South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-06-15
Steamers Fail to Sight Big
BipIane Attempting to
Reach ireland.
WIRELESS CALLS UNANSWERED
Mystery Surrounds Fate OF
Second English Effort to
Bridge Atlantic.
By Associated Press

ST. JOHNS. y. r. June 1.-THE
fate of capt. Jack" Alcock and
Lieut.. Arthur Written Brown who
sped out to sea this afternoon in
/ Great Britain's second attempt 10
span the Atlantic by air, was
shrouded in uncertainty tonight. ten
/ hours after they hoped OF on the
| hazardous venture
Since the twin engined Nickers-
Vimy plane disappeared over the
Atlantic horizon a few minutes after
the start at 1913 p. m. New York
time. no word has come from the
plane TO eager radio operators at
shore stations.
The steamer Digby. 100 miles out
when the iiers left ST. Johns and
reported directly in line Capt Al
cock proposed 10 follow, arrived
( here tonight without having sighted
/ the plane. The Digbys captain said
a sharp lookout was maintained and
/ that the ship sent out several mes
sages TO the Vickers-Vimy. but re-
ceived no reply.
In the early hours OF the flight.
/ Lieut. Browns failure 10 wireless the
planes progress back TO shore was
/ interpreted merely as an indication
I that he was TOO busy 20 send mes
/ sages-
Fear for safety.
When the Digby reported she had
I been unable either 20 sight or get
into communication with the daring
: hiers. concern for their safety be-
gan TO be manifested.
The more optimistic theory ad-
vanced that their radio equipment
+ had failed. but it was feared in some
! quarters that the gallant men had
come TO grief in the ocean
Two radio stations. one az Cape
Race and the other at 81. Johnr. are
maintaining a ceaseless vigil az the
I direction Of the British admiralty. On
/ the hope of picking up some word as
/ 20 the result Of the venture
Use Marine Methods.
BY applying methods Of marine
navigation 20 an air flight. Lieut.
Arthur Written Brown expected 20
/ fly across the Atlantic In the Vimy
/ Bombers machine. piloted by Capt.
/ Jack AIcock. and 20 make a land
fall" within 20 or 80 miles n his
objective I'm ireland or England
/ Lieut.. Brown was an American
electrical engineer before ne Joined
/ the British flying service in 1914
/ He has described in "a statement
for The Associated Press an inter
/ esting description Of the difficulties
/ encountered IN transatlantic
fight and the methods by which he
( hopes 20 overcome them.
I'm flying an airplane over large
bodies Of water such as the Atlantic
/ ocean where the pilot may be for
I hours out OF sight OF any landmarks
by which ne could Judge his posi-
ton Il is 70 the methods or naviga-
ton which have been developed by
the mariners that the pilot turns 20
/ learn where the location and the
course TO his destination is" writes
Lieut.. Brown.
Many Difficulties.
Unfortunately difficulties arise
from the start In applying these
methods with accuracy. This is true
because the airplane is az the mercy
n the wind and appears % move in
the direction In which the wind
blows with the speed az which j. is
blown. In the second place the
speed Of the aTplane is from five %
ten times that OF the commercial
vessel
The high speed Of me airplane
renders = necessary 20 make Gre
quent observations for position and
this in turn make it Uudesira BILE 20
use the slow. albeit accurate. means
of calculation ordinarily employed.
In consequence. special charts have
been devised for use with The sun or
stars which enable the pilot 20 tx
his position in very short time. al
though not with the accuracy de-
: manded IN marine work With the
aid OF these charts. together with a
seNtant for observing the sun or
stars. a chronometer. and compass
the pilot should DO able 20 make
5 landfsu within - or % miles % the
desired point
Must Watch Wind.
This. however he will not be a bic
= 20 do unless be keeps careful watch
-re-r-r-r, 49, na,- ---~-