San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1925-10-19
LISTEN, WORLD!
Useless Sacrifices
Bv ELSIE ROBINSON


You may not agree with what I am
about to say. You may even believe
that it violates certain ideals which
are essential TO all fine living. If so,
[ have no argument with you. Each
must discover good in his own way.
| only ask that you acknowledge that
|. too. am seeking sincerely for the
truth and that my views, though they
ma be contrary to yours, hold the
same love for and loyalty to our great
country.
l am speaking Of the daring flight
of the flagplanc Pho No. l. This
plane. as the world now knows, was
one OF three which attempted to make
the air trip from San Francisco to
Honolulu in 90 hours. 1t was manned
by five aviators and disappeared about
800 miles east Of Honolulu.
The aviators knew they were IN
grave danger. They had entered. a
storm zone, heavy seas were running
and their gasoline was giving out
While in this condition they APP
preached the L. S. S. Aroostook,
which were serving as a tender for tlls
trial trip. Commander Rogers, of the
plane could have alightcd at the Aroo-
stock. He knew definitely that he
could not possibly reach Honolulu and
was destined to alight within short
time under any event. But -"TRU r
TO THE TRADITIONS OF THE
| NAVY" he sped on, trying to reach
the uttermoSt limit before acknowl'
cdging defeat.
On the day when the loss was first
reported. the press was full OF re-
ports praising him extravagantly Tor
! this action. commenting on his cold
nerve" and exalting the tradition
which made such action imperative IN
one of his training.
At the same time, the flagplanc.
pN-9 No. 3 was forced to descend
some 800 miles west Of San Francisco.
After six hours of dangcrousd riftlne
through the night in the rough water
the Destroyer sos arrived and towed
them back to port. Here is the press
report of that return:
A line was thrown aboard tn.
plane and the wearisome. discouraS
ing. breaking trip back to TN
starting point of the flight was De
gun. go.
LOYAL to their plane, the tradition;
of the sea and navy, Lieutenan
Snody and his men came back ~
thcv lcft-in the cockpit-for they re
fused TO leave their craft even thouSl
high seas tossed it in pcriol through
the two nights and day.
Through the choppy seas the.
rode at the end Of Il long tow lin
from the destroyer. Food was passot
TO them oyer n wire cable rugged from
plane to vessel"
This act, too, was popularity laude,
rs heroic and "WORTHY OF TIL
TRADITIONS OF THE NAVY"
But | protest that any traditio
: which may waste such vigor and coui
age is Il BAD tradition which shout
not be observed or Landed and mus
eventually. defeat its own ends.
The men. themselves were noble an
: worthy of all admiration. They riske
thir lives themselves in n splenGi
manner.
Yes. it Is splendid to die for
l cause-IF BY DYING YOU CA
: SERVE THAT CAUSE.
That shorter air trip to Honolulu
is matter Of great Importance I
! America. The men who make sue
trips practical are performing Sc
vice of incStimable value. But h
continued flight in the face of ce
tain failure. after leaving the Aroo
took, did not help 10 make such triI
more practical. Nor did the scnsele:
discomfort Of that return on the Pm
No. :: make such Il trip more pra
teal. 1t conformed with the "trad
tions of the navy" and had the.
young men not so conformcd. tbs
would have been gravely condemned ,
Official circles.
IL s all of a piece with that pc
T. uiciouS training which made the be
| "stand on the burning deck" whe
! every sensible instinct in him cou'
u selcd flight
Or the wicleduess Of that rule whiC
sent the Light Brigade thunderir
= Info the jaws of death when "soIn
, one had blUndernd"-
i THEIRS NOT TO REASO
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