Omaha daily bee., 1919-04-19
Transatlantic Flaght
From the New York Times.

In the matter of the transatlantic flight by
airship, the British with their R-33 dirigible
and their fiocks of big heavier-than-a air machines
have an advantage over their American COM
petitors who are not too well equipped with
any kind of aircraft. In spite of feverish prep
arations on Long Island, on the Newfoundland
coast and in ireland. interest in the adventure
is as yet far from the boiling point Still, il
weather conditions suited the mammoth British
dirgible she might forge past Sandy Hook and
look down on our skyscrapers any hour of the
day, put her helm over as it were, and head
back to Old England, doing. the trick too
smoothly to leave us much time for astonish-
ment. Aeronautical experts are not at all skep-
teal about her ability to cross the Atlantic and
return when she is keyed up and ready pro-
vided the winds are kind.
The fact that the British air ministry has
taken under consideration" an invitation of the
Aero Club OF America to send the new R-33 or
the newer R-34 to Atlantic City during the Sec
ond Pan-American Aeronautic exposition in
May does not signify that the pioneer fight is
to. be left to the airplanes With two great
ships available, the British air ministry may be
tempted to enter the transatlantic contest and
go visiting at the Pan-American exposition la
ter. There can be no doubt that the British
are very keen about mastery of the air and
covet the prestige of first flight across the At
lantlc. But the race is not always to the swift.
While the British have more ships, more
navigators and more experience in long-dis-
lance flying, the United States navy has we'll
matured plan to make the Atlantic passage by
air and water with the N c type of seaplane,
and the American Eagle may scream before
the British Lion can roar ''We are bending
every effort and want to have the credit Of be-
ing the first to cross the Atlantic" said Secre-
tary Daniels in the latter part of February.
However, the odds are in favor Of the British,
for the United States has no formidable lighter
to be ready for the first "leg" to Newfoundland
On that rocky coast the Hawker- Greves party
is tuning up the Sopwith biplane which may be
off any day from St. Johns Moreover, q
Handley-Page. giant plane. is getting ready for
start at Harbor Grace, while the shortt broth
they will start Shiel airplane from the Irish
coast for westward fight about the middle of
April The success of the Irish craft pi1oted
by Maj. James c; P. Wood Of the Royal Flying
corps would make an appeal to sentiment, be-
westward Nevertheless triumph of tradition
does not enter into American speculations. An
American victory. would give much-needed inn
petus to aviation in this country. which is threat
ened with eclipse by British enterprise. The
to fly plane from Paris to Africa and from
Dakar to the Cape Verde islands, thence to the
coast of Brazil by the shortest sea route, hardly
merits serious consideration. The African link
of it seems mpractcable. and Fontan in two
starts has had trouble with his cylinders before
1t may be doubted whether wel1-informed
aeronuatical authorities have great deal of
faith in the success of their venturesome COM
petitors who are about to launch their planes
into the air for the Atlantic passage Eighteen
hundred miles is a long way for an aviator to
go. On land there has never yet been SO long
nonstop flight But it may be rejoined that
the entries are powerfully motored. It is true
that strong argument can be made for sea-
plane favored by calm seas. The big dirigbe
is regarded with greater confidence, but the
weather must be propitious all the way over.
Whatever turn speculation may take, brave spir-
its are soon to seek the upper spaces for the
risk will be great. and good luck go with them!