Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-09-10
NAVY TAKES STEPS
TO HALT FLIGHTS
Recalls Two of Its Own Men
Planning Ocean Hops and:
Refuses to Aid Others.

The Navy Department has taken
steps to discourage two over-ocean
flights in land planes by refusing to
permit two of its officers to participate
in one and declining to withdraw ships
from naval duties to patrol the course
for another project.
Leaves of absence from the service,
which had been granted Lieut.. Law.
renee w. Curtin and Ensign S. A. Ed.
wards to enable them to accompany
Capt. Rene Fonck on his proposed
flight to Europe, We're revoked by. Act.
ing Secretary Of the Navy T. Douglas
Robinson yesterday afternoon. AT the
same time, Mr.. Robinson replied to a
request from Harold f. Hartney of the
General Always Corporation, New
York. asking that ships be stationed
along the proposed route Of Brock and
Schlee, the world flyers, stating that
no ships were available and if they
were, he would oppose their use.
Supports Flyers Families.
The leaves of absence Of Curtin and
Edwards were withdrawn by Mr.. Rob.
inson upon recommendation Of Rear
Admiral William A. Moffet, chief Of
the Bureau of Aeronautics. A state.
ment by the department explaining
cause of the inevitable loss of life that
results when land plane, engaged in
a transoceanic flight. is forced to land
in the sea, that 1t must withhold
authorization for any naval personnel
to engage in flights of this nature"
Relatives and friends Of Brock and
Schlee, who have been endeavoring to
dissuade the two world flyers from
attempting a Pacific hop in their land
plane from Japan to the Midway Is.
lands, thence to Hawaii and on to the
Pacific Coast, found support in the
NaVy's action in replying to Hartney's
suggestion. Recently they appealed
to Mr.. Robinson to use the Navy's in.
tluence in preventing the attempt,
which was characterized as suicidal"
but the Acting Secretary, beyond stat
ing he sympathized with their view
point, was unable to take any official
action.
Neither Flyer is Navigator.
His decision to oppose the use OF
naval vessels, even if available, how
ever, should have a strong influence
on future plans for the world flyers. 1t
is held. II do not think the flight
should be attempted in a land plane.
even If ships were placed at various
stations, MIR. RODlnSOn wired mart
ney. I'm addition to the inadvisabil-
ity OF the proposed flight in a land
plane, am informed neither flyer Is
q navigator"
Lieut.. Curtin, we'll known in Wash
ington, where he has been on duty
with the Bureau of Aeronautics, has
been identified with the Fonck project
for a year. He was in the Sikorsky
plane that started for Paris last year,
but crashed on the take-off. causing
the loss of two of the crew. Capt.
Fonck, however, insisted that Curtin
again accompany him this year, and
a short time ago acquired the services
of Ensign Edwards, who was on duty
at the naval air station at Anacostia
for short period prior to joining the
expedition.
When both airmen were here sew
eral days ago in connection with the
maiden cross-country trip,
they were very enthusiastic to get
under way, despite the fact that Old
Glory had sent out distress signals on
the day they landed here. The only
avenue open to them to carry out their
original plans would be to resign from
the service. and this, it was held. is
unlikely.