Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-05-29
British Admiralty Criticised.

II tneTe na0 peen some competition
between the American and British
navies and comparisons were in order,
Hawker's observations coupled with
congratulations to the victors might
have been regarded as hardly in such
bad taste. but the United States Navy
considered itself to be in no way in
volved in the privately managed con-
test in Great Britain. When Hawker
was thought to have been lost at sea
the British admiralty itself was criti-
cised for not having spread a chain
of boats across the Atlantic to safe
guard his fight and the enterprise Of
the American Navy was held up in
the same connection as an example.
The British admiralty, however. was
in no way responsible because the
money prize.
It was said here today that had
the British admiralty asked the CO.
operation Of the American. Navy in
supporting Hawker's journey it would
have been gladly granted.
q. s. Generous to Hawker.
The best of feeling prevails be-
tween the air services Of United States
and Great Britain, and whatever may
be Hawkers own thoughts after
having failed in the transatlantic
flight, naval officers here were quite
sure that the British navy felt as
happy over the achievement of Com
mander Read as Americans felt when
they thought Hawker was going to
succeed.
The generous praise and tributes
which poured forth from American
newspapers without exception and the
genuine desire for Hawker to sue
coed especially because of his daring
were contrasted today with the re-
port of the British aviator's speech.
and expressions of regret were heard
on many sides that he had given
utterance to sentiments such as were
cabled from London today.
Enthusiasm over the accomplish
ment of the American naval aviators
continuc14 and 1t is fully expected
that Great Britain will give Com.
mander Read a hearty welcome when
he reaches Plymouth. The Navy De-
partment takes considerable pride in
the achievement, but wants 1t always
understood that the flight was not
undertaken merely as a spectacular
stunt. but as a part Of the program
for the development Of aerial naviga-
ton. Early last February the whole
thing was carefully planned.
Destroyers to Advise Navy.
Placing the destroyers at every fifty
miles was not because Of any effort to
keep up the courage Of the aviators
OF l8Ck 1AlIn inc mOtOrS, OuI 10
keep the Navy Department constantly
advised and to make as complete q re-
port as possible Of all the facts and
circumstances connected with the jour-
ney, SO that every lesson learned with
respect to weather conditions and the
behavior Of airplanes on such long
flights overseas might be carefully
noted.
Liberty Motor Great Success.
Four Liberty motors were on the
NC-4, which crossed the Atlantic sue
cessfully. and the two other Navy
planes, which were wrecked. each con-
tanned four Of the same kind of motors
None of the motors gave trouble
during the journey, as the loss of
NC-1 and NC-3 was due entirely to
weather conditions and other dificul-
ties entirely apart from the engines.
Indeed, the naval authorities here are
more enthusiastic than ever over the
achievement Of the liberty motor, and
1t was their turn today to say Il told
you So" for just q year ago this
month Congress was saying things
about the liberty motor which made
the public think 1t was q gross fall
ure Not only did the liberty motor
win the approval OF the highest au-
thorities on the French front before
the armistice came, but 1t IL the first
airplane motor to cross the Atlantic
ocean.
fCnuvhsht 1919 nv n Y Evening Post Inc f,