The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-09-01

his way throukh the mob, sustained a severe slash on his left hand. The wound was apparently made with a pair of scissors welded by an uniden- tified member of the mob.
 Orleans, Lieut.. Eric Nelson, pilot and John Harding, Jr., mechanician.
 The first day the squadron hopped to Sacramento, covering 370 miles of the journey, which was estimated be- tween 27OO0 and 30,000 miles. The second leg of the journey was 55O miles to Seattle, where the flyers ar rived March 20, after stops at Eugene, Ore, and Vancouver, Wash. They were delayed at Seattle by bad weather, and in making minor repairs to the planes until. April 6, when they hopped to Prince Rupert, B. O., $50 miles, ar irving the same day. It was at this point that the first accident occurred to Major Martins plane, the Seattle being damaged in landing.
 Delayed At Sitka.s
 April 10 the air cruisers did 300 miles to Sitka, Alaska, where unfavor- able weather delayed them three days, after which they again took the air and went 610 miles to Seward. On that stretch they encountered their first snowstorm, but they resumed their trip April IS for the t50-mile flight to Shignik, which proved to be the last of the trip for Major Martin with his companions. It was during that flight he was forced down near Cape Igvak by the defective crankcase.
 foutor, ntc 0v,,sfh u1o No1eo, flew from Chignik to Dutch Harbor, 400 miles, April 19 and remained there until May 3, when they were directed to proceed without Major Martin. That day the three remaining planes covered $50 miles, which brought them to Atka Island. After delay of six days, they hopped 530 miles, May 9, to Attu Is- land, the farthest west bit of land be- longing to the North American conti- nent.
 Another delay of seven days was occasioned by unfavorable weather, but the birdmen got away for. the flight across the Pacific, May 16, and al- though they encountered rain, snow and fog for nearly. half the distance, they arrived safely in Kashiwabara Bay, Paramashiru Island, Japan, thus com pleting the first flight across that ocean.
 Feted By Japanese.
 Hopping off from Paramashiru May 19, they flew 500 miles to Yetorofu and three days later, 354 miles brought them to Minato on the main island of Japan. Good weather at tbis point i'm. pelled the ayiators to go on and sec. 'ond flight, May p, took them 35O miles to Kasumigaura, the air base for Tokyo. Here the aviators remained a week, overhauling their machines. Dur. ing the time, series of festivals in their honor was held in Tokyo.
 Resuming, June l, the squadron winged its way $50 miles to Kushimotc and the next day went another 35C miles to Kagoshima, the last stop in Japan. The aviators thus completed the first flight over the Empire oi Nippon ever made by United States army men.
 Lieutenant Smith, who had been act. ing commander since the elimination of Major Martin, was formally ap- pointed commander June 3, and the next day had his first bit of "com. mander's luck" which had followed Ma. 1or Martin from the outset. Leaving Kagoshima June 4, Lieutenant Smiths plane developed engine trouble and re. fused to ascend. He directed Lieuten. ants Wade and Nelson to make the hope of 610 miles across the China sea to Shanghai and he followed the next day, covering the distance in one hour and 15 minutes less than his companions required. A stretch of 555 miles to Annoy was covered June 2 and the next day they ney 300 miles to Hongkong.
 New Engine Installed.
 After a days rest in Hongkong the three planes made 500 miles, June 10 bringing them to Haipong and the next day: a flight of 800 mile slafded them at Tourane. Here, Commander Smith experienced more engine trouble and delay of five days was necessitated while a new engine was installd in his machine.
 June 16 the aviators reached the nearest point to the equator, when they flew from Tourane to Saigon, a dis. tance of 530 miles. The route then led them to Bangkok, Siam, 67b miles away, which they covered June IS and two days later flight of 45O miles to Rangoon, Burma, was made. One Of the planes upon descending collided with a cargo boat. damaging the wings which necessitated a delay of five days for repairs. The 445 miles from Ran goon to Akyab were covered June 2s and the next day in going to Calcutta distance of 400 miles, it was neces sary to make a ten-minute detour out to sea to avoid a storm.
 The fliers remained in Calcutta until July l and in the meantime Com. mander Smith suffered a broken rit in a fall from a culEert on the fly. ing field. However, he accompanied his companions on the flight to Allaha. bad, 475 miles distant. The fliers had little OF no difficulty in Cochin China, where they followed the coast line, but they could not avoid the juhgles east of Delhi. Here for seven hours, according to q story by Lieu, tenant Wade, the aviators flew over the tree tops, fighting the winds and were able to see plainly the wild beasts be. low. On one occasion, he said, a tiger was seen and he could have shot him If he had had a gun.
 Reach C0nstantinOpIe
 After getting beyond the jungles oi India, the aviators experienced no trou ble. Proceeding July 2 they made a hor of 900 miles from Allahabad to Um bella and the same day. made another short jump to Multans July 8 they flew 476 miles to Karachi, their last stop in India, where they were again delayed by engine trouble. Leaving Kar achi July 2 they made Charbar, Per sia, 830 miles away, proceeded to Ben der Abbas, another flight of the same distance. A total of S75 miles were covered July 8 in flights to Bushire ant thence to Bagdad. The next day 4S( miles brought them to Aleppo, Syria and June 10 they winged approximate ly 600 miles to reach Constantinople
 A day out of the planes was taker