The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1918-06-25
PLAN AIR RCU4EIO
EUROPE VERY SOON
British Official in WASHINGTON to
Discuss Plan With War
Department.
AIM TO RELIEVE SHIPPING
Main Idea is to Bring Full Force
of American Effort in Air
to Bear Against Germany
Touch at the Azores.

| Washington, June Establish
ment Of an air route to Europe from
the United States in order to bring
the full force of American effort in
the air to bear against Germany has
peen decided upon as a definite pro-
| ject by the British air council. the
new organization into which all
British air service has merged. This
was disclosed today by Major Gen
eral William brancker. controller of
equipment on the council. who is in
washington to discuss this and 9TH
er projects relating to air warfare
with American officials
Plans for an initial flight across
the Atlantic in August. Seotemher or
october of this year are already well
| adVanced. American cooperation
is sought and General Brancker
! hopes that the first machine TO make
the crossing will carry bath British
and American pilots. At least three
British pilots regarded as qualified
for the trip arc now here and several
types of machines produced in Eng
7 land have ample fuel capacity for
the forty hours flying, it is estimated
the trip would take.
To Blaze New Trail.
The attitude Of the American yov-
ernm"nt toward tho project has MOI;
been disclosed although General
! BrancE"~ laid stress on the fact that
| the sole purpose of the trip was TO
blaze new trail to Europe over
! which American aircraft can be de-
livered next year without taxing
shipping. Presumably Il arises from
the fixed purpose of the British air
ministry To carry the bombing war
rare into Germany on steadily in
oreasing scale and not a vital spot
III the German empire is safe from al.
lied readers.
After General Brancker had made
public his plars. Secretary Baker
said that no army aviation officers
had yet been assigned to work i'm
conjunction with the British on the
project. Successful navigation of
the air 10 Europe is TO be hoped for
he said, but no def~'te plan 10 at,
tempt il is now before government
| officials.
General Brancker laid his plans
| before officers Of ..He army rer,s4ol
stan as an achievt@ent that could
be realized n the immediate future.
Have Adequate Motors.
IN" point made by General
Brancker favorng the employment
OF British equipment for the venture
is that the new Rolls-Rovce 375
horsepower engines have proved re-
| liable enough practically TO insure
no d ificulty from this source. The
American Liberty motors, he said. are
admirably better in performance
than this Rolls-Royce, being of light
er weight and giving greater power
hut they have not yet reached the
status OF reliability OF the Rolls
Royce
Under any consideration. sea
| plan" carrying at least $50 horse
power will he the first craft to AT
tempt the aight. Until arrange
ments have been made for the touch
ing or airplanes Eat the Azores en-
route. which is dihicult matter
wing to the rugged contour O, the
islands, landing there for refueline
viii have TO he made in the harbor
The Tentative Route.
As the trip is now projected II
would start from British soil in New
"oundland, touch at the Azores and
again in Portugal and conclude in
ireland, probably to be resumed af-
ter overhaul to France. While this
is not the shortest route Il is said IN
"Her better weather and Better on
portunity to forecast the weather I'm
advance.
The governing factors Of the flight
were given by the British officer os
engine reliability. navigation and
weather forecasts. The probable
'oss OF machines en- route could be
minit hed, he believed, when the
Weather foIecast had been fully
- s-.<tfx9t. x..1.u