Arizona republican., 1919-05-17


 "At 12:27 heard the N. c. 1 call Number and say: Answer
 WASHINGTON, May 16.-Amerfcan seapIanes started on the long projected flight across the Atlantic ocean shortly after 6 o'clock (New York time) to- night. This official announcement was made at 9:10 o'clock tonight at the navy department.
 The navy announced that the NC-3 left at COG; the NC-4 at GOT, and the NC-1 at 6:09 o'clock, the time be- ing on the basis of New York compu- tation.
 The navy department earlier had re- eeived a dispatch saying the NC-4 had started on the flight. This dispatch was followed on another saying the A" had put back to Trepassey Bay, the starting point of the flight It was assumed by officials that the first message was garbled in transmission An official dispatch from Trepassey Bay reported that the three planes had passed from sight there in their flight at 22:2O, Greenwich time; 6:20 New York time.
 All Ships Notified
 Immediately on receipt of the official dispatches. announcing that the sea- planes were on their way at last for Europe the navy department broad 1asted to all ships at sea and to the radio towers of Europe, the fact that the aircraft had taken wing. The time Of departure for the group given in this official announcement was 6:O9 D. III. Atlantic time.
 ! brOa 1ro ctiu~r Of fbia gH served as notice to the chain of 25 de- 5troyers, posted at 50-mile intervals, between Trepassey Bay and the Azores, by which the planes will guide their course during the night It also served to notify the battleships, lying far off the port, to report weather conditions, that the flight was in progress and 10 announce to merchant shipping along the lane being followed, that the planes were coming.
 For the first three to five hundred miles of the outward journey, it is probable that the destrOyers will re- port the progress of the planes to the Arostook at Trepassey bay, but be- yond that point, communication as to rhe progress of the airships will gc eastward along the destroyer chain to the Azores, to be relayed back to the UnlCeQ SCdLeS Dy CdDt9-
 Test Azores Cables
 The navy department took pains to- day to test out the rapidity of com nunication oyer the cable to the Azores, but at best the report will be slow. it is said, since the destroyerS must devote three -fifths of their time p sending out radio compass signals when the planes are anywhere in theil 9nfTr xryilI 1le fnv reports for the navy department to bC relayed eastward to the Azores, as the radio sets of the desToyers are strong enough only to cove 8 range of be- tween 200 and 300 miles.
 It is possible, however, that the bat tleShips on both sides of the course vii intercept messages and with their higH power radio reach the United States direct with reports of progress.
 The effect of a flash sent over the whole Atlantic ocean by the navy de- partment, announcing that the trans Atlantic flight had started, was ex- pected to be that radio operators ashore and aflOat would be keyed tC d high pitch and make every possible effort to obtain and forward any in formation as to the progress of tn, light. This makes it possible that re- ports will reach the department iron wholly unexpected sources.
 Aid Comrades in Air
 With the three seaplanes wtnginl through the night on the most dfffcul leg of the attempt to fly across tn, Atlantic ocean, navy department of ticials stood guard here tonight owe the radio instruments, anxiously await ing reports of the planes progress.
 The planes, barring accident, prob ably were in radio communication throughout the journey, with the de stroyers of the bridge of ships tha pointed the way across the sea. B, searchlisht beams, red-fire bomb hurled high in air by anti-aircraf guns, and by deck flares, as well a by radio waves, men on the destroyer tonight were giving every aid to thei comrades in the air.
 The little destroyers, all along tn hne, were busy, playing vital part i the great experiment. in trans -oceani communication, and had little time t sed home word of what transpiref Reports showing how far the flier