The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1919-05-28
READS CREW
RESTS AT LISBON
U. S. Cruiser at Plymouth,
Eng, Ready to Meet
American Birdmen.
WILL FLY ON THURSDAY
Guns, Bells, Whistles Wei
coined First Men to Gross
Atlantic in Airship.

u nlteu states CIulseT CtOChtoH TOut
at anchor in the harbor today ready
to dash out on a minutes notice to
take her station half way between
this port and Brest when Lieut.
Commander Read begins the last leg
Of his brilliant transatlantic flight
from Lisbon TO this port, in the
American naval seaplane NC-4.
The Stockton came from the Azores
by way of Lisbon. Her commander
reported that the NC-4 is in excellent
condition and her crew are extremely
confident of winding up the epoch
making air voyage in blaze of glory.
Keen interest is felt here over the
final outcome OF the flight, and Lieut.
Commander Read will get a rousing
greeting when he puts into the har-
Dor.
Birdmer Sleeping SoundIy.
Lisbon, May 2s.--The first men TO
cross the Atlantic by air were sleep-
fng soundly aboard the cruiser Ro-
chester in Lisbon harbor early todays
and it was understood that they
would not resume their flight to Eng
land today.
Mechanicians from the Rochester
worked over the NC-4 practically all
night, and 1t was believed she was
fit for the 775-mile fight to Plym-
outh. But reports from the cruiser
before dawn said that Lieut.. Com
mander Read and the seaplane's
crew were not astir, and that they
probably would rest today and test
the planes engines before taking off
on the last leg.
II the weather permits they will
hop off for Plymouth early tomor-
row, reaching the English coast in
less than ten hours The meas
crew reported that the final leg of
the transatlantic flight from Ponta
Delgada to Lisbon, was practically
without incident. and that they ex-
pected little trouble in making the
extra hop to Plymouth. The sea-
plane met with ideal weather nearly
all the way. and not once did she
stray off the course routed for her
by American dcstroyers.
lss Guns nBoonp. Bells Riua. A "a
4 Gums we're. booming, bells ringing
and steamer whistles blowing as The
NC-4, with Lieut:-C Commander Read
seated IN front of the cockpit. dipped
to the water at the mouth of the
Tagus river at 402 pm, New York
time An instant later the flying boat
had swung her nose to the left and
was dashing up the harbor, through
the lane of ships formed on either
side. She headed. straight for the
Rochester, drew up alongside the
cruiser and the history making flight
across the Atlantic was ended.
The last of the American DESTROY
ers which are to mark the route from
Lisbon to Plymouth took up their
stations last night, according to re-
ports received here today. and every
thing is in readiness for the flight,
Communication Slow.
washington, May 2S.-No word had
reached the navy department this
morning as to whether the NC-4 had
left Lisbon for Plymouth, England. The
last message from Lisbon was received
last night and 1t indicated Lieutenant
commander Albert c. Read would start
II weather conditions were favorable.
Officers said communication with Lis
bon was exceedingly slow as was evil
denCed by the fact that the message
reporting the arrival of the NC-4 at
the capita of Portugal was delayed
three hours.
Machine made In America"
Washington, May 2s,-(A PD-The
feat OF the seaplane NC-4, which yes
terday achieved the distinction for the
United States navy OF having blazed
the way for transatlantic aerial navi-
cation when she flew from Ponta Del
eada TO Lisbon, completing the last leg
OF the actual continent continent
flight continued to be the chief topic
in naval and official circles here today.
IN addition to the honor which history
will give to American naval fliers as
the first to fly across the Atlantic it
was with pride that navy men pointed
10 the splendid performance Of the ma
chine, purely made in America" de-
velopment. Without a mishap of any
kind the NC-f made the jump OF ap-
proximately 900 land miles from Ponta
Delgada to the landing in Portugal in
2 hours and 43 minutes, or at the rate
OF slightly more than ninety land miles
an hour. Official reports show the fight
which started at 6:ls am, Washington
time. ended at 4:o1 pm, Washington
time.
Real object Accomplished.
Resumption OF the fight with Plum.
outh England, as the finish, which
was expected today Il weather condi-
tons permitted and 1t was found the
steady driving of Yesterday had left
the engines in good shape, was re-
Earded as of only secondary Importance
when compared to the flight across the
Atlantic, the real object of all the
navy's efforts. Commander Albert c.
Read and his five COMPANIONS are
eager to complete the voyage at the
earliest possible moment now that the
most difficult obstacles TO their under
taking have been passed Reports here
showed all of the fers to be in excel !
lent physical condition despite The !
strain they have been under continu- |
ously for more than two weeks.
The fight from Lisbon to PlN mouth |
II was pointed out, will be the least !
difficult Of anv of the legs as practl- |
cally all the way the seaplane will he |
Of Portugal and Spain, thence across I