Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-06-05
LEVINE, IN FLIGHT,
ANSWERS CRITICS
Going With ChamberIin, He
viii Do Something First
and Talk AfterWard.

BY the Associated Press.
NEW YORK, June 4.-Charles A.
Levine was making good today on his
determination to do something first
and talk about it atterward."
The original proposed flight of the
Bellanca monoplane Columbia to Paris
was announced with considerable fan.
fare of publicity, and, when it fell
through, Levine. who is managing
Director OF the company owning the
plane. made no secret of his bitter
ness. He felt that he had been dis
credited in the public eye, and persons
close to him felt that his unannounced
departure with Chamberlin today was
a direct answer to what he feltswas
personal reproach.
a week ago, when the SIS, 900 prize
for the first fight from North
America to Hawaii was announced
Levine was asked if the Columbia
would enter the contest.
I'VE probably WILL" he said. 'but
we have another flight in mind first.
What that flight is will not be an.
nounced until the take-off. This time
we will do something first and talk
about it later"
Series of Misllaps.
The public criticism. which Levine
believed was aimed at him, was
caused by the accumulation of mis-
haps that befen the proposed Paris
flight. All seemed to be going we'll
when suddenly complaint was made
that Levine had bound Chamberlin
and Lloyd Bertaud, who at that time
was assigned as navigator, to split
any prize money they might win
with him.
Among the compliments was the
Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce.
which had offered a separate SIS 900
prize which they wished to go direct
tc the winning flyers and not in any
part to their hackers.
Lawyers were summoned in and
new contracts discussed. 1t also be-
came known that no provision had
been made for the wives of the flyers
in case of accident, and criticism was
directed against Levine in certain
quarters for this.
For a time all these difficulties
seemed to have been cleared away, but
the weather remained unsatisfactory,
and before it cleared, dissension broke
out again. Levine finally announced
that he did not care to have Bertaud
for a navigator.
Injunction Case.
Rertaud then obtained a temporary
injunction against Levine to prevent
the Columbia leaving without him,
charging that his professional repu-
iation would be damaged by his rejec-
ton. Bertaud next offered to with
draw his legal proceedings, forego all
prize money, and agree to no recon-
pense for his wife in case of accident,
II he were permitted to remain as a
member of the crew.
After an all-night conference, how
ever, Levine announced that Bertaud
was definitely through with the expe-
dition and that a substitute would
take his place. Whether even at that
time Levine had In his mind the
notion to be that substitute himself,
has not been revealed.
While dissension still ragged in the
Columbia camp, Lindbergh took off
for France and landed in Paris. The
night he landed, Chamberlin suddenly
announced that he would fly for Paris
and the Columbia was
drawn to the runway. Up to the very
moment set for flying, Levine did not
reveal who the man was, who, he
said, was all ready to accompany
When at the last minute
the flight was indefinitely postponed,
because of adverse weather, the navi-
gators identity was left shrouded in
mystery.