The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-05-15


Washington, May 15-Cofncident
with the start from Trepassey bay, n.
F., today of the American navy sea-
planes in an effort to make the first
transatlantic air passage the navy de-
partment made public an order, issued
April Is, which governs the action of
every aircraft and naval vessel con-
nected with the long flight and pro-
vides against almost every possible
emergency which may arise during the
aerial voyage. The order contains
more than two thousand words and is
one of the most comprehensive ever
issued by the department.
When the plan for the transatlantic
flight was first conceived, the task of
safeguarding the seaplanes and of OBJ
tanning meteorological data necessary
to the venture was placed in the hands
of the commander of the destroyer
force.
Nearly rs Aid Ships.
Complete in every detail the order
provides for the Stationing and subse-
quent movements of sixty destroyers,
four battleships and a number of
auxiliary naval vessels in connection
with the flight Altho issued at New
of the hazardous journey the details
of the order have been followed with
out the last hitch turnout the project.
The route which the seaplanes are
to take to the Azores is marked by
q ribbon of destroyers stationed about
been on their stations for several days
and have kept the department here
and the naval officials at Trepassey
bay constantly informed as to me
neurological conditions along the
course.
In addition to the destroyers, four
battleships, the Florida, Utah. Texas
and Wyoming have been stationed on
the outskirts of the course to furnish
further meteorological data thruout
the flight.
In Constant Communication.
The seaplanes are in communica-
tion with the naval vessls al all times.
Every precaution has been taken to
safeguard the flyers. In addition to
the radio communication, the Destroy
ers along the route are provided with
special Illuminating torches. star
shells and flares for use at night to
mark the course and are in constant
readiness to answer SOS. calls or
other distress signals should accident
befall one of the big planes.
Twenty-one destroyers are station
ed on the Trepassey bay-Azores leg
with four additional vessels in reserve
to replace any craft which may be
called upon to answer an SOS signal
or itself become disabled. AS the
seaplanes pass above a destroyer the
latter obtains radio communication,
ascertains the condition of the planes
and indicates the true course to the
next vessel.
Flares at Night.
T,,r ,j1b N
station one to sixteen will keep bril-
liantly Illuminated to>provide against
the seaplanes missing a ship and thus
losing the way. TO guard further
against this contingency. the destroy
ers are ordered in the event the sea-
planes have not been sighted at the
approximate time they should arrive,
to make smoke cloud, show search
lights. fire star shells and notify the
next ship to the westward. The next
vessel in the line will make the same
signals for three-Quarters of an hour
before the planes are due to arrive.
Upon being notified that it has been
sighted by planes or when a station
ship sights the flyers, the vessel will
Immediately stop smoking or firing
star shells. will take the exact course
to the next station and will steam
slowly on that course to indicate the
proper route, and will keep in radio
S. o. S. Signals IL Accident.
Planes forced to land on the water
during darkness will indicate their
position and condition by radio rock
cts and flares. with the following
meanings: Green star-Can get off the
water again, no assistance required
red star or flare-ass's stance required
the others will remain in the vicinity
until report of her condition is re-
ceived or assistance arrives.
During the flight al destroyers sta
TONED all along the route are to dis
play a number which will indicate to
the flyers the distance they have COW
cred. Careful precautions have been
taken by the navy department to keep
the air clear of all except emergency
radio messages. during the time of the
flight. If while off station. a destroy
er sights any plane, whether known
to be engaged in the transatlantic
flight or not, it is ordered to signal to
the plane the duty it is on, and if de-
sired, the true course to the next YES
sci on station. All ships in the vicin-
ity are instructed to proceed with all
possible speed in answer to S. .. S
calls and to make every effort to as
siSt in repairs necessary to continue
the flight. In the event the disa bled
plane cannot proceed and conditions
make towing it back 70 the base haz-
ardous or impossible, the destroyer is
instructed to rescue the crew and sal
wage all parts of the plane.
Ship OIL job at Plymouth.
As soon as the seaplanes left Ire
passey the battleships Utah and Flo
rlda discontinued meteorological OBJ
servations and proceeded back to this
country. The Texas and the Wyoming
will continue observations until the
planes reach the Azores. but will send
reports to the base ship L. S. S
Neville at Punta Delgado. The bat
tleship Arkansas. which has been al
Plymouth, England. imme diately upon
receiving word that the flight from
Trepassey had started. proceeded to
take station between the Azores and
Lisbon to report meteorological condi-
tions for the fourth l. : of the long
flight