New Britain herald., 1926-02-18
WADE AND OGDEN
 ID RACE RUSSIANS
Flight to Arctic Now Interna.
 tiOnal Contest

New York, Feb, IS dED - A race with the air squadrons of Boshe- vik Russia to claim land which might be used as a military flying base north of Alaska or Siberia probably will be the result of the Polar flying expedition which le will command. Lieut., Leigh Wade, round-the-world army flyer, told the Associated Press today.
 Sees soviet Ambition
 Tt Is the firm opinion of every man oH our party" Lieut.. Wade said, that the bolsheviks plan 10 beat us to it in finding the conti. nent which VIC feel assured lies in tho unchartcd seas above Alaska. While We have no direct evidence Of this, there is so much circum- s'an,ial evidence that we are plan. ming our trip definitely with tho ida Of getting there ahead Of the tolsheviks if wo can.
 Arctic Ar Base
 "When one stops 10 think that u military flying base could be estab- ltsh"d In the Arctic basin within q days living of tho most important cities of the northern hemisphere. the menace Of a bolshovik base is clear enough"
 Lieut. Wade said the closing Of , WranEell Island, the Mamchatka peninsula and northeastern Siberia ; 10 foreigners was one Of the events upon which he based his bel,er that the soviet flyers were planning an expedition of their own.
 Activities Planned
 They also know of the consid. crable activity being planned for the summer in Polar exploration, ]" he added. Tn view of their very large and well equipped flying forces it would be very surprising indeed if they were not planning something on their own account" IL is well known in army circles he said, that the soviet air forces have IS much equipment and as large q personnel as those of the ! United Subsequently, larger. Soviet Air Force
 They have had ample time for training and presumably are ex- pert flyers" he added. Much of their equipment is of Europoar manufacture, but they are making their own planes now. Even be fore the war Russians were actly, in aviation. During the early par of the war they constructed somc "ory large planes, Their aeronau. lie industry was well advanced and | soc no reason 10 believe that they ! have dropped all that knowledge i slNce thcn.
 Lcninc's Attitude
 'Leninas remarkable speech clearly stating his attitude toward the United States shows that there M no love lost on the part of Red "rNy officials, If anyone can imagine them sitting by tWirline 'hoir thumbs, with q large, well , equipped, ambitious air force, Whil, their friends 80 in and plant thr . American flag upon q new conti- nent, they have q better imagina- jiOn than I have"
 If new continent in the Arc tic basin is found, he said, it j, not unlikely that its topography will b. much like that of Green lend, a high, flat table land upon which there would be excellent ,anding places.
 Backed By Alumni
 Lieutenant Wade has announced lis intention of rrsigning from the army 10 lead the expedition. Hi ti"st assistant will be Lieutenant Il, II, Ogden, also one of the army world tltors, whose resignation Wa @nnounCod in Washington yestcr- Jay, The expedition is backed hy @jumni Of a number Of American , NniNorSitiNs. It is planned to lea,, @'at,Io carly in June. and 10 start reconnaissance flights from poin, . F1rrOW carly next mOnth