Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-06-05

German Capital Planning
Great Ovation for Two
Americans.


BERLIN, June 4.-If Clarence D.
Chamberlin, pilot of the Bellanca plane
Columbia, has any destination other
than Berlin in mind. government and
municipal officials and officers of the
Aero Club do not appear to be aware
OF it.
Throughout the day police head
quarters was the scene of feverish
preparation for the American aviators'
reception. which now Is regarded here
as likely at some hour after midnight
Sunday night.
If the Americans should arrive In
Berlin, a boisterous welcome will
await them, as the central government
and the municipality of Berlin have
instructed all their departmental
chiefs to go the limit in planning a
reception.
American Ambassador Jacob G..
Schurman has been in active consulta-
ton with German officials and has in
formed them that he will take the
American airmen into his care S::l-
mediately should they set feet on
German soil.
Lights Inadequate.
Whatever Chamberlins destination
may be, officials of Lufthansa, the
German aerial league, hoped that he
will at least reach Berlin, as landing
conditions west of the German cap
ital are not especially adapted for
night flying. Points such as Cologne,
Emden, Bremen, Hamburg and Han
over merely have ordinary harbor
lighting facilities with rather weak
searchlights and they are not con-
nected with one another by a regular
pathway of lights such as obtains
between Berlin and Moscow.
The American flyers would of
course have the benefit Of coast lights
in addition TO the skyrockets and
fires which Lufthansa is preparing,
but all this must needs be compare
lively primitive when compared with
the ideal night flying conditions pre-
vailing to the east as far as Moscow
Tempelhofer field, where it is hoped
that the Columbia will land snoulu 1T
come to Berlin, measures $500 feet
by $500 feet, while Staaken, Berlin's
second airdome, has a field 1888 by
$500 feet.
To insure safe landing conditions at
Tempelhofer, the police plan to form
Gordon five men deep around the
this will be room for a welcoming
committee, consisting of representa-
tives of the government, and NUM-
cipality. Lufthensa, the Aero Club
and the press.
Should the Columbia continue east.
ward in the direction of Moscow, as
has been suggested in some dispatches
from the United States, the best flying
route would be by way of DanZig,
and Koenigsberg. There is a revolv.
ing searchlight every mile and three
quarters and a stationary light every
three miles. This makes night flying
so safe that Lufthensa starts a plane
to Moscow every night.
Feel Sure He'll Come.
Moscow is equipped with night
lighting, but the stretch from Koe-
nigsburgh by way of Smolensk to Mos.
cow does not have a lighting system
such as from Berlin to Koenigsburg,
1t is also possible to fly from Berlin
to Moscow by way Of Warsaw. but
here. too, there is night lighting only
at the Warsaw flying field and not on
the way. Should the plane go south.
east of Berlin 1t would find good air.
domes with night lighting at Prague
and Vienna, but no light paths en-
route,
The possibility that the flight may
have Berlin as its goal has caused
great enthusiasm as municipal and
governmental authorities are vieing
with civic and sporting societies in an
effort to give a worthy reception to
the Americans
Notwithstanding that German of.
f1cials up to late tonight were still
without definite word respecting
Chamberlin's actual intentions. his
coming is considered as a foregone
conclusion.