Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1919-05-09
2 SEA PLANES
Continued from Page One

ton less than nine hours. the distance
on the map over the course they
took being a25 miles. These two
planes went through the es, N SUCH
+asllon as 10 convince officers here
that prosr ecrs for reaching Ply
mouth England. the ultimate goal
Of the Navy air-nen. were exceed
ingiy bright.
Each Of the three planes had a.
triple radio installation when it LEFT
Rockaway. One SET was the tele-.
phone by which they communicated
with each other while IN fight. at a
distance Of a score or more miles.
Stations and guardships listened IN
on many OF these conversations and
reported them. The second SET was
me regular long distance n lilo in
stallaCon and the third vas the
equipment for the radio colnpasSes.
AS the planes approached one Of
The patrol vessels, long before II was
SlEnted. The long distance radio WAS
ouZZlng. Questions and answers
flashed back anu fur-h-dealing with
directions FOR navigation. Important
communications we're relayed 70 and
rom the speeding sea planes. some
rom Washington. one carried gree.t-
Lngs 70 Commander Towers and his
Jews from acting Secretary Roose-
Welt. who watched the trip with keen
interest all day rs the Department.
messages came IN. Other relayed
cabled assurances from London that
every facility Of The British Admir-
atty would De at the disposal Of the
daring American aiT-nen when they
reached British waters.
The communication arrangements
Of the Navy department worked OUT
perfectly. Repeatedly measures from
Commander Towers, sent from his
speeding flagship Of The air squadron
the NC-3 reached the desks of officers
here n a few minutes Of the time
they we're sent Intercepted by any
OF the radio stations ashore or afioat
on he chain reaching closer 20 Hal
fax. they were rushed 20 Washing
ION by the Nays leased wire.
The entire operation Of the system
vas grouped under direction Of
Lieutenant Tunis A. NJ. Craven. On
one side If the Lieutenant Office IS
a room where the leased wires broEtt
n The messages. on the other side
IS the trans Atlantic radio equipment.
Reports from Commander Towers
could De sent 20 Vice admiral Knapp
IN London almost as quickly as they
couid De carried INTO Secretary
EnnSaI-f.I-'u orEo Ia h1J
Throughout the day Lieutenant
Craven kept communications log
on the fight. made up from the mes
sages that came. The log pictures
graphically The swift rush north
ward of me big .iying beats with
their crews. Even the fifty minutes
that elapsed after the NC-I and
NC-3 were safely moored for the
nlEtr Al Halifax and after the cruis-
er Baltimore. stationed there. when
the Official report OF the arrival. is
shown mad NOT that slip occurred. Il
could have been known officially in
London mat Two of three Of the Am
erican ~ca-boars had made the first
hap - the transatlantic journey on
schedule time almost before the ma
chimes themselves had been noored.
More difficulties VIII De experienced
IN getting word through promptly
wsan. he long zap from New Found
Iand 10 the Azores starts
.h.ilea the fifth of SIX station ships
has been left behind. communication
viii he sent ahead 10 he relaved back
by cable. The destroyers can not
communicate more than 80 miles by
radio n daylight and they Will leave
their posts after the last aier has
passed.