Evening star., 1924-08-26
FLYERS PREPARING
TO JUMP THURSDAY
Smith Notifies Air Service
That Plans Progress for
Hop to Labrador. \

The Army world flyers notified the
Air Service here today that they ex-
pected to fly from Ivigtut. Greenland.
to the Laborador coast Thursday.
Lieut.. Smith, commander of the
flight, sent this message from on
board the cruiser Milwaukee to Maj
Gen. Patrick, chief of the Air Serv-
ice:
Our work progressing nicely and
we expect to continue on the 2Sth."
Every honor that can be bestowed
under the law will belong to Amer
ica's round he-worId flyers when
they cross into North America.
Led by President Coolidge. all high
officials OF the American Government
and perhaps many members of the
diplomatic corps will pay tribute to
the Nations intrepid airmen in let
ters or kilograms to be delivered Ell
ther at Indian Harbor, Labrador, the
first point where they will touch this
continent, or Boston. their first land
ing in the United States.
Under the law it will be impossible
for the President to give the officers
immediate promotion in rank or rem
der them more material recognition
for their epochal achievement than
letters of the highest commendation.
But these messages will become part
of their service records and perhaps
may prove of material value when an
opportunity for promotion arrives
Words Held Small Reward.
There is unanimous feeling
among Government heads that mere
words of commendation are far TOO
small reward to offer the men who
dared the hazards of the bleak north
Pacific. who gamely faced the wild
dangers of the towering Himalayas
and crossed the burning Far East un-
afraid. who battled the dread white
death of the Arctic wastes to a finish
and now are within the shadows of
their goal. But at present the law
permits nothing more from the Gov
ernment officially.
Those in charge of arrangements
for honoring Lieut.. Smith and his
Stalwart comrades are perfecting ar
rangements so that Presidents Cool
idge's message will be the first word
of felicitation they receive upon their
arrival in North America. For that
reason, his letter may be delivered at
Indian Harbor, and all the others at
Boston. but this detail has not been
definitely settled. In the meantime
everything possible is being done to
prevent extensive celebrations in hon
or of the flyers until after they return
to Seattle. the finish line.
Premier Mussolini, in a message to
the Italian charge daffaires. in
Structed him to convey to the Wash
ington Government expressions of
gratitude he already had voiced to
the American ambassador in Rome.
The American Navy's efforts in be-
half of the Italian he described as
most noble proof of human soil
darity and comradeship.'
Thanked by Italians.
Wing Commander Calderara, air
attache Of the Italian embassy. al
ready had sent a message directing
Lieut. Marescalchi of the Italian navy,
a guest aboard the Richmond. to COM
municate full appreciation. admira-
ton and thankfulness' to Rear Ad-
miral Magruder, his officers and en-
listed men. for their aid to his coun-
trymen. He also sent a message
thanking Lieut.. Smith, and wishing
him success for the remainder of the
fight.
Maj. Gen. Patrick, chief Of the Army
Air Service, giving full credit to the
Navy for the rescue, expressed regret
forced down, and relief that he had
been saved.
Under the plans mapped out for the
American flyers, which they are ex-
pected to follow on the next lap Of
their flight, they will stop at Indian
Harbor only long enough to replenish
their fuel supplies and then will hop
Immediately to Cartwright Harbor.
40 miles south, where anchor buoys
have been stationed for their ma
chimes. From that point to Boston
only brief stops are contemplated at
Hawke Bay and Pictou Harbor, Nova
Scotia.
A dispatch received by the Navy
Department late last night from the
cruiser Milwaukee, reporting that
she would arrive at Indian Harbor
tomorrow, tended to support the as
sumption that the aviators planned
to proceed to that point from Ivigtut
This would place the Milwaukee on
duty at Indian Harbor a day in ad-
vance of the flyers. who were re-
CONTINUED on Page Q. Column s.