The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-05-17

WASHINGTON, May 17,-Coincideut
with the start from Trepassey bay, y.
f., OF the American navy seaplanes In
an effort to make the first trsns-At-
'nent made public an order. issued April
| IS, which governs the action OF every
aircraft and naval vessel connected
with the long flight and provides
against almost every possible enrer-
gency which may arise during the aer-
ial voyage.
Complete in every detail. the order
provides for the stationing and suisse
quent movements Of 60 destroyers, four
battleships and a number Of auxiliary
naval vessels In connection with the
flight. Although issued at New York
& month prior to the actual start Of
the hazardous journey, the details Of
the order have. been followed without
the least hitch throughout the project.
Ribbon of Ships.
In accordance with the provisions OF
the departments order, the. ru0te
which the seaplanes are to take 10 w
Azores is marked by a ribbon OF de-
stroyers stationed about 50 miles
apart. These vessels have Deer on
their stations several days and have
kept officials constantly informed as
to meteorological conditions along the
course. In addition to the destroyers,
four battleships, the Florida, Utah,
Texas and Wyoming, nave been sta
toned on the outskirts of the course
TO furnish further meteorological data
throughout the flight.
All of the intricate details of radio
communication between the various
units have been worked out carefully.
As provided in the order the seaplanes
are in constant communication with
the nava vessels at all times, Every
p"reCaution has been taken 10 safeguard
the flyers. In addition to the radio
communication. the destroyers along the
route are provided with special illumi-
mating torches, star shells and flares
for use ut night TO marke the course
and are in constant readiness to an
swer 5. o. 5. calls or other distress
signals.
Twenty-one destroyers are stationed
on the Trepassey-Azores leg, with four
additional vessels In reserve to replace
any craft which may ne called upon
to answer an S. O. s.. signal, or itself
become disabled, As the seaplanes pass
above n destroyer the latter obtains d
radio communication, ascertains the
condition Of the planes and indicates
the true course to the next vessel.
Lighted Brilliantly.
During the night the d~estroyers on
stations / to 16 will Keep brilliantly
Illuminated to provide against the sea-
planes missing a ship and thus losing
the way, To guard further against
his contingency the desJToyers are or
dered In the event the seaplanes have
not been sighted at the approximate
limo they, should arrive, to make smoke
clouds, show searchlights, fire star
shells and notify the next ship to the
westward. The next vessel in line will
make the same signals for three-Quar-
ters of an hour before tho planes are
due to arrive,
Upon being notified that 1t has been
sighted by planes or when a station
ships sights tho flyers, the vessel will
Immediately stop smoking or firing
star shells, will take the exact course
to the next station and win steam
slowly on that course TO indicate the
proper route and will keep In radio
communication with the flying ships.
Planes forced to lano N the water
during darkness will indicate their po-
sition and condition by radio, rockets
and flares with the following mean
ings:
Green star-Can get off the water
again, no assistance required.
Red star or Observation-Disclosures re-
CURED.
In the event that one plane is forced
to land, the others VIII remain In the
vicinity until a report Of her condition
Ia received or assistance arrives.
During the flight all destroyers sta
toned along the route are to display
a number which will indicate TO the
flyers the distance they have covered
Careful precautions nave been taken
by the navy department to keep the
air clear of all except emergency radio
messages during the tune of the flight.
Signal Any Plane.
II while off station, a destroyer
sights any plane. whether known to be
engaged In the trans Atlantic flight or
not, 1t Ia ordered to signal to the plane
the duty 1t Is on and, II desired, the
true course to the next vessel on sta
ton. All ships in the vicinity are in.
structed to proceed with all possible
speed In answer to S, O.. S, calls and
to mako every effort to assist in re-
pairs necessary to continue the flight.
In the event the disabled plane can not
proceed n conditions make towing it
back 10 the base hazardous or impus-
sible, the destroyer is instructed to res
cue the crew and to salvage all parts
Of the plane possible.
AS soon as the seaplanes left Ire
| passey, the battleships Utah and Flori-
da discontinued meteorological observa-
| lions and proceeded back to this coun-
try, The Texas and Wyoming will con-
tinue observations until the planes
reach the Azores, but will send reports
to the base ship, Melville, at Puina
Delgado, The battleship Arkansas.
which has been at plymouth, England,
Immediately upon Receiving word that
the flight from Trepassey had started,
proceeded to take station between the
Azores and Lisbon to report meteoro-
logical conditions for the fourth leg OF
the long flight.