The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-09-01
(By Associated ,il Press)

WASHINGTON, August 31.--With their arrival today on the Atlantic coast of the North. American continent the round-the-world flyers of the United States army air service completed the most marvellous achievement in the his- tory of aviation to date--the virtual encircling of the globe in heavier-than- air machines. Before the flight was commenced Major General Patrick, chief of the army air service, said the com pletion of 1t would be feat of i'm portance paralleling that of Magellan, who in 1509, was the first man to circumnavigate the globe.
 The story of the historic and record breaking flight compares with the most the pioneers of any expedition blazing first to fly around the world, of neces- sity had to be men of courage and with nerves of steel. Notwithstanding the carefully laid plans for the trip, there were certain hardships which could not be avoided-those that must neces- sarily accompany and undertaking of such magnitude, compelling as it did flights in all kinds of climate ranging from the frigid Arctic weather of the North Pacific late in March to the near tropical conditions encountered in the Ear East in June.
 Elements Unsympathetic
 All manner of weather had to be contended with, the clements appar- ently having on sympathy with the laudable ambition of these men to be the first to fly around the world. Treach- erous gales, violent rains and binding blizzards were encountered in the Alas kan regions before the flyers hopped off the North American continent for the first attempt of airplanes to wing their way across the Pacific. Fog was a dangerous factor and when the avia- tors reached down into the Torrid zone in the Far East they encountered trop- ical winds and rains and in India ran into a sandstorm.
 What misfortune or ill-luck there was in the adventure seemed to attach itself to the commander and the flag plane of the squadron. Major Fred L.. Martin, who was flight commander at the start, had a series of mishaps along the North Pacific coast of the North American continent eliminating in his flag plane, the Seattle, crashing into mountain on the Alaska peninsula. Major Martin aSl his mechanician, Sergeant Alva Harvey, escaped unhurt, but. their plane. was destroyed. Moth ing was heard from the two men for ten days, despite a thorough search of the regions, and hopes for them were about to be given up when a radio gram from Major Martin to the chief of the army air service announced their safety. This accident eliminated Ma jor Martin and his mechanician from further participation in the flight.
 Crashes In Fog
 When the accident occurred Major Martin was piloting his plane in a fog toward Dutch Harbor on Unalaska is. land to join his companions. The com mander, due to a crack in the crank case which causesd leakage of fuel, was forced down on the flight from Seward to Chignik, April 15, and he and Harvey were forced to spend the night in their plane. They were found the next day by the destroyer Hull, both men suffering somewhat from ex- posture. Two weeks were required to obtain new engine for the Seattle thVht 1Aandtdkt 4<O miles distant, and in the meantime the other flyers rested Dutch Harbor waiting for the con- mander to join them.
 Major Martin left Chignik April ,SO and shortly after noon bumped into the mountain. When no word had been received from him the next day, all the fishing boats in the regions were urged to aid in the search for the two men in the waters south of the Alaska peninsula, while dog teams took up the search on land. Later an army air. blaine secuted over the territory.
 After the crash Major Martin and his mechanician retrieved some of their food supplies from the wreck and started down the mountain side. Seven days elapsed befofe they came upon 6 trapper's cabin at the southermost point of Port Moller bay. They were ex. hausted. There they found food and rested for three days, then walked to the beach, whence Martin sent his radio. gram to Washington. In it he said the two men owed their existence to con. centrated food and nerve.
 When it became apparent that Major Martin could not continue the flight orders were dispatched to the others to proceed without him.
 Smith Has Troubles
 Lieut.. Lowell H. Smith, who sue. ceeded Major Martin as flight com.