The sun., 1919-05-28

Her commander, Read, one pilot,
Lieut.. Walter Hinton. and an engineer.
Chief Machinist's Mate F. 8. Rhodes.
are regulars. Ensign II. C. Rodd,
radio operator, and the other engineer,
Lieut.. ]. L. Breese, are of the reserve,
Is from the coast guard. which. In time
Of war, In part Of the navy.
Wilson Gets the News.
AZ soon a., the news reached walt
ing Washington that Read had made
1t. secretary Daniels, as anxious as
any Admiral or COB in Washington,
flashed of word to President Wilson
Of the great achievement.
Know you win be delighted to learn
naval aviators first TO cross Atlantic
was the message flashed under the
subdued ocean to the president at
Paris.
To Read and his men. too, the Sec
rotary sent a message. 1t read:
"Lieutenont- Commander Albert C..
Read, commencing NC-4 plano.
Core Rear Admiral PIunkett,
y. s. S. Rochester, Lisbon (Por-
tuoaI):
"The entire naSy congratulates
you and your fellow aviators on your
epochal flight. The ocean has been
spanned through the air and to the
American navy goes the honor OF
making the first transatlantic flight.
We are all intensely proud OF your
achievement. and thankful that It has
been accomplished without mishap
TO any of the daring aviators who
left our shores on the first air Jour
ney to Europe. To all Of them and
to you all honor Is due.
"[Signed1 JosEPHus DANIELS"
In this message Secretary Daniels
touched upon the matter OF danger. II
has been stated that the navy WAS run
ming no chance in attempting TO mkae
the flight since It had dest:oye-s posted
all along the way. The answer of naval
officers here to that charge. for 1t il
made as IL II were a charge. 10 that the
purpose OF the flight was to get across
| not to thrill the general public by a
daring dash which would probably end
| with the aviators lost somewhere at sea
| driven from their course by winds whose
Y speed and direction they had no way OF
gauging. The arrival Of Commander
Read at Lisbon Is n sufficient answer to
these directors.
They add that the flight across the
/ Atlantic was test for the NC planes
not for the men who ran them. Eel
| the men themselves had shown theti
courage many times and in many ways
before they were ordered to accomplish
what was often regarded as impossible
under the present development OF ava
| ton.
| Word reached Secretary Daniels oil
| the passing Of the sixth destroyer By tho
seaplane while he was attending hear
| ing before the House Naval Committee
He Joined In the applause which greeted
the announcement. made by Represen
tative Hicks Of New York.
Congress PauSes at Eews.
Mr.. Hicks announced In the House (
few moments later that by nightfali un
doubtedly the Navy Department woul'
be able to report the landing at Lisoo1
Of the first airplane to cross the oceai
guided by American aviatorA Business
of the House came to n pause as mem
beers and visitors In the galleries vente'
their enthusiasm IN uproarious cheers.
Unanimous approval was voiced In tn
Naval Affairs Committee OF the decisioi
OF Secretary Daniels TO allow Comman
DER ftcdo W Couptcto thS teoe BtaSo v
journey in preference to Commands
Towers, who organized the expedition
and whom Rear Admiral Knapp hac
recommended 20 accompany the NC
to Lisbon.
'-fhs question was very delicat
one" Secretary Daniels told the commit
tee, land I am glad to have my deci
sion approved. Rear Admiral KNAPP
had recommended that Commando
Towers continue on the NC-4 wisl
to say Mere that Commander Towers
service cannot be too highly commended
Had he been the commander OF a hsht
ing ship and his ship put out OF com
mission he would have gone on IN an
other ship. That was the view tina
Admiral Knapp took at the time n
made his recommendation and II was II
full accord with naval presidents.
| But the situation was different be