New Britain herald., 1928-04-13


 Halifax, N. S.. April l3 (By Can adian Press)-No Canadian plane is known to be operating in Nova Scotia. The airport at Eastern Pas sage, near Halifax, is without ma was stated there that if a plane were working in the province. the fact would be known by local o1ii- cials.
 New York, April 1s R, - Along some 1000 miles of the North American seacoast eyes and ears today sought solution Of the latest mystery of the skies.
 The mystery began at 2:05 a. m. eastern standard time Thursday when the German plane Bremen headed from Costello. Galway. Ire- land. westward over the Atlantic. it's German-Irish crew putting trust in God and relying on such methodical preparations as man could devise to reach New York A day and night passed without further word from them.
 Hopes Are High
 Yet hopes ran higher than in the cases of three other westbound transatlantic planes which were lost with five men and two women. Hours passed without any indica- tion that the Bremen's venture might have failed or would fail.
 Conditions at sea were reasonable so far as knowledge went. At least from all the evidence the possible disturbances were light. The Bremen took enough gas to keep it in the air until after 4:3S eastern stand ard time this afternoon, or 40 hours from its departure from Bal donnel airdrome, near Dublin. at 12:SS eastern standard time Thurs day morning.
 Shortly after midnight this morn- ing the plane was due to come in sight of land. either Newfoundland, or Cape Breton. in Nova Scotia. should its course be a bit further south.
 The carly morning hours passed without the voyagers being reported. But this gave no cause for alarm. Aviators pointed out that it would easily be possible for the plane after it's 2,0o0 mile water jump to have passed unseen over a sparsely settled coast during the dark. and then to have turned toward it's des- tination. Mitchell field, Long Island. New York. 1000 miles away.
 Assume All Is We'll
 At Niitchel field the assumption was that all was we'll: that some time this afternoon the silver grey monoplane would be seen flying the flags of imperial Germany and the Irish Free State and. in honor of the flyers hosts, the Stars and Stripes.
 Only an unforeseen accident to the planes single motor was regarded as standing between the fiiers and suc- cess. When the plane was last sight ed clearing Ireland and heading over the sea the motor was performing perfectly. And the planes wings were coated with an anti-freeze so- lution to prevent weighting down by ice.
 There were indications that the plane would find favorable weather for the last lap as rain squalls and low hanging clouds oft Newfound- land gave way to cear skies and tog off Halifax lifted. There was no anxiety at Baldonnel field, over the fact that the plane had not been re- ported since clearing Ireland. The trio aboard presumably were doggedly sticking at their tasks, Captain Hermann koehl. German was flyer. and Colonel James Fitz- maurice. commandant of the Irish 1 Free State air force, taking the con- trols alternately at four hour inter- walls and Baron Ehrenfried Gunther Von Huenefeld. sponsor. steadily ! pumping the fuel for the motor.
 Good Airnlan. If any man could bring the Brem- en through the dangers of the At- l lantic crossing it was felt that Cap tain Koehl could do 50. He Is known l in Germany as the best night flyer | there, a man of cool head and in- stinctive knowledge of the air. who can fly for hours by instinct, that most difficult test of pilot.
 Under him, Junkers mechanics during that trying wait at Baldon- mel had constantly gone over the plane and engine, making sure that the machine was always ready, al- ways dependable. He had regarded ice forming on the wings as the most perilous hazard to be faced and had prepared against it by having them coated with a solution of para fin to prevent freezing and weight ing down of the plane.
 "FHtz" Carefree.
 Colonel Fitzmaurice approached the flight gaily and nonchalantly and this was regarded as an ideal mental attitude for flying man.
 We are not afraid to come back again." he said. T don't 50 in for this do or die stuff. We will fight storms. but if we can't get through we will come home.''
 Naval officers at Washington plot ted the course which it was assumed the Bremen was following and an- nounced that the distance from Dub- lin to St. Johns, Newfoundland, was 2,o4S miles and that from St. Louis to New York. 1.133. of an approxi- mate total of 3,200 miles from Bal donnel to Mitchell field.
 Stake Lives.
 Tn Berlin Professor Hugo Junkers. head of the company that made the { Bremen said the flyers faced big risks but with cool calculation have { made preparations as far as present g means permit" 6 "As pioneers" he continued, [