El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1919-05-17
N. c. BEATS SCHEDULE
IN FLIGHT TO AZORES
Continued from page L.

slant Communication with the naval
vessels at all times In addition TO the
radio communication the destroyers
along the route were provided with
spe elal Illuminating torches. star
shells and flares for use az night to
mark the course and were in constant
readiness TO answer s. o. S calls or
other distress signals should accident
befall one OF the big planes
Ponfu del Gadn Reports.
POnta del Gada. Azores. May H.
(By The Associated Press. The sea
plane N-C-f arrived at the port Of
Horta, IN the Azores. at 1.25 p. M.
Greenwich time. The N-C-f sighted
land at Flores at 11-35 a. m The
Vel then was close behind her The
N--C-d passed station II at Q-15
o'clock The first two seaplanes were
IN wireless touch with the torpedo
boat tender Melville shortly before
noon
With the seaplans N-C-4 leading.
the three naval transatlantic Giers
had completed tWo-thirds OF their
course from Trepassey TO the Azores
AZ $3.50 o'clock this morning
The equivalent OF $50 a. m Azores
time Is 4-35 a. m. New York time
The other planes were going strong
in the wake OF their leader. The av-
erage speed OF the N-C-f was com
q
Small knots OF people gathered
on the water front shortly after
day break 10 seek news Of the fly
ers and 60 await their arrival. and
a. the day progressed the crowds
rapidly increased.
The section OF the harbor where che
planes were 70 be m0ored has been
cleared OF all craft to permit OF a safe
lanulng- Two destrOyers were ready
% ASSIST the planes II they aighted
outside the hreakwlter. The CITY is
IN gala dress and admiral Jackson
mas invited the hish civil officials TO
view the arrival OF the flyers from
one OF the American warcraft The
departure OF the seaplanes from Ire
passey was reported here at 1870
o'clock last night when the torpedo
boat tender Melville received a wire
flight"
Navy Officials BesieEed.
This Information which was rapid
Is circulated about the city caused
much animation in American naval
Headquarters. which was 0esIeged
with inquiries regarding me flight
ADMIRAL Jackson fleet commander
OrTine and scores OF other naval Of
Lcers remained up all night 10 receive
reports Of the. seaplanes' progress.
The wireless worked eUcenently
throughout the nights hours. mer-
LnF request or the navy 10 refrain
from interfering with messages re-
garding the flight.
Following is a history OF the three
men commanding the seaplanes which
Friday started 70 the Azores on their
trans Atlantic flight.
Commander Towers. who IS 81 years
OF age, was born I'm Georgia and en-
tered the Naval academy in 1902. Aft
or service on various Warships he was
assigned 20 the aviation section for
instruction three years before the out
break OF the European war. Nidwin-
ter OF 1912 found him in charge Of the
aviation camp at the Guantanamo
maneuver grounds OF the Atlantic
fleet and in September, 1913. as a
Lieutenant he went 20 London as as
sistant TO the American naval attache.
After tour OF duty on the staff Of
the CHIEF OF operations at Washing
ton during which he participated IN
the selection OF aviation stations and
won his commission as commander.
Mr.. Towers was designated early this
year 20 develop the plans for the
transatlantic flight.
Lieut.. Reads History.
Lieutenant commander Read 50
years OF age was born in New Hamp-
shire. After leaving Annapolis he
AAA-aA HaAAel Aaal GAAle until 1872
when he reported at the naval air
station at Pensacola, Fla. for instruc-
ton. Two years later he took COM
mand Of the aviation station at Bay
Shore, on Long Island, later assuming
a similar post at Miami. Fla While
on the staff Of the chief OF naval op-
eratIons at Washington the following
year he was detached for temporary
duty in connection with the camou-
Tagging OF seaplanes at Hampton
Roads. Va, later holding changing as
signments until he was named for
participation in the Transatlantic
flight.
Beninger OF south Carolina
Lieutenant commander BelllnEer.
born IN south Carolina 80 years ago.
went from the Naval academy TO sea
duty. which included coma8ind OF
submarine. He returned to the acad-
envy for aviation instruction in 1872.
and the following year Joined the
Guantanamo air squadron. After
service in 1914 on the staff OF the
chief OF naval aerouautics. he was
assigned 10 the Pensacola station,
where he won promotion TO the com
mand OF the Hampton Roads aviation
camp, to which he reported later in
1871 He was on detached navy de-
partment duty when he was selected
as one Of the transatlantic flyers.