Evening star., 1924-06-22
WORLD FLIGHT PROGRESS
By Lieut.. r. J. Brown , Chairman World Flight Committee

| the uncivilized tribes of the interior
to a rather high degree of culture
along the coasts. The Malay Ian
guage, which is harmonious and sim
pie and is written in the Arabic char
acters, is today the trade language
of the South Seas. The scenes of
many of Conrad's sea stories have
been laid in these waters.
At SaigoB the flyers found a mod
ern city, with numbers of European
buildings, schools and colleges, with
heterogeneous native population,
composed mostly of Anamites, Chi
nese, though some HinduS. Burmese
and Malays add color to the popula-
ton. Most of the European popula-
tion is French, and at present is esti-
mated at between 1000 and 1000. mos I
of whom are government officials con-
nected with the French mercantile
marine or engaged in the rice indus
try.
Region In Unhealthy.
The southernmost part of Indo-
China is notoriously unhealthful be-
cause of the excessive moisture,
combined with considerable heat.
Saigon is situated in the center of
the Mekong and Donai Delta region,
though forty-five miles from the sea.
The area around the city is devoted al
most entirely to the cultivation of
rice, but the region south of Saigon
is an impenetrable mangrove swamp.
iuterspersed with small rivers and
channels, most of which are navi-
gable.
The American flyers landing at Sal
gon was effected at the French army
hydroplane station on the Donai, or
Saigon River, north of the city. The
French airmen and authorities wei
coined the Americans and placed
every facility available at their dis
posal The flyers remained one day
at Saigon, making the always nee
eSsary minor repairs and adjustments
and allowing time for the American
destroyer, which was carrying fu.i
and oil. to reach Kampongsom Bay, on
the eastern side Of the Gulf of Siam,
in Cambodia. half way between
Saigon and Bangkok, the next stop.
1t was decided to establish midway
refueIing station between Saigon and
Bangkok. This course was decided
upon after the expedition mao
reached Saigon, and was not contem-
plated originally. The reason for the
alteration of the plan was the eA-
treme heat.
Heat Caused Change.
1t was found that difficulty would
| be experienced in taking off over the
water with the full load of fuel, each
airplane weighing four tons when
| loaded with $50 gallons of gasoline.
1t is an accepted fact in aviation cir
cles that when the air is hot, its
density is greatly diminished and
consequently 1t takes great deal
more speed, which means a longer
run on the water before sufficient
speed has been attained to make the
airplane buoyant enough to lift off
of the water. In addition, it was con-
sidered better to relieve the motors
| of any unnecessary strain which
would cause them to heat rapidly, as
would be the case if an attempt was
made to take off from Saigon, where
the heat was terrific, with full load
of gasoline.
After the news had been received
by Lieut.. Smith, the flight commander.
that the destroyer had arrived. the
| flight took off for Kampangsom on
June is, en- route from Saigon TO
bangkok. The route for the first 430
miles to Mampongsom followed the
coast of the China Sea and the Gulf
of Siam around the southern ex-
tremity of Cochin China. This coast
though low and sandy and in many
places bordered by mangrove swamps,
afforded many excellent sheltered la
goons, where landing could be made
in the event of an emergency and
where help could be obtained from
coaSting vessels or the inhabitants.
Took Longer Route.
1t would have been considerably
shorter to have crossed the lower end
of Indo-Chna; in fact, more than 100