New-York tribune., 1920-12-19
Two Army Craft Meet
With Mishap at Albany
as They Start to Search
the Adirondack Territory
No Clews to Navy Men
Theory Advanced That Trio
MAY Have Set New Rec
: ord and Reached Quebec

v;th disaster at its very inception yes
,,rdsv, when two army DH-4 biplanes.
detailed to the task, crashed while
isnding st Albany.
The two airplanes we're flown from
Mitchell Field by Lieutenants Lucas V.
Besu snd F. B. Johnson, bn. in at
..mptirg TO land in the small: treach-
.rcus field at Albany, both machines
sark in the muddy terrain and turned
turtle. 4 newspaper photographer, who
was attempting TO take pictures Of
the machines was struck down, and
rolled over the field, but escaped seri-
Gus injuries.
Neither airplane will be able 70 be-
Gin the task OF searching the Adiron-
dsck territory until repairs have
been made. In spite of this, both
oilots and their two sergeant observers
Immediately went into conference with
Commander Walter S. Delaney, naval
recruiting officer in Albany, and mem
bers of the State Conservation Com
mission. Guides will be supplied to
the Ayers when they commence their
search over the mountainous reaches
OF the Adirondack region.
May Resume Search To-day
A survey OF the damaged airplanes'
resulted in the announcement late last
night that they probably could be re-
paired rapidly, and in time to begin the
search for the missing balloon at noon
to-day.
At the conclusion Of the conference
between the aviators and members Of
the State Conservation Commi ssion, it
was decided to change the base Of
operations from Albany to Glens Falls,
IS the landing ground at the latter
place was much hrmer and safer.
Moreover, it is much nearer the center
OF the searching operations.
The two aviators have been supplied
with good detailed maps According to
present plans the machines will leave
Glens Falls Monday for Wells, n. y,
the place where the balloon was last
reported. Then they Will fly over the
northern section of the Adropdacks
covering the mountains in a number Of
fights in fan-shape, with Wells as the
handle
Select Places for Landing
The aviators plan to come down
either at Plattsburg or Saranac Lake,
in the event of forced landing.
If any trace should be found of the
balloon during these flights the loca-
ton will be marked on one of the
maps, and red streamer three feet
icng VIII be attached to the map. The
map will then be dropped at the first
sign OF habitation, with instructions to
notify the nearest forest ranger imme-
dately.
In case OF a forced landing or il as
slstance is needed the aviators will give
the signal Of distress used by deer
hunters-one shot followed by two
more in quick succession.
Fail to Obtain Single Clew
Throughout the day watchers of New
York, Ontario and Quebec failed to
obtain single clew that would aid in
sowing the mystery surrounding the
balloon and its three occupants-the
naval M lleutenants A. L. Kloo- Walter
h,n'on and Stephen A Farrell.
faiiure to ind any trace OF the miss
'hg balloon, together with the careful
Asmlnztion OF the weather conditions
.Alsung during Monday and Tuesday
ss' nave gwen new emphasis TO the
Meory that the intrepid aeronaut.
ave succeeded in establishing a new
seilc's record for both distance and
ehourance 1t is now believed that the
ssse omcers are struggling somewhere
.s'ousn the snow-covcred wilderness
ton. '''i'~a
no confident are naval authorities in
uSalhgton OF this that they have tele
sSpneo the Canadian government that
.. sueir opinion the three officers are
I.Ls "nere N the triangle formed By
'l 'onn on the east, Lake Abitibi
=. tne west and Lake Mistassini on Tho
north. The base Of this tr;anole Ok '';e ;s
.ousniy formed by the Canadian North
s'h Railroad, the most northerlv route
vsnada and which is owned bv the
s'elnment- Instructions have been
saI 70 ali tae stations on this road 10
..sp sharp lookout for the balloon
its personnel.
unfortunately the Canadian Air
sssaro mas no airplanes capable Of fy-
.s s over his forbidding country at this
rne o. the year, nor has The Canadian
jiinu.en' sn.ji .' any means Of advising the
.e.' ''adlng posts scattered here and
ste near the lakes that abound in the
s'on within the triangle cxcept bv
sly hs oi the periodical traders who
"''"eea the cities and the posts.
Face Perilous Situation
!, II tne theory Of the naval authorities
t,eSs 80 tne three lieutenants are nov
80 "''n situation that is far more
.si.ao1s a. tnan their thrilling flight in
zap o. tnc violent gale that carried
~ ." 'iof,n "Ard at an average speed (
;..a.A3A man tn3rts I'VE miles an hur. Their
Ing probably was hundreds Of
sa-t. IRON any yettlement and un-
q .,o-y alongside the banks Of one
q rs many lakes. Their only means
psaetla'ing back to civilization
s1sn tne rocky and wooded wilder
rysrs ""i De along the winding frozen
Unless they have very good
s.sps With them il will be verv easv
- ~ yen 70 lose their way and perish
. .as iittle known territory they have
sa .s, themselves in.
,"taougn tnis theory il upnerroost
ssn-Nai ,.eNai thought the possibility Of the
aISI.:.oon having met with digazter in the
isa.'.saoAck region hag not been over
sa,.s' and careful search is being
wssl wsl'n1ea there by forest rangers, as
s,,., 80 ,he Inhabitants. Thin viii be
sssia. '''''i Inc aerial patrol can
''"y Found in Telephone
A tt Dooth at Newark Identified