The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-06-01
Epoch-Making Flight ! Across the Atlantic
 Completed by NC-4
(Continued from Page one)

telegrams today directed to the comman- i der of the NC-4. Lieutenant-Command
 A. C. Read and others of the crew, con graduating them on the finish of the flight. The majority of the messages were from the United States, one being from Secretary Daniels
 ! Commander Read said that shortly be-
 fore reaching Brest his seaplane ran into
 thick fog. The NC-4 circled over the shipping in Brest harbor and then passed directly over the Ushant lightship. The journey across the channel was made at very low altitude. The seaplane never flew at greater height than 200 feet, and at only 50 to 100 feet most of the
 way. because of the fog.
 70-MILE SPEED
 Bad weather conditions prevailed dur
 ing the flight across the Bay of Biscay. Nevertheless the NC-4 kept to her course perfectly and the trip from Ferrol was made at an average speed of about 70 miles an hour. Before alighting in the ksound the NC-4 circled in The Hoe and passed over the spot from which the Mayflower sailed.
 After a brief reception aboard the Rochester, Commander Read and his crew were taken to the Aroostook, where they doffed their flying clothes before proceeding to Mayor J. P. Browns re- ception at the Mayflower stone. The pa- rade leading to the pier was lined with British bluejackets from memo war and shore stations Behind the lines of blue ia ackets was an immense gathering of On the gaily decorated
 pier bluejacket guard of honor was drawn up under canopy of allied flags. The royal garrison artillery band played An erican and British anthems. Mayor in ct fo 40 crr,,r, fad hu three mace bearers. He wore a cooked hat and crimson robe lined with fur and the heavy gold mayoralty chain. With him also were the deputy mayor in gor- geous purple robs and the bewigged town clerk
 British and American officers stood with the mayor to receive the NC-4 crew. As their boat drew alongside the pier the
 band played 'The Star-Spangled Ban ner'. and God Save the King and the crew then advanced to meet the mayor. In his address, Mayor Brown said: MAYOR WELCOMES AIRMEN Plymouth is always a point of his- toric interest to Americans. The memor able sailing of the Pilgrim fathers from this spot, though comparatively unnoticed at the time, was an event which has proved to be point in history of i'm measurable interest. Mainly out of that small beginning a mighty people has sprung up, and today in most dramatic fashion their descendants have crossed back to us in a way never dreamed of by our forefathers and equalling in sci- entific development and daring the great est imagination of Jules Verne.
 While science has made their flight possible, the great note of the achieve ment is that it was the old spirit of daring, courage and enterprise which brought success. The world is ringing
 now, not only with your doings. but with the great exploit of Hawker and Grieve, whose skill and pluck are acclaimed by all and rank with your performances
 q am satisfied that the events we are celebrating today are but the precursors of further great developments, and that
 ycur accomplishment will go down in history not only as a great triumph over the elements, but as tending to strength en the relationship between the two cour- tries"