Evening star., 1922-11-19
BY FRANK G. CARPENTER,

A S 1 motored toward Paris last
~ night saw two moons high
~ in the sky. This has nothing
to do with the absence of the
prohibition amendment in France. /
do not drink and my eyes are as clear
as my head. The first moon was far
above the second. Its light was shady
and the woman in it was plainly to
be seen. The second moon was equally
large, only nearer the earth. 1t was
great blazing ball OF fire that shone
for a moment and then disappeared
only to return in its full brilliancy
later. AS it flashed back and forth
my chauffeur explained that it was
the great signal light which notifies
the passenger planes coming in to the
LIE Bourget Flying Field from London.
Warsaw and Amsterdam just where to
land.
Since then I have visited the field
watched the airplanes come in and
go out. and examined the huge birds
which remind one of the roc Of Sind
bad. the Sailor. as they carry their
human freight for thousands of miles
over Europe. l have talked with the
officials of the various airplane COM
panies. have chatted with the pilots
and mechanics. and have gone through
the great airdromes which encircle
this mightiest flying field in the world.
I have also visited the government
department of aeronautics, and had a
chat with Mr. Laurent Eynac, who is
the head of the bureau that has to do
with aerial transport, about the won
derful work that France is accom-
plishing in it's commercial conquest
Of the skies.
Laurent Eynac stands at the head
of commercial aviation in France. and
this means much, for France Is far In
advance of any other country in
Europe in its aeronautic development.
Mr.. Eynac not only centralizes the
technical information of the country.
but he distributes the subsidies
granted by the French parliament to
the various operating companies.
Moreover, he is a man Of practical ex-
perience. He was famous as an avi-
ator during the war. was formerly di-
rector Of the French petroleum and
gasoline supply services. and has been
a member of the chamber Of deputies.
OF medium size, sturdy form and
swapping black eyes, he grew enthusi-
astic as We talked. and I could see
that his vision embraced flying serv-
ice that would eventually conquer the
heavens. The language was French.
and In translating our conversation
I shall reduce the kilometers to miles.
Kilograms to pounds, and take the
liberty OF using round numbers and
concrete illustrations in order that
i,,r< NH,
his words mean. Said Mr.. Eynac:
T<HE progress Of France along all
J. lines Of aviation Is exceedingly
rapid. We instituted our commercial
aviation service in 1918. just after the
war, when we established our first
line from Paris to Brussels. to insure
q postal air service between the capi-
tails Of France and Belgium. At the
same time we put in a similar service
between Paris and Nantes, to save
time for our couriers who SAILED from
there to America. All this was done
by the ministry of war. Later on this
bureau was established with the idea
Of developing the art and pushing to
the utmost the commercial navigation
of the air. We have two services
which deal with airplane construc-
tion and operation. One is devoted to
supervising the building of airplanes
and motors, to increasing their eff
cheney and to extending the industry
in every possible way. The other has
to do with research work in aviation,
motor construction. the study of the
air as regards flying through 1t and
to all' matters of transportation and
armament. It would take many words
to explain the several branches"
How much have you accomplished
as to actual fiying?" I asked.
1--WE have three International lines
in daily operation" was the reply. land
a number Of others in rapid course
of construction. We are now flying
daily from Paris to London. from
Paris to Amsterdam via Brussels and
Rotterdam, and from Paris to War
saw via Strassburg on the Rhine and
Prague. the capital Of Czechoslovakia.
It takes only nine hours by plane |
from here to Warsaw, while the dis
lance by rail is farther than from New
York to Chicago. This includes stops |
for landing passengers and freight at
Strassburg and Prague. We fly from |
Paris to Amsterdam in q little over
four hours. with stops at Brussels and
Rotterdam. The trip from London to |
Paris by the ordinary mail route. in
GLIDING the stormy voyage across the
English Channel, takes nine hours. |
It covers almost three hundred miles. |
Tho voyage by air is made in less
than one-third Of that time. The
actual schedule IL two hours and
fifteen minutes. 50 that one can leave