The sun., 1919-06-01
British Give U. S. Naval
Aviators Hearty Greet
ing at Historic Port. /:
PICK WAY IN THE FOG
Last Leg Of Transatlantic
Trip Proves Most Diff
ficult OF All.
CIRCLE AROUND BREST
Terrific Strain on Engines
Makes Return Voyage Too
Hazardous to Attempt.
CIRCLE AROUND BREST

PLYMOUTH, England, May 31.-De.
spite a menacing fog, which COM
PEELED her to fly close to the water
across the great Bay Of Biscay, the
naval seaplane NC-4 arrived here
this afternoon at 2 20 summer time
from Ferrol, Spain. Her arrival here
completes successfully the long and
hazardous course Of 3,925 nautical
miles, or 4,513 land miles, which she
started upon at Rockaway, N. Y,
on May 8.
Despite the fact that the feat of
the NC-4 means the winning for
America Of the great glory Of first
flying across the Atlantic Ocean, an
enterprise which had occupied the
attention and efforts of some of Great
Britain's aviators even before the
war, no reception could have been
heartier. From the craft in the har-
Dor came the prolonged whistle which
indicated that human hands, despair
ing Of their own strength. had firmly
tied down the whistle cord to cele-
brate In noise some great achieve
ment. From shore came the less
loud but not less sincere shouts of
the people Of Plymouth and many
other cities who have crowded the
town to see the American giant sea-
plane which has flown over water
since leaving Rockaway more than
twice the distance that separates
Newfoundland from Ireland.
The distance between Ferrol and
Plymouth is, roughly, 435 nautical or
800 land miles. The NC-4, making
; the trip in 9 hours and 50 minutes,
travelled at speed Of about sixty
two knots, or seventy-one miles an
hour. This IS precisely the cruising
speed announced as the ordinary rate
at which the seaplanes would travel
throughout the long journey by Com
mander John H. Towers, leader Of
the expedition. In the previous
, flights the NC-4 has averaged as many
as twenty-five knots above this speed.
Makes a Perfect "Landins.s
The appearance Of the NC-4 was
sudden and therefore dramatic.
Throughout the morning crowds Of
; people. seafarers and landsmen
mingling. had waited patiently on
the docks and ships Of the harbor
straining their eyes Channelward in
an effort TO pierce the gray haze
which covered everything.
Suddenly at 2:19 the NC-4 popped
into view, flying low over the water
so that her pilots could keep tho
surface in view and thus retain their
sense Of equilibrium. Her enormous
size. usually hard to judge when she
is alone in the great sky. was In
| stantly impressed upon the watchers
| by the tininess of three escorting
British seaplanes, which came into
ping glaring Very lights upon tho
water by way OF welcome and figura-
tive lighting Of the path.
But the sharp eyed pilots Of the
! coast guards and Lieut.. Walter Hin
ton of the Regular Navy, needed no
guides. Their sea trained eyes picked
out the buoy which had been planted
in the water. AS lightly as a feather
/ they dropped the stern Of the great
seaplane, weighing tons, to the crests
of the waves, and then gently per-
mitted the reducing speed to drop the
bow slowly into the water also. It
was a perfect landing. as their less
fortunate but equally courageous col
leagues of the NC-1 and NC-3, watch
ing from the Rochester, declared.
Welcomed I'm British Port.
A host Of small boats darte,i into
the open water about the seaplnne
as she TAXED toward the buoy. but
the swlftest of all these was thG
| captains gig from the mine layer
' Aroostook. While Commander Read
! was experimenting the tying up OF
his craft the gig waited and then
took Off the captain Of the transatlan.
tic fller and his crew. The British
seaplanes also dropped upon the
water in the Cattewater. as that part
of the port where the NC-4 swung at
anchor Is called.
There was rousing reception
waiting for the NC-4 men on the
Rochester, and 1t exploded before the
small boat had reached her side. Be