Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-09-01
i. S. PILOT WAITING
FOR TRIP TO RACE
Navy Stands Pat on Demand
for Record Before Trans
porting Cup Contender.

With no official word from Presi.
dent Coolidge as to his views on as.
signing cruiser to take Lieut. A. j.
Williams. jr., and his privately
financed and constructed racing plane
to Venice for the Schneider Cup race
to be held the 25th of this month. and
with no official figures in hand as to
the speed of the American racer, the
Navy Department today chung to it's
original agreement that it would grant
the aviator's request provided no mer-
that he smash the existing seaplane
maximum speed record.
From New York, however, came an
Associated Press dispatch quoting
Lieut.. Williams as refusing to believe
press reports that the Executive was
not in favor of granting a cruiser to
take the pilot and his racer to Venice.
II don't believe it, the dispatch
quoted him IS saying. II think Pres
ident Coolidge and the entire Navy
Department are too much interested
in aviation to refuse.
THE only plan open to me now
which will guarantee that get across
in time to participate is by the fast
cruiser route. I have looked over the
facilities offered by commercial trans
have found nothing to meet my re-
quirements in the short space of time
that is left.
Il, Navy Ready to Aid.
"Only a cruiser can do the work
and unless the plane can be sent over
in that manner, the United States
will have no representative at the
races"
The foregoing paragraph was in.
terpreted here as being in the nature
of an ultimatium from the pilot to
the Government, which, If 1t does not
act, will put the United States in the
position Of preventing Lieut.. Williams
from achieving his ambition--to re-
gain permanent possession OF the
valued trophy for America by winning
this years race.
The Navy, however, Is prepared to
carry out the terms of the agreement
made with Williams--to grant him
cruiser if the plane demonstrates its
qualifications to give America a
chance against the six newly built
foreign entries. and II the pilot in
New York finds it impossible to get
transportation on a commercial YES
sci. In view Of the reported remarks
of the racing pilot on this last phase
of the situation, and If thorough
search of shipping records reveals this
to be true, then the Navy will grant
the cruiser Immediately on receiving
official notification that the seaplane
record has been broken. Before 1t can
do this, though, President Coolidge
will have to be consulted.
1t was learned today that Acting
Secretary Edward P. Warner had
telegraphed the Summer White
House for confirmation of yesterdays
press dispatches. which set forth the
Presidents views on the matter.
Early this afternoon no reply had
been received.
Association Interested.
In the meantime the National
Aeronautic Association, which has
entered the Williams plane in the
Schneider race, Is watching the stu
alton carefully and at the same time
endeavoring to get Williams abroad
by any method possible. There Is
vessel leaving for Queenstown from
New York Tuesday and 1t was
thought that If the plane could be
placed aboard that ship, arrange.
ments could be made to have it
rushed from the Irish port to Venice
by a cruiser on duty with the Euro
pean squadrons.
Despairing over the fact that Will
liams may not get abroad in time for
the race, one aviation enthusiast has
suggested to the association that an