New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-06-17
NAVY BIRDMEN BACK HOME;
ARMY TO FLY IN MEXICO
Daily Soaking and Baking at Vera Cruz 100 Niu'" ~
the HydroAeroplanes, and lhey ARE D'0ue"'
to Pensacola by the Mississippi
Nv ARTHUR RUHL.

sky on a sea that might almost have Oeen
an inland lake. Through II the onetihe
lighting ship swept comfortably north-
eastward, moro like some huge pleasure
craft than a punctllious battleship' onn-
GERS actually permitted themselves to be
seen on deck bareheaded, and In the late
afternoon, stripped 10 rowing shirts'
passed the medicine ball on the quarter
deck, for physical beauty like that OF the
navy aviation squad can only be main
tanned by ceaseless vigilance.
Probably none can say positively when
ia more beautiful. Some think Lieutenant
Towers, who had charge OF the shore
camp at Vera Cruz. Some say Chevalieri
some say Bellinger. The Bellinger party
make one undoubtedly strong point TOT
their side-the action OF a Pensacola
tailor who, wishing TO make the stronges,
possible argument for his wares, printed
an advertisement reading "Bellinger 'ooh
a chance--why can't your"
Birdnen All Busy.
But IL wasn't all play. The skeleton
crew, which is all that can be anordeu
the Mississippi for her present duty, was
working watch and watch, six hours OF
and six off. Ensign Bronson. just detailed
TO aviation duty from the battleship Mich
igan. was beginning at the bottom by
taking a hydro-aeroplane to pieces anu
putting the complex parts together AGAIN
Lieutenant saufiee, who, like all navy
aviators. is a naval officer first and bird-
man afterward, was up in the chart room
helpinR navigate the ship. Lieutenant
Smith, one Of the marine corps, was WHIT
fling on the model Of a non-patent IN
fringing tractor flying boat, to ny raster
vsgh less and be more quickly assembled
than anything ever heard OF. Beillnger
was grinding on some Frenchmans 'oooA
an aeronautics, and Powers and captain
Muslin were talking over future work.
Sunday night the Gulf was like a mill
nond. but Monday morning brought a
fresh breeze from,the northwest, and the
sea. no longer a tropical blue, was too
rough to make launching the dig oirds
practicable. The aviation squad has ex-
perimented on a launching device de-
signed TO shoot machine from the dech
under lust such circumstances, put IL mas
rot been perfected, or, at least not SET up
on the aviation station.
The mechanicians are rs proud OF the DIE
birds they take care Of as II they piloted
,b.m themselves. and, indeed, their WORK
Is a lot more important than most persons
think. They were as interested in the
oversee flight as the young officers VINO
were 10 do the flying, and were greatly
disappointed when It was given up. But
probably none was more depressed than
Lieutenant Smith. who at breakfast time
had drawn a word picture of how he was
70 rise like a carrier pigeon, circle Tar
aloft until he had felt his direction, ther
speed like an arrow toward the ROOFS OF
Pensacola, above which he was to circle
a creature of mystery and romance sud
denly materialized out Of the western
ocean.
The sea was too unkind, however, and
rot until the Mississippi had come to an
Choir were the two dying boats unslune
and. with their pilots aboard, lowered &c
the water. The wind was so strong that
when Lieutenant Towers and Ensign
Chevalier started they had TO give uI
trying TO fly and "porpoise" their way
ashore across the whitecaps.
The aviation station is at the navy yard
several miles from Pensacola. so that only
few persons were at the wharf to greet
the returning heroes. The Mississippi
probably will not return to Mexican
waters, and If more flying is needed ir
Mexico it probably will be done by army
birdmen.