The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-05-18

flight for heavier than air machines.
 The missing plane is the NC-3, flag ship of Commander John Henry Tow CTS of Rome, Gn., commander of the squadron. but the fact that the last re- port came from her at 5;15 o'clock this morning, Washington time, did not cnuse naval officials to entertain my apprehension for the safety of Com- mandcr Towers nnd his crew of four.
 The last message from this ship showed her off her course in a fog, some $50 miles from Fayal and naval officials believe that it was only the mist bank which enveloped the sea that prevented all three of the planes from reaching port on, or ahead of, schedule time.
 Lieut. Commander Patrick N. l.. Bell lengers ship, the NC-1, also lost her way in the fog and was forced to descend at 11:40 a. m. Washington time. She sent an 0 s call, stating that she was landing and asking for her position. Four destroyers imme- diateiy were dispatched to her assst- ance and a message to the navy de- partment just before midnight said were taking her to port. probably to Horta Commander BeIlinger and crew were aboard the steamship Iona.
 NC-4 REACHES PORT
 The one plane to reach port was the NC-4. which led her sister ships prac- | Tv al and descended into Horta harbor at 9:20 o'clock, Wash ington time Her official time for the flight was 5 hours and 13 minutes, ard 1 the average speed was approximateiy ! 80 miles an hour. The performance of 1 the plane was more satisfactory to of- 1 fcials here for the fact that she sui : fercd series of mishaps on the first | leg of her voyage from Rockaway | Beach, L. l., to Trepassey Bay.
 l Both of the fog-bound planes were believed to have sufficient fuel, to carry them to the Azores, but the fog un- i doubtedly prevented them from coll l tinuing the trip in the air. The from the NC-1 did not mean a distress call. It was sent out in compliance with orders, requiring the planes tt | give such signals. if forced to descend before the actual landing was made. In air, the big flying boats can flasn 1 radio calls many miles. On the sur l fact they are dumb beyond 2o-mlle radius.
 This also probably accounts for the delay in finding them in the fog. de- stroyer must pass within 20 miles t' hear their faint signals. The planes | themselves can hear all that goes oi about them in a 100-mile radius bull cannot answer. It was pointed. out ] l fog heavy enough to drive the air boats ] down would also serve to blind tltt destroyers completely in their search
 MOST DARING JOURNEY
 To Commander Read of New York Icommanding the NC-4, goes the honol lof having made without interruptior the most daring journey ever attempt ed in an airship of any kind. Rising from dinner last night in the ward room of the, mine layer Aroostok a I Trepassey Bay Newfoundland, he ant his men breakfasted soon after o'clock this morning aboard the cruisel Columbia at Horta. But for the fos that clamped down on the NC-4 as ]. sighted Pico Heights across fror Horta, they would have boarded th'
 United States steamship Melville be fore noon today and been ready t ! jump again tomorrow--this time fo
 Lisbon. the city marking the end 0
 the actual flight over the Atlantic. Acting Secretary Roosevelt sent tn
 congratulations of the navy to Com certain the NC-3 and the NC-1 had beel indefinitely held up by the fog.
 The story of the long flight as toll by the radio waves that filled the al : over the North Atlantic last night t
 be gathered in by the navy fdepartmer from many quarters, shows that Com
 mander Reads hard luck of precedinl I At a .,f T Jre1, 40. to have turned from the start. He le | all the way after rising first at Ire lpassey Bay. only to come. down agai | to give his commanding officer, Com mander Towers the honor of startfn ' first. The NC-4 was nearly 30 minute
 ahead of the NC-1 just before Com mander Read sighted land at the Azore and the flagship. the NC-3. Jagged sti
 BARRED BY FOG
 That 90 minutes. officers believed saved the NC-4 from the fog. By vir ltue of that narrow lead. he seems i 1. have slipped through to moorings !, Horta harbor, only to have the fo nall roll down heavily behind hin ? barring the way for the adventurou lcompanions on the history-makin 5 voyage Commander Bellinger wa l caught with land almost under h. ) eyes. but Commander Towers wa blank eted well out to sea, showing tf speed with which. the fog bans :. spread. Fog at sea usually mear : smooth seas and little or no wind. Off ; cials believed the fog bound NC-S an Hts crew were in no jeopardy for ths 5 req son. Should wind come it woul ? tear away the fog curtain and perm :. them to take the air again before Il seas could rise. In any event. Ii
 boat Is . real boat. seaworthy as We