Arizona republican., 1919-05-17
NAVY ORDER IN
 FLIGHT ACROSS
rRepubIican A. p. Leased Wirel

WASHINGTON. May 16.-Coincidentl with the start from Trepassey Bay, N. F. today of the American navy sea plane. in an effort to make the IlrsC trans Atlantic air passage, the navy department made public an order, ls- sued April 15. 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 1000 words and IS one or the most comprehensive ever issued by the department.
 When the plan for the transatlantic flight was first conceived, the task or safeguarding the seaplanes and or op- taining meteorological data necessary to the venture was placed in the hanos of the commander of the destroyer force. The order, which was made public today. thus was issued by Cap tain Harris Laning, chief of staff, de- stroyers force.
 The order provides for the stationing and subsequent movements of 60 de- stroyers. four battleships and a num- Der of auxiliary naval vessels in con nection with the flight. Although is ]
 the actual start of the hazardous jour ney. the details of the order have been 1 followed without the least hitch throughout the project.
 Route Is Marked
 The route which the seaplanes are to take to the Azores is marked by a ribbon of destroyers stationed about 5O miles apart. These vessels have been
 s7s md have kept the departments here and the. naval officials at Trepassey bay constantly informed as to meteorologi- cal conditions along the course
 Tn 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 throughout the flight.
 The seaplanes are in constant com munication with the naval vessels at all times. Every precaution has been taken to safeguard the fliers. In addi- tion to the radio communication. the destrovers along the route are provided with special Illuminating torches. staI shells and flares for use at night, tc mark the course, and are in constant readiness to answer sos calls or other distress signals should accident betal one of the big planes.
 Twenty-one destroyers are stationed
 on the Trepassey Bay-Azores leg. Wltf
 four additional vessels in reserve to re- place any craft which may be called
 mon to answer an sos signal or it.
 self become disabled. As the sea ! planes pass above a destroyer. the lat fer obtains radio communication, as
 certans the condition of the planes , and indicates the true course to tn next vessel.
 Niqhs Illumination
 During the night the destroyers or ; station one to sixteen will keep bril- liantly illuminated to provide agalns , the seaplanes missing a ship and thu losing the way. To guard furthe
 against this contingency, the destroy
 CTS are ordered, in the event the sea
 planes have not been sighted at tn
 approximate time they should arrive ? to make smoke clouds, show search ] lights fire star shells and notify tn ! next ship to the westward. The neZ g vessel in the line will make the sam g signals for three-0uarters of an hou before the planes are due to arrive. : Upon being notified that it has bee e sighted by planes, or when static
 ship sights the fliers, the vessel wi e immediately stop smoking or firin : star shells, will take the exact eours e to the next station and will stea1 n slowly on that course to indicate th | proper route, and will keep in radi | communication with the flying ship
 Planes forced to land on the wate
 during darkness will indicate their pc
 sition and condition by radio. rocket
 and flares, with the following means d Green star, cannot get off the watC = again, no assistance required; red sta . or flare, assistance required. In u = event that one plane Ys forced to Ian d the others will remain in the vicinii - until a report of her condition is r'
 ceived or assistance arrives.