without hear
ing another single squawk about the de-
bauching of our diplomatic service by
Bryan.
AS the president says, Mr.. Pindell will
be happier to stay at home. Doubtless
his usefulness abroad has been impaired
by the ridiculous crusade against him.
But, after all, he comes out of the mess
in fine feather and can take more conf
fort than ever in his business. The man
who does not prefer being an editor in
Peoria to being an ambassador in any
capital in Europe does not have the
right streak in him. Springfield Repub-
lican.
BETHEL