The evening world., 1919-05-28
ALL Of FLYERS FIT
TO FINISH FLIGHT;
LAST HOP EASIEST
Washington Jubilant Over
Americans SucceSS-DanielS
Sends Congratulations.

WASHINGTON. May 2.-The feat
OF the soaplano NC-A which yester-
day achieved tho distinc ton for tho
United states Navy Of having biased
the way for transant tlantic aerial nav
tEation whom she flew from Ponta
Delgada to LISBON. completing tho
last leg Of tho actual continent-to-
continent flight. continued TO be the
chief topic IN naval and oficaal CIR
cies here to-day.
I In addition 10 the honor which his
tory will give 10 American naval
myers as the nrst TO ny across the
Atlantic, It was with pride that navy
men pointed 70 the splendid perform
anco OF the machine. q purely made
In America" development.
Without q mhshap Of any kind, the
Nc-t made the jump OF approx
mRtsiy 300 land miles from Ponta
Delgada to tho landing In Portugal In
nine hours and forty-three minutes,
or at tho rate OF slightly more than
ninety land miles an hour.
omclal reports show the flight,
which started at 6.lS A. NJ. (Wash-
ington time) ended at AO1 p. NJ.
washington tlme).
Resumption OF the fight with
Plymouth. England. as tho finish.
was regarded as OF only secondary
Importance when compared to the
night across the Atlantic, the real oo-
ject OF all tho navy's efforts.
Commander Albert c. Read and his
five companions are eager TO COM
plete the voyage at the earliest pos
sible moment now that the most
difficult obstacles 20 their undertak-
ing have been passed. Reports her'
showed all OF the flyers to he In ex
cellent physical condition despite th'
strain they have been under continu.
ously for more than two weeks.
The night from Lisbon to Plymouth
II was pointed out, will DO tho lcas
dlmcult OF any OF the legs as practl
caliy all me way tho seaplnne will b
In sight Of land. running up tn
coasts Of Portugal and Spain. theme
across the Bay OF Blscay and OF IN
French coast. Tho distance is Rp
} proximately $50 nautical or Sl4 Ian,
miles and with an carly start shoul'
be covered In daylight.
NEWS REACHES PRESS. NAv>
GETS IT.
For some reason not yet explained
the ofiicial confirmation OF the arrlva
OF the NC-4 at Lisbon did not reacl
| the Navy Department until long afte
all press associations had received tn
news unofficlaliy, and extra edition
OF newspapers had been sold pro
! claiming the success OF Commando
I Read and his associates.
However. Secretary Daniels, Assist
ant Secretary Roosevelt and nava
officers accepted the informal press re
ports that the Nc-4 had completed IN
flight, knowing she had passed III
last station ship at S.i6, with only
70 short distance to 20.
q Secretary Daniels awaited the 4,
1t ceipt OF the official announcement I
u the NC-4's arrival and them sent tn
o. message 10 Commander Read and h
associates:
B. Lieut.. Commander Albert c. Rea
1r Commanding NC-4 seaplane. ca
~ Rear Admiral PIunketL U. s.
Rochester. Lisbon. Portugal:
ye "The entire navy congratulates "
as and your fellow aviators on yol
epochal flight The ocean has be,
al spanned through the air and TO 4
American Navy goes the honor
f.. making the first TRANSATLANTIC fiigl
we are all intensely proud OF yo
or achievement and thankful that II b
on been accomplished withou: mish
TO 10 any one of the daring aviators W
sw left our shores on the first air JoU
ney TO Europe. To all them and
you. all honor IL due"
I'VE have learned something fr,
the flight OF the NC planes" said \
W. Daniels In a talk with newspaI
men. I'VE will improve any featul
OF them that have proved TO be at
ed defective, strengthen any weak I'D
10 developed on the long flight.
~ The flight to Europe was the
ginning OF experiments In long d
OILS tance flights. The flight was
TO made merely for the purpose OF I
cal ing where others had not Ventur
:, but 10 demonstrate the qualities
W. this particular type OF plane, VIII
ent was built with the idea OF sending
r. across the Atlantic in the air, proc
ar important scientific data and bl
= the way for other flights In
req future.
,ro- such a night marks progress
and aviation. II was the pioneer cross
and the crews OF the three planes
quired much highly valuable oGp
nat ence and information"
leld Now that the NC-4 has crossed
40, Atlantic the question Is up how
-'oA get her home. Lieut.. Comman
VINO Read is scheduled 10 fly his ship
the Plymouth, England, but beyond I
, n there are no definite plans.
One idea Is that the first airshiI
'Nau Cross the ocean ~ too precious 10
limperilled by further adventure,
ties that she will be placed In a BIf
museum as sort OF monument
lsA tsHu Of ha n