Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-06-16
PLANE TAKES FAME
TO TINY SEAPORT
ComilIas, Spain, Becomes Fa-
nous as Haven OF the
Yellow Bird.

1.-THE Yellow Bird has added the
village of Comillas to Ver-Sur-Mer,
EiSleben and Llanelly as out-of-the-
way places brought into the spotlight
OF world news by the landing of trans
atlantic airplanes from America" says
bulletin from the National Geo.
graphic Society.
"Santander shares fame with Comil-
las, for 1t was to that important coastal
town of Northern Spain that the flyers
were taken by automobile after their
that the Geographic news of the COM
pletion of the transocean night sped
out to the world.
"Comillas lies as or 80 miles west of
Santander along a rugged coast washed
by the waters of the Bay of Biscay. 1t
is a village of only 2,700 inhabitants,
and its tiny port can accommodate only
the fishing smacks and small ore-carry-
ing boats that ply the local waters. All
along this northern coast of Spain are
mountains and rugged hills, many of
which project into the sea, forming
little hill-girt bays and coves. Some
Of the small bays have been almost
f1lled with sand. 1t was on such q
sand-filled little bay near Comilias-
Oyambre Beach-that the Yellow Bird
came to earth.
Yacht Race Ended There.
BY q strange coincidence, the flyers.
In landing in the vicinity of Santander,
terminated their flight near a city
which has already served as the goal
OF q transatlantic contest in speed and
navigation. In 1878 the International
yacht races which started m New York
came to an end in Sanjander Harbor,
This year Santander Will be the ter
minus for similar races starting at
southampton. England.
Santander's port opens OF the BAY
or Biscay, 90 miles west of the better
known resort of San Sebastian, and 100
miles west Of Biarritz. Although Span
Madrid's Summer heat, Santander is
little known abroad.
Protected from Sea.
'The town Is progressive, modern,
prosperous and therefore is not sought
out by tourists in search of ancient
landmarks. However, between a sun
scorched, crumbling cathedral and q
sun warmed sandy beach, the Spaniards
prefer the beach.
"Santander cannot be seen from the
sea. It has been built deep within the
harbor behind q mountainous peninsula
which shelters the homes OF 1000
Santander jewellers from Bay of Biscay
storms. It consists of Pueblo Alta, with
an undistinguiShed cathedral rearing its
head, and Pueblo Baja, where liners and
coastal steamers land their passengers
and freight boats take on red Camargo
| iron ore for Britain's blast furnaces
Santander takes leading place among
the north coast ports shipping Gre from
the many Spanish mines In the Asturian
Provinces.
over the ridge that protects San
lander from storms lies the Sardinero
| the faVorite playa or beach, long
| warm arm Of reddish-yellow sand en-
bracins a bright blue sea- Many costly
villas look upon the Sardinero.
THE citizens of Santander recently
presented to the royal family of Spain
a Summer palace, La Magdalena,' on a
headland near the city. It has come to
be recognized as one of the most de-
lightful of the royal residences. In
recognition of the Spanish Kings love
Of sport the palace was equipped with
. bathing beach, a yacht landing
tennis courts and . polo field"