Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1919-05-20
SUCCESS INDICATED
|. IN FIRST NEWS OF
AUSTRALIAN FLYER
Weather Conditions Favor
able for Nonstop Trans
Atlantic AirpIane Trip,
Raynhan Wrecked

LONDON, May. 1s.-The manager of
the sopwith Airplane company re.
ceived report at 5 o'clock this after
noon that Aviator Harry G. Hawker
was 100 miles of ireland at p. IN.
today.
The air ministry announced shortly
after o'clock that it had no con-
hrmatton of the report that Hawker
was on Ireland at o'clock this after
noon.s
Naval and military lookouts on the
western coast Of Ireland reported at
o'clock this afternoon that they
had seen no sign of Hawl1er. Lon
don anxtously awaited news of the
aviator, but UP to o'clock there
report that he had been sighted OFT
Ireland
A map shop in Fleet street this
afternoon was showing a chart pur-
porting to give Hawker's position at
1880 a. m, at about longitude 81
latitude, So. There is no confirma-
ton of this report, however, from
any other source.
The two reports from London con-
corning the sighting of Hawker
probably are not conflicting as might
appear at first glance. It seems
likely that the report received by Nthe
American naval authorities came
preston "off Ireland" not necessar-
lily indicating the aviator's close
proximity to land.
WEATHER FAVORABLE FOR
OCEAN FLIGHT OF HAWKER
ST. JOHNS, N. F., May l9.--In the
absence of any word from Harry &
Hawker and Commander Mackenzie
Grieve on their death-defying fiigh.
to reach the Irish coast, navigators
and aviators here early today; soughI
the weather reports received from
vessels in nid-ocean to learn under
what conditions the daring Britishera
are making their nonstop dash ~
an attempt to beat the Yankee az
sailors Every indication pointed te
favorable observation conditions
with high visibility from a clear sky
and a full moon only four days old
Except for q report Of untmportant
low pressure oyer Ireland, all mes
.sages received indicated generally
improving weather conditions.
It was calculated by navigators
here that Hawker and Grieve would
meet the sun about 4:23 o'clock thus
morning, approximately at Fl degrees
west longitude. This was assuming
that the flyers would maintain
speed averaging 100 miles an hour.
Hawker expected to average lOe
miles an hour. The little Sopwith hi
plane carried sufficient fuel for Il
twenty-two-hour fight under ordi-
nary conditions and enough for TWEEN
ty-four hours if very favorable
weather favored it.
Carries wireless
Hawker's machine carried wire
less transmitter capable of 200
mile radius and 1t was estimated this
distance was covered during the first
two hours. After that, the flyers
were isolated, except that their calls
mfEht be-relayed by passing ships. x
Captain M. H. Fem, of the Sop
with company, builders of the biz
plane, felt no uneasiness early today
when no news was received from
Hawker. e
Captain Frederick p. Raynham.
whose attempt to join Hawker in his
dash for nonstop honors and make
race of it, met with an accident, in
quired several times during the night
for news of his rival and expressed
the hope that HawlSer and Geieve
would attain their objective.
The pilot of the Martinsyde ma
chine and his navigator, Captain G.
w. f. Morgan, sustained painful in
juries when their plane was wrecked
yesterday in attempting to take the
air in answer to HaWker'S challenge
to join in the flight.
A successful flight by Hawker will
not mark the last of the transact
lantic attempts to be made from this
port. Vice Admiral Mark Kerr, OF
the giant Handley Page planes, said
his expedition would make the trip
in the interests Of science If denied
the chance to be the first.