Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-10-29

The value OF proper preparedness for
such ventures is emphasized by several
papers. The Cleveland News declares:
"A duplication of the Lindbergh
achievement is not necessary. The
Atlantic is still more than a match
for haphazard stunt flyers. Courage
alone is not sufficient qualification
for an ocean hop. With due respect
to the memory of a brave man, We
cannot refrain from expressing our
conviction that Macdonald threw his
life away in useless venture. How
different was the feat of the zeppelin
Every minute detail was given prelimi-
nary analysis. The ship was in COM
mand of the ablest expert upon
dirigibles the world has produced, and
in spite of all this an accident in mid
ocean called for some heroic repair
work.
The Atlantic does not take note Of
courage alone when it fights its in
vaders," warns the st. Louis Times,
with the suggestion that "MacDonalds
plane apparently was inadequate for
the possible buffetings it might receive.
His fuel store was of CHASTITY made
quacy for overriding the visitation of
hard luck. The only outstanding anna
ment he had aboard was his courage"
AAAS 10y SltJ 4hIICS dllQS ll1dt dJ tkllS
time of year the North Atlantic is
generally upset with storms" and "it
was largely because of this condition
that the Graf Zeppelin went hundreds
OF miles to the south of the North At
lantic route on its trip to the United
States"
HE did what he had wanted to do"
says the Albany Evening News, with the
comment that notwithstanding the fact
that 'he was not a very experienced
pilot" and that 1.-THE chances were
against him. he was ready to risk his
life for his dream and none could hold
him back. not even the love of his wife.
And what of her?" continues the News
There is the tragedy of it. She has
lost him, who went out to make his
dream come true. Was it worth while?"
x x = *
He was not any publicity hound.
such as so many of those others. women
and men, who have undertaken the
air passage of the Atlantic for the
notoriety of it." thinks the Asheville
Times. with the comment: What hap
pened? The world will probably never
know. Nor will it know why MacDon-
aid, without much experience in fly
in far from powerful aircraft in flight
across the ocean. Another brave man
has, 1t now seems. thrown away mis- life
without very good reason for it,
THE designation of his craft. the
Gypsy Moth plane" remarks the Beloit
Daily News. "offers suggestive connota-
ton of foolish creatures FLYING around
light till they burn off their wings.
Some OF our transatlantic flying has
been very moth-minded. flames bea-
con is potent but illusory lure that
has proved will-o'-t he-wisp for
many"
The Manchester Union asserts. fur
tner: 1t is a misfortune that these
1oolhardy attempts continue. They are
rooDlng us OF some of our most daring
purpose. III any result we're accom-
plished by these flights, if they we're
helplng in any way to promote trans
atlantic air travel, the sacrifices would
be accepted as a necessary toll for those
gains. But no purpose Is being served
other than to discourage that project
and make it impracticable.
1T may be hoped that no more flyers
viii be inclined to follow the tragic ex-
ample OF Macdonald" contends the
kalamazoo Gazette, which explains:
He started forth with every conceiv-
able odd against him. His plane was.
a tiny craft of the Moth type, equipped
with none of the safety devices used
on the larger, aerial cruisers, and hardly
sturdy enough to weather anything but
the mildest kind of Atlantic storms. The
aviator picked season of the year in
winch flying conditions are far from
favorable to long-distance flights of the
sort undertaken. and he elected to make
ms flight without the physical or moral
support OF companion"