Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-02-07
FRENCH AWAT0RS
DELAYED BY RAIN
Costes and Lebrix, Expected
Here Today. Forced to
Postpone Flight.

The French transatlantic flyers. Lieut.
Dicudonne Costes and Lieut. Comdr
Joseph Lebrix will not reach Washing
ton this afternoon. as originally expect
ed. owing 10 generally bad weather con-
ditions along a direct airline between
Maxwell Field. Montgomery. Ala. and
Washington.
Rain. fog and unsettled conditions
were reported along the proposed non
stop course the flyers have mapped out
for the Capital. and in view of the fact
that they are not laboring under a
schedule they decided to avoid risks and
discomfort which would be occaSioned
by flying their big Brcgue, plane. Nun
gesser et Colt over the Southern noin-
tains and generally rough terrain.
Ever since reaching Buenos Aires
after spectacular fight from Paris
across the South Atlantic the airnen
have proceeded in easy stages" ard
they shall continue on this course until
they reach New York. where their plane
will be packed aboard a ship and taken
back 10 France.
Trip Covers .s5 Miles.
The distance by air line from Max
well To Boiling Field is about 73o miles,
which would require about II. or 8
hours flying under ordinary conditions,
This morning. Mai Howard c. David
son. commanding Boiling Field, received
the following message from Maxwell
Field.
French flyers flight to Washington
DELAYED on account OF very bad weather
II is not believed flyers will leave Max
well Field today If present weather
conditions continue
As the hour OF noon approached
Army air officials concluded that there
would be no flight. first because O. the
weather and second because the time
for permitting the plane to reach Boil
Ing Field before dark had expired II
vas thought the airmen would prefer 10
make the journey between the Alabama
city and Washington during daylight
hours
When the definite word spread abou,
the city 10 the various interests en-
gagged In arranging honors and tributes
Tor the atrinen that they would not
arrive today. and further that a po>s,-
bslity doomed that they may not even
be able IN reach here tomorrow on
account OF weather conditions, the pro-
grams which had about been completed
were thrown into turmoil
Elaborate Program Upset.
The atrmen tonight were to have
bcen guests at dinner of Ambassador
and Nine Claudei at >the French en-
oaSsy. which vas to have been follow
ed ov reception Tomorrow noon they
Nef~ to be received by the President at
the White House. which was 10 be fol-
lowed by a reception 1T the embassy
by the French military and naval at
taches In the evening banquet was
scheduled by the National Aerunaut,r
Association In the Chinese room Of the
Maynower Hotel
John T.. Victory OF The national ad~
viSory committee for eerunauticS. IL
charge OF arrangements tor the ban.
Quet today assumed that the asS,xia~
tion would be given It's opportunity ta~
morrow night to entertain the ftverS and
rcndcr tribute To them from the repre-
sentative American aeronauttcal or
ganisation
The state Department, which has
been o-ofdlnating the various rounds
of entertainment for the aismen early
this afternoon. Was unable IL state
Just what the program WOULD conSts~
tu'e In view oi changed schedule II
WAS said that psobably all plans would
ne held In allowance until de1nite word
IN to the time ot the ftNrrS' arrival here
II rerrlVed