Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-01-10
Birdmen Of Sea to Hop Off
From Washington for San
Diego on First Leg Feb
ruary q

OIL INTO the unCndfCeQ eCuer lanes
early this spring, II intrepid army
and navy filters will launch out
from here as argonauts of the air
on the first lap Of a globe-circling'
race destined to make aeronautical
history.
To sponsors of the epocha1 flight
it is most fitting that America.
which Graded practical fruition of
the heavier-than-air machine, should
thus be first to circumnavigate the
skies in motor driven devices Of its
own inspiration.
Keen rivalry exists between the
army and navy over the laurels for
the worldwide dash.
Should present plans OF the gov
eminent mature, the race will be
synchronized with the navy's add
tional attempt to fly the Shenan-
doah, worlds largest dirigible, to
the north pole.
Navy Starts Soon
The navy birdmen start from
Washington about February q, &C.
Eording to present intentions.
They will fly six De Haviland
super powerful ships, equipped with
Liberty motors.
The navy's course Of flight will
cover approximately $4,000 miles,
while the army birdmen, scheduled
to take the air April 2, will fly
course covering $4,000 miles.
Great secrecy has enveloped prep
arations for the world-length dash
for fear that premature announce
ment Of the feat might interfere
with preliminary work.
The navy fliers will wing their
way from the nations capital to
San Diego, passing en- route over
some of the country's principal
cities.
From the west coast the next leg
of the air journey will bring them
TO Hawaii, from thence to Guam,
then on to Manila and from there
to Hongkong.
Leaving that China city behind,
they will dash to Calcutta, thence
to Bombay, Cairo and lastly to
Rome.
The ships will next be flown to
France with stops at Bordeaux and
Paris. From Lnodon the homewarG
flight will be via the Azores 10
New York and back to Washing
ton.
Army Route Longer
This is not the official route but
the one planned by Lieutenant Ben
H. Wyatt, theological officer of the
navy's team.
The army fliers, too, will make
their start from Washington, but
their route will be somewhat differ.
ent, as follows:
Cross continent to Seattle; north
along coast to southern Alaska;
thence to Aleutian Islands; to Kan.
chatka; across Japan, China and In.
wo-China, Siam and Burma; across
India and the Persian gulf; across
Turkey and Europe; to England; by
northern route over Farce Islands
to Iceland and Greenland and Cape
FAREWELL; to Canadian mainland,
Quebec, Montreal and back to Wash
ington.
These globe girdling trips are ex-
pected to put America in the fore
ground Of aerial development, ahead
of European contenders.
France recently attempted to cir.
cumnaYigate the globe, but was
forced to abandon the idea shortly
after flight was commenced. Great
TC,-;% -, L.
Adequate preparations have been
made to insure safety OF the aerial
pathfinders.
Choose Pilots
Squadrons Of destroyers will stand
out to sea along the courses to be
followed, and with steam up, will
dash to the assistance of any Of the
filters should possible mishap over
take them.
Major f. l.. Martin will command
the army entries, who will pilot five
Douglas cruisers.
Under his command will be Lieu
tenant Leigh Wade, Eric Nelson and
Captain Lowell Smith. One more
pilot and five assistants are yet to
be selected.
The navy group will be in charge
of Lieutenant Commander Charles
P. Mason.
Associated with him on the adven-
ture will be Lieutenant Frank Weed,
Lieutenant 3. H. Wyatt and three
other pilots yet to be named by the
navy department.
Wives of some OF the officers plan
to follow their flying husbands 10
Europe by boat.
Elaborate receptions have been
planned by some of the foreign CAPT.
tails to be visited.
In all, the flight Will be the most
stirring aeronautical attempt ever
essayeds