New-York tribune., 1918-06-22
Britain Proposes Trans-
atlantic Voyages by Avi-
ators to Battlefronts
One Route Laid Out
By Gen. Brancker
First Attempt to Garry Out
Plan Likely To Be
Made in Fall
tspecsu, Dispoteh to Tho r,;buxe

Especial Dispatch TO Tho Tsib.Yme)
WASHINGTON, June 21.-The Brit
ish aud American governments may un-
dertake flights across the Atlantic this
year. Major General William Branck-
er, controller general Of equipment Of
the British Air Council, who is on q
special mission to the United States
pertaining to the coordination Of
American and British work in aviation
production fields. disclosed this to-day.
The British Air Council, he said, is
csmmitted to the scheme.
General Brancker issued a formal
statement. He afterward elaborated
upon it in an interview. He said:
IAN enterprise which must be carried
cut as soon as possible is the flight
Of the Atlantic. Once this has been
established Americas output of big
bombing machines can proceed to
Europe by air, and so save the ship
pisg that is so invaluable for other
purposes.
aThis may seem wild statement,
butEe must remember thst In 1914 the
hight Of the English Channel was con-.
ssAsfsaA 4 wonderful and dangerous per-
fornanee. There is really no reason
why considerable number of big aero
planes and seaplanes should not cross
the Atlantic during next summer, and
the sooner pioneer proves the fight
not only to be possible, but compare
lively safe, the better can the wonder
ful resources of America be employed
toward winning the war"
Great Britain Is s<For IT.
The British government, said Gen
efal Brancker, "is for it," The pro-
posal is being discussed with the avia-
ton heads of the United States. and it
was thought possible that the initial
hight might be attempted in September
Or October, the two months most favor
requisites for the fight, the general
said, are:
Engine reliability; navigation, given
clear weather, and weather forecast
ing, which is the most difficult problem.
There also are three possible routes,
only one o. which, however, is con-
ndered practicable for the trial fight.
Inc lrst is the Greenland route, which
mas already been ruled out because of
us roughness. The second, to Ireland,
also has been eliminated for the pres
snh because OF the trouble experienced
"a telling weather conditions. The
Iouse tentatively agreed Upon is by
Ssy o. the Azores, which is considered
Ssss from every viewpoint, it being
,,ssssonaply easy to forecast accurately
he weather.
The first fight across the ocean, Cen
ssM nrancker said, probably would be
made BY seaplane. SO it would be able
e iand in the harbors On the other
s.ue. The starting point would be New
.cundiand. Offering q shorter distance
cross. The first landing point would
= .ne Azores, and the route thence
coast.
Would Use British Engine
GENERAL Brancker emphasized his de-
slsfaticn that the fight would not be
svs sensation and in no way would be
s.ss'Ased TO stunt" as such, "but to get
Ms STUN over" it being his idea, and
aa. ct other leading British pro-
s;saen.s s;.s Of the fight, that the shipping
siIs ilIsaIon might eventually be materi-
~ seiieveo by having the heavy
psnss 6y overseas.
panese 10 one engine which General
.nEaneker believes has demonstrated
ss .Ie disability of such an exploit. It is
au nohs Royce, an English motor. 1t
~ vuio require 750 horsepower, at pres
er.;N s ;shosded by one type of Rolls Royce
snisnas employed in seaplanes. The
ra,as making the transatlantic voyage
~. AIRY two engines and two tanks.
na;. S ntier innovation being feasible
I ssd dnS 70 the fact that the seaplanes
ss heavier land planes are built to
bombs and torpedoes.
n.s. was estimated by General
enrss:er ensss:Aer that the flight would be ac-
hns!nassaed s1!ns in forty hours. 1t would be
mdts.ose Tor the Rolls Royce engine to
frnss s,ghty-tive miles an hour, and
MN ninety-five to hundred miles
kssss sasyorsble winds. The fight would
q. we distinct phases~--the first to
ron,S Ssseses. which it was estimated
AsA,ss. 4xe twenty hours. and from the
anstSss. % Portugal, which would take
lostsss twenty hours The fight from
NJ sssi 70 the French coast, which, it
~, Ssa' would be over seas and not
xas;.,ss ,sspenish territory, would be the
shsrs : p:yt eyt OF the flight, it being SO
"esA Carry Four Persons
ilssss Brancker thought that the
re xt enyine might be able to cross
ReuiS sSnsie, but the attempt, he said,
~ thasc y gamble, until the engine
sVoehly tested. 1t is understood
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