Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1924-08-23
j. s. FLYERS FACE
FURTHER HAZARD
One More Stretch of Arctic
Water Lies Between Green
land and Continent.
BY FREDERICK II. NEELY,
Stan Correspondent of The S.sr

Stan Correspondent Of The Star.
ON BOARD U. S. S. RICHMOND,
UNDER WAY TO LABRADOR, Au-
gust % (via ss)-Americas s
round-theworld flyers are on the
threshold of their goal today-the
worst part of their epochal journey
around the globe lies just behind
them.
Although thousands of miles of land
and water still separate them from
the clover fields of California, their
thrilling demonstration of nerve and
stability under the most trying con-
ditions day before yesterday, when
they flew more than 500 miles, from
Iceland to the southern tip of Green
land-across a freezing. storm-swe
Arctic Sea-leaves no doubt in the
minds of their naval guards now that
the first circumnavigation of the
world by air is as good as completed
Only those fortunate enough to
have been on board one of the four
patrol ships-the Richmond, Raleigh,
Reid and Billingsley-had the privi-
lege of witne ssing that spectacle;
were given the opportunity to see
history written on clear polar skies
against odds SO overwhelming that
they literally tore mems souls in the
hours of suspense between the min
ute Lieut.. Lowell Smith and his three
sturdy companions hoped off at
Reykjavik and the second the radio
sputtered joyous word of their safe
arrival at Fredericksdal, Greenland.
Real Test Passed.
:" From Greenland to Labrador one
more stretch of that clear, blue,
treacherous arctic sea remains to be
conquered, but the real test of the
whole flight was the passage yester-
day. Forty-five minutes after the
Richmond flashed word to Reykjavik
that favorable weather was reported
from Fredericksdal, the Americans,
accompanied by Lieut.. Locatelli, the
Italian flyer. took the air. The Italian
was the first off, followed in order by
Smith and Erik Nelson.
The Richmond stood guard about
80 miles from Rejkjavik. 1t was just
an hour after the radio brought word
that they were off when one of Uncle
Sans bluejackets. high aloft, in the
crows nest, sang out the welcome
news-"Plane approaching on the
starboard bow, sir" Eagerly every
eye on the ship was foscused on a
tiny speck that was barely discern
able in the distant horizon. Quickly
it sped on and in a few minutes 3
was recognized as the small mono
plane of Lieut.. Locatelli.
AS he neared the Richmond, the
game Italian aviator swung his ship
close in to the Richmond, where he
was plainly visible to every one on
deck. A few minutes later Smith
appeared, closely followed by Nelson.
They banked toward the guarding
cruiser, so close that each man in
the planes could be recognized, and
Arnold waved a vigorous salute to
the cheering officers and men on the
Richmonds decks. A single pennant,
tapping from the cruisers yardarm,
told the flyers that clear weather
was still reported from FredericksdaI
Ships Follows Planes.
All too soon the flyers swept past
the cheering hum of their Liberty
motors echoing the voice of modern
invention grew fainter and fainter;
the flashing fuselages dimmed to
shapeless specks once more-and then
they disappeared over the horizon
leaving the crew of the Richmond
once more in the agony of suspense.
Quickly her sea anchors were hauled
on. deck and her turbines sent her
speeding in the wake of the planes,
One by one the patrol ships flashed
back the news along the line as the
flyers swept past-"Smith and Nelson
passed here; conditions unchanged"
Hopes and spirits rose to fever heat
until the hour for their arrival over the
Raleigh, riding at anchor just off the
coast of Greenland, came and went
without a word. Almost simultane-
ously the station at Fredericksdal re-
ported heavy fogs and bad landing
conditions. Men paced the decks of
the Richmond in silent hope, until
finally the long delayed message came
Smith landed safely exactly 10
hours from time of take-off, Nelson
close behind"
Cheers Greet Fiyers.
There were no rival throngs to look
on, but out here, in the middle of this
cold stormy ocean, almost within the
| shadows of the Arctic Circle, men
threw their hats in the air and rent
these icy atmospheres with three
long, lusty cheers for the good old
I United States of America They
| realized that the worst was over: the
CONTINUED on Page 2, Column q
| Danish Government