Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-07-10
AMERICAN FLYERS
PRESS ON TO ROME
Williams and Yancey Hope
to Reach italian Capital
Before Dark.
Continued From First Page.)

Old Orchard, Me-, than Comillas. where
the French flyers landed, they cheered.
Their cheers gave way shortly to ex-
pressions of disgust that they had not
succeeded in reaching Rome, which
they had set as their goal when they
left Old Orchard at 7:45 am, Eastern
said they had known almost from the
beginning that head winds would use
up their fuel and prevent their COM
plotting the longer flight they had
planned.
They Immediately asked for gasoline
to continue their flight to Rome at once,
but, when informed that 1t was not i'm
mediately available, postponed their de-
parture until this morning. When they
landed they had only about three-quar-
tiers of a gallon OF petrol left In their
tanks.
Williams and Yancey explained that
faced with fuel shortage and gathering
darkness they had decided to take the
risk of landing on the small Albeceria
Field rather than hazard a forced
descent at night in the Pyrenees. The
field was marked on their maps as
available for landing, although they
were not positive Of their location.
Boys Built Bonfire.
When some boys they saw playing
foot ball on the level plot built a bon
fire it both lighted up the field and
showed the direction Of the winu. per-
hitting a facile landing in q very small
space.
There was some question whether it
would not prove too small for taking
of with fuel load sufficient to carry
them to Rome, q contingency which
would neceSsitate another stop en- route.
Both the aviators said their fight
had been magnificent" despite fog
which obscured the Atlantic from them
during all but two hours OF their jour-
ney.
They said: I'VE new 3l12 hours, en-
countering low fogS which cut US of
from sight Of the sea. For only two
hours we're we free Of fog and able to
see the ocean.
We didn't sight any ship near Cape
Oretegal we saw land for the first time
and were very glad, but We continued
the hight wishing to 60 as far as our
gasoline would take us.
Having drained our supply We tried
landing which we made successfully
at $50 pm, we new about 3.400 miles. -
Pleased at Sight Of Food.
Neither of the men seemed especially
fatigued. They said that during the
fight they ate only four bars of choco-
late and drank coffee out Of a thermoS
bottle. They were greatly pleased with
the sight of the food and drink which
was proffered them.
They explained they were well pre-
pared for their flight and had attempt
ed to reckon every factor to a nicely,
and that 1t was in no way physical
fatigue which prevented their reaching
Rome.
Shortly after their landing residents
of Santander learned of their arrival
and trooped to the field to welcome
them. They were taken to the civil gov
ernor, who made a formal address Of
welcome and congratulated them upon
their feat, remarking that theirs was
the second plane from America to land
near Santander within month. He
said he hoped their trip would terminate
as successfully.
The Americans were piled with uueS-
tons from the Spaniards. Through an
interpreter the aviatorS willingly salts
fed curiosity. They said they had kept
to height of 10000 feet and over dur
ing the greater part of the journey be-
cause Of the fog.
Came Lower Near Coast.
1t was this factor which prevented
their being spoken by any ship. Within
short distance of the Spanish coast
they dropped to 1000 feet and main
tanned that altitude. They estimated
that counting the detours inevitable in
such fight. they must have covered
something like 3,400 miles.
Despite the lateness of the hour at
IL pm. the American flyers we're taken
to the Club Maritime for a special
supper. Williams developed pains in
his stomach as result Of eating and
drinking too much and too soon after
the long abstinence on the flight. They
remained up and about until late hour
this morning, feted and applauded by
the admiring Spaniards.
We hope that Spanish airplane
will make direct flight to New York
so that not only American people, but
their aviators also may be able to return
some of the hospitality shown u.s."
Capt. Yancey said