Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-07-01
OFFICIALS PRAISE
BYRD ON FLIGHT
Value to Science and Cour.
age of Flyers Stressed in
Many Messages.
Ry the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
Long hours of waiting by official
Washington, tinged with the fear of
disaster, gave way today to JOY and
relief with the word that Commander
Richard Z. Byrd and his transatlantic
aviators were safe in France.
Even the Nations chief executive,
President Coolidge, at his Summer
White House in the Black Hills Of
South Dakota, exhibited his anxiety
over the flyers safety. He instructed
his secretary. Everett Sanders, to re-
ceive word of the flight from the
Washington Bureau of the Associated
Press and as soon as definite word OF
the safety of Byrd and his compan'
ions was received the Associated
Press advised Mr.. Sanders at Rapid
City over long distance telephone.
Disappointment Is Felt.
The relief over the aviators' safety
was tinged with disappointment that
their huge monoplane America had
been forced down after they had fruit
lessIy endeavored to find the lie Bour.
get landing field at Paris. But the high
Navy officials, including Secretary VIII
bur and Rear Admiral Moffett, chief
of Navy aeronautics, who had remain
ed awake to receive the reports from
the Associated Press, felt that the
safety of the naval aviator and his
companions overshadowed everything
else.
Comdr. Byrd's dash over the Atlantic
through the fog and rain which con-
stituted extremely hazardous flying
weather was considered to demon
strate the effectiveness of the airplane
and transoceanic fights, even though
he failed to reach his objective. It
was pointed out by aviation authori
ties that night flying. even over ia
miliar territory, during foggy weather
was extremely difficult and where the
terrain was strange, combined with
bad weather. the element OF luck
plays big role in the locating Of safe
landing fields.
Radio Phase Important.
But the chapter written by Comdr.
Byrd in the history of aviation de-
spite its unfortunate termination is
deemed Of paramount value coming as
the climax Of a siXweek period viewed
here as the most important period in
flying progress and in developing
worldwide interest in long distance
flights. After Col. Lindbergh blazed the
way with his single-handed voyage
came that of Chamberlin and Levine.
Then Maitland and Hegenberger
made the Hawaiian fight. But the
trip of Byrd and his three COMPANIONS
possessed a remarkable phase in the
manner in which the aviators kept in
radio communication with the lands
and the seas below them. All Of this,
coming within sDan of less than two
months, has created the greatest en-
thusiasm among aviation experts
within and without the Government
here.
1t was a proud day for Uncle Sans
services today. The Army was still
exultant over the Hawaiian flight,
while the Navy rejoiced in her pro-
tege, Comdr. Byrd, who had added to
its and his own glorious aviation
achievement of the North Pole CON
quest last Summer by the trans.
oceanic flight.
President Sends Message.
The congratulations OF President
Coolidge were cabled to Comdr. Byrd
today by the State Department.
II send you my sincere congratula-
tons on your successful flight across
the Atlantic" the message said. Il
have followed your distinguished and
courageous career in aerial navigation
with interest and admiration. Your
flight to the North Pole proved the
effectiveness of the airplane in add.
| ing to the scientific knowledge of the
unexplored surface of the world, and
/ am sure that your present flight
| will notably advance our knowledge OF
| the conditions which must be met ana
conquered to make transatlantic aerial
navigation commercially practicable
and safe"
The scientific value of the flight
| possessed the greatest interest for
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