Evening star., 1926-05-10

! CONGRATULATIONS on his air dash
over the North Pole went forth to
Lieut.. Comdr. Richard f. Byrd from
President Coolidge. Secretary Davis
ot III" War Department and Secretary
Wilbur
Mr.. Coolidge, on a cruise down the
Potomac yesterday on the Mayflower.
caused this statement to be issued
at the White House:
The President sends his happiest
congratulations to COmdr Byrd on
the report that he has flown to the
North Pole. 1t is. a matter of great
satisfaction that this record has been
made by an American. The fact that
The flight seems to have been ac-
c0mplished without mishap demon
strates the high development of the
art OF this country.
THAT it was made by man train.
ed in the American Navy is a great
satisfaction.
Navy RejOices at Trip.
The Secretaries of War and Navy
joined in rejoicing at the successful
polar flight by COmdr. Byrd.
Expressing delight that a Navy
man was the first to fly over the
Pole, Secretary Wilbur said Comdr.
Byrd's accomplishment lis a matter
of congratulation to him, to his crew
and to his Nation. We rejoice in
his success and his safety"
Secretary Davis said he, like all
Americans" rejoiced at this new
triumph of American aviation. COmdr.
Byrd's feat is not only epoch-making
from a technical standpoint; it is
wonderful act of courage. A country
with such servants will never, fail
in crisis
Others Pay Tributes.
Among those who paid tribute to
Comdr. Byrd were the following:
FRANK B. KELLOGG, Secretary
of State-I am delighted at the news
Of Comdr. Byrd's successful flight. 1t
is a daring and gallant exploit and
one of which every American Will be
proud. WarmeSt congratulations to
Comdr. Byrd.
NICHOLAS LONGWORTH, Speak
er of the House of Representative
] am in favor of Congress giving him
q. medal Of honor, or bestowing the
highest honor possible on the Amer
lean who had the courage and the
pluck to make this flight, which
many explorers said could not be
made because of the ice and intense
cold. / shall consult with my asso-
ciates tomorrow, and the naval affairs
committee undoubtedly will act with
out delay in passing a resolution to
properly honor Comdr. Byrd and
mark the greatest achievement of
modern times"
THEODORE DOUGLAS ROBIN
son, Assistant Secretary of the Navy
I am so glad to hear that Comdr.
Byrd flew to the North Pole and get.
back safely and that he made the
necessary observations so that we
may know he flew over the Pole. l
am tickled to death he did it and
came back.
ADMIRAL EDWARD w. EB-
ERIE. chief of naval operations
The flight of Comdr. Byrd to the
Pole was certainly a remarkable fea-
ture and every ore in the Navy is
delighted to know that he was the
first of those now seeking to cross the
top of the world to reach the Pole. I
felt confident from the beginning that
if it were humanity possible for any
one to get to the Pole it would be
Comdr. Byrd, provided he met with
no unexpected miShap. He has
measured up to the highest and best
traditions of the American Navy.
WILLIAM HOWARD TAFT, Chief
Justice of the United States Supreme
Court and member of the board Of
trustees of the National Geographic
Society-It was a great triumph of
courage and of adaptability.
MAI. GEN. A. w. GREELY, Arctic
explorer am exceedingly gratified
that an American has done this work
and l hope that his reports will be Of
such nature that there will never be
a question as to the character and
extent of his flight and his observa-
tions. It is splendid that the spirit
of adventure still abideS with the
American people in this material
twentieth century.
GEN. MASON NJ. PATRICK, chief
of Army Air Service-I saw Comdr.
Byrd before he left. His was an
aIl-American expedition which made
very careful preparations based on
his experience with the Macmillan ex-
pedition. He had an excellent chance
TO attain his goal and the best wishes
of the Army and Navy went with him.
We believed that aircraft was able
to reach the polar regions and we
are greatly gratified that Comdr. Byrd
was the first among all those who are
trying to attain the Pole.
REAR ADMIRAL WILLIAM A.
MOFFETT, chief of the Naval Bu-
reau of Aeronautics-It is a great
achievement not only for Byrd and
Bennett and for the men who made
it possible, but for aviation and the
Navy. Every American can be proud
of them. The continuous flight of IA
hours over the Arctic regions under
the most difficult flying conditions also
shows the great progress that has
been made in aviation material and
especially in American aircraft and
engines. 1t is a triumph of material
as we'll as personnel. The engines
were developed by the Wright Aero
nautical Corporation of Paterson, N
j., in cooperation with ting Navy.
The motors did fine work aud con