Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-05-17
u. S. PLANES MAKE TRIP
TO AZORES, NC-4 IN LEAD,
WORD TO NAVY DEPT.


CONTINUED from First Page)
destroyer Bush), at 06:23 Green
witch (2:23 am. Washington time!
the Nc.l passed station ship No Wssb 10 .
ington time); the NC.1 passed sta
tionship No. Is at 09:17 Greenwich
(5:17 am. Washington time).
A delayed official report from Ire.
passey bay to the Navy Department
time. it was estimated that the three
planes were 125 nautical miles aheau
Of their schedule. At that time the
Cape Race radio station still was in
communication with the NC-4.
The message follows:
from Trepassey to the Azores is ahead
Of the previously estimated distance
at O6:25 Greenwich (2:25 am. WASH
ington time) by 125 knots. AT the
above time the planes were reported
as having passed station ship No: Is
$50 miles out. Cape Race British
radio) was still in communication
with the NC-4."
Relay News to Navy Department.
Messages sent by the "Columbuses
OF the air. from plane to plane to
plane and to the destroyers that
lined the 1,350-mile route to the
Azores, the end Of the first lap. were
intercepted by the Cape Race. N: F.,
naval radio station at Bar Harbor.
Me-, and thence sent to the Navy De-
partment. These messages showed
the three planes to be making excel
lent time and indicated that all was
going well.
the planes averaged approximately %s,I TEL
cials estimated that Should this aver
age be Northumberland ito was be-
lieved 1t could be with daylight
spreading over the mid-Atlantic-the
planes would reach their Immediate
objective. Ponta Delgada. Azores.
than three hours earlier than the
time set by the most optimistic.
Communication Severed.
Since the flyers passed out of range
of the Atlantic coast radio stations
communication with the Navy Depart
ment practically has been severed.
The only message coming through be-
tween 4:3o and pm. was passed east
ward by the station ships to the de-
stroyer Melville at PontH Delgado and
cabled here. The planes then had
passed the destroyer Cowell. the
fourteenth station ship. located ap-
proximately $50 miles from Trepassey.
or more than half way across to the
Azores.
When the seaplanes passed over sta
ton ship No. - at 2 :36 am. they were
flying in close formation. While only
DelgAda message eeceived at 1880. It
was the belief Of Navy officials that: all
three Of the planes passed destroyer No
II together.
Traced by Shore Stations.
From the time the AERIAL voyasers left
Trepassey bay. shortly after O'Clock
last night. until they had passed de-
stroyer No Is. more ore; than eoo mile 20 out IT,
trace their progress by intercepted radio
messages.
By this means the powerful govern
ment station at Bar Harbor, Maine,
kept the Navy Department watch
party" constantly informed ressrding
Although the radio apparatus on
board the seaplanes was only designed
for q radius Of about $50 miles. the
changed between the planes when they
were more than 1900 miles distant. This
was declared by expert radio Officers at
the department to be one Of the most
surprising features Of tho epochal under
taking. When the flight was planned 1t
this side would be able to hear Com
mander Towers messages after his
squadron was 200 miles at sea. -.
NC-4 Sights Land.
Another message relayed to the de-
partment was one from the NC-4. sent
at 1885 am, Washington time. saying
she had sighted land. 1T read.
I'VE have tust picked up land again.
Think it is Pico." This referred, Navy
officials said. to the top OF the noun
tty Of the Azores group.
/ An intercepted message from the
NC-4 said she had passed station ship
% at $40 am. Washington time. and
that the weather was fogEy."
The Official dispatch to the Navy
rival said:
''The Nc-4 arrived at Horta (Island
Of Fayal. Azores) at 1920"
The Navy Department later cor
rected the time Of the arrival ac-
kording, to the ofiicdal report. to read
would make the time Of the flight
Is hours and Is minutes from Ire
passey bay.
An intercepted message from the
NC-S received at Horta ut Sis am.
Washington time. read: we are OF
our course somewhere between II
and IS (station ships)."
passed the station ship - at s:14
am. Washington time.
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