Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-07-03
FRENCH PRESIDENT
PAYS TRIBUTE TO
AMERICAN FLYERS
Continued from First Page.)

as soon as tney COulQ get TO MIN.
They will entertain him as much as
possible when he can spare time
from the larger functions. Balchen
was a flying officer in the Nor
wegian army, but he has taken out
his first papers for naturalization as
a citizen of the United States.
II have seen lot more of the
United States than many Americans
have" the young viking remarked
laughingly, land / feel am entitled
to become an American citizen.
have flown more than $500 miles in
tour of the United States within
year, and I have also flown 5000
miles in Canada. l carried supplies
there to station in Hudson Bay
country"
1t was Balchen who was steering
the America when Comdr. Byrd gave
the order to descend, and the young
pilot shot the airship into the dark
waters at Ver-sur.Mer.
lit must have been an awful ex-
perience when you nosed the America
down into uncertainty" the Associated
Press correspondent remarked to
Balchen.
The young aviator. who is a boy
Of few words, replied:
THAT was nothing"
He is delighted with his selection as
member Of Byrds proposed South
Pole fight. He was engaged in prep
arations for Capt. Amundsen's fight
and went to the United States in
order to gain greater opportunity to
engage in daring aerial explorations.
Byrd Gets Spotlight.
Comdr. Byrd, recognized as head of
the party, is receiving most attention
naturally, not only because Of. his
position of seniority, but on account
of his previous record, which is well
known in France. He is described as
the imam who discovered the North
Pole from the air" and also as 'the
man who is the most distinguished
life saver of America" He has also
a high reputation among technical
men as an accomplished aviator and
navigator.
Today's ovation, however, was from
the plain people, who showed him the
joy they felt after the fear of Friday
morning. Now comes the turn for
those interested in the scientific and
technical sides of the fight, and they
are pressing all kinds Of invitations
on the commander and his men for
luncheons, dinners and receptions. The
chief of the expedition will probably
refuse most, If not all, such invita-
tons for several days.
While the Americas crew were
being looked over for possible injuries,
the ship itself was being packed under
the auspices of Commandant Ham
burger, head of French aviation at
Cherbourg, to be shipped to Cher.
bourg, where, as explained by H. A.
Gibbons tonight, it will be put into
shape to take the air.
Plans Are Uncertain
Thus far, Comdr. Byrd has dis
closed no plans for flights in Europe.
Clarence Chamberlin and Charles
Levine joined the Americas crew at
a luncheon given by Sheldon White
house, the American charge daffaires,
at the Inter-Allied Club. It was a
considerably arranged function from
which all speechmaking was barred.
Comdr. Byrd was not even called on
to talk about his flight, circumstance
which he seemed to appreciate fully.
Mr.. Whitehouse read a congratula.
tory message from President Coolidge.
which was highly pleasing, after
which there were only informal con-
versation with the aviators, and not
much of that.
The applause from those who had
assembled outside the club was Of the
kid-glove sort and discreet, as coming
from people who understood and re-
spected the airmen's need for quiet
and rest. The women clapped their
hands as Byrd and his companions
went in and as they came out.
The airmen posed for photogra
piers, and then the commander the
Accosta were hurried off to the Amer
lean hospital for an examination.
Byrd Looks Worn.
Comdr. Byrd looked r h e r
worn when he mounted the steps of
the Elysee Palace to attend President
Doumergue's reception, but he greet.
ed the correspondents and photogra.
piers with his distinguished smile;
then picked out one man who thought