Evening star., 1927-11-15

| Z.
and George Haldeman. who recently
| were rescued from their laundering
transatlantic plane: Edward P. Schlee
| and William S. Brock, who crossed
| the Atlantic and flew as far as Japan
in a round-the-wOrld attempt; Col.
| Arthur c. Goebel, winner of the Dole
prize flight to Hawaii; Lieuts. Lester
J. Maitland and Albert F. Hegen-
| berger. first to cross the Pacific to
Hawaii by air; Paul Schlutcr. second
place winner in tho Dole flight: Lieut..
Ernest l.. Smith, who flew from san
Francisco 10 the Island Of Molokai,
aud Emory Bronte. companion of
| Lieut.. Smith on the fight.
Several other famous flyers who
| had been invited were unable to at
tend. Comdr. Byrd of polar and also
! transatlantic fame. and himself a
/! recipient of the Hubbard medal for
| his flight over the top of the world" "
| had to leave the city yesterday after
noon after the White House luncheon
| to keep an important lecture engage
mont in Virginia. lis companions
! on the flight to France also were
absent last night. They were Bert
| Acosta, George Neville and Bcrnt
/ Ralchen. 1t is thought they did not
wish to appear without their 'chicf." "
| Chamherlin, who flew to Germany left
! the city after the presidential lunch
con, but Mrs. Chamberlin represented
| her husband on the platform. Martin
Jensen. companion of Schluter, over
| looked his mail until too late to accept
j the invitation. He was in California.
German Ayiatrix Attends.
| Thsa Rasche, noted German avia-
| triX, who aspires to cross the Atlantic
| by plane, sat with Miss Elder and
Mr.. Chamberlin.
Cant. Herbert A. Dargue and Lieut.
Ira G. Eaker of the pan-American
| good Will flight were in the audi
ence, but were not included among
guests on the platform because their
air journey was not of transoceanic
character. They were omitted from
the list of guests at the White House
luncheon for the same reason, it Is
understood.
Others on the platform. in addition
to President and Mrs. Coolidge, were
Mrs. EvanGelne Lindbergh. proud
mother of "Lindy": DR.. Gilbert Gros-
venor, president of the National Geo
graphic Society. who presided: Assist
ant Secretary of Commerce for Aero
nautics William p. MacCracken, ir..
and DR. John Oliver La Gorce. vice
president of the society, who escorted
Mrs. Lindbergh.
'Iindy" Gets Great Ovation.
Lindbergh with his mother and DIR.
La Gorce. received a great ovation as
he appeared on the platform from the
wings. His tall figure was immaculate
in evening clothes, and the locks of
hair which usually fall over his fore
head were trained hack carefully for
the occasion. He glanced wonderingly
at the vast battery of motion picture
and Still cameras, which were
trained upon him from the right of
the stage.
DIR. Grosvenor, in introducing Pres
ident Coolidge, called attention to the
'bewildering rapidity" with which
American aviators have made voyage
after voyage of amazing Importance"
during the last four years, and eX
planned that ito the greatest of these
achievements the National Geographic
Society has now assembled to pay
tribute" DIR. Grosvenor added that
''in every one of these outstanding
voyages. so fruitful to scientific knowl-
edge, the aviators were men trained,
developed and inspired in the Gov
ernmcnt service" and he congratulated
the President, as commander-in-chief
of all the air forces, for his clear.
practical and conservative program
that has guided. encouraged and
stimulated air conquest"
AS the President stepped forward
to the microphone, which was TO
broadcast the ceremonies from net
work of IS radio stations, great arc
lights We're turned on and the cameras
began to grind and click their record
of the momentous event.
President Pays Tribute.
President Coolidge referred to Lind
hergh as a hero who mad been revealed
tnot as a reckless adventurer, but as
an able, sober-minded, modest young
man of high and unselfish purpose.
He was forced to pause as the crowd
again broke forth into spontaneous
burst of applause. "Lindy" seemed
to be trying not to notice that the
plaudits were for him.
Time and again the Chief Executive
smilingly halted his address while the
audience filled the auditorium with
their loud acclaim.
Turning to the blushing youth to
his left, the President began: col.
Charles A. Lindbergh, it has been the
nrivileCe of few to do as much for a
"Iindy" wasn't sure whether this
was his cue to rise or whether he
should remain sitting. He started to
get up, looked around questioningly,
sat down again. and then arose again
to his full 6 feet or so. The spotlights
glared again and the camera men
ground furiousiy.
Honors "Richly Merited."
"You have richly merited the many
honors already bestowed" President
Coolidge continued, as he took the ut
tie leather case and revealed the shln'
ing gold medal, which only seven men
before Lindbergh have received-such
men as Peary, Amundsen, Shackle-
ton and Byrd.
"Tonight / have the utmost graft
fication in awarding you this further
recognition of achievement, the Hub
bard medal of the National Geogra pnic
Society" the President concluded.
"Lindy" took another step forward
and accepted the medal from the out
stretched hands of his mander-ln-
chief, bowling somewhat awkwardly
the while. The auditorium again rang
with the cheers of the multitude.
Here something happened that is
believed to have broken all precedent
in formal presidential procedure. Mr..
Coolidge turned around and himself
introduced the youthful hero to the
great audience, which included mil
lions of listeners-in. Tt seemed to be
an inspiration o: the moment-and
one that effectually aided the falter.
ing Lindbergh in gathering himself
together for his little speech of
thanks.
"Lindy" Returns Tribute.
"I want to thank you all for the
great honor you have conferred upon
me-" ''Lindy" began in firm tones.
His composure before the microphoses