Evening star., 1929-06-29

The position reported by the Eagle
indicated that the Spanish airmen had
either flown or drifted considerable
distance toward the Island of Santa
Maria after they were last definitely
reported by the British steamship Grel-
don, which heard the sound of their
motors about ITS miles southwest OF
Santa Maria on Saturday morning IL
hours after they had left Cartagena for
the Azores on the first lap of their
fight to New York.
1t was learned that Maj. Francois
seaplane was discovered by two planes
sent out from the Eagle just when
they were about to give up the search.
Although previous reports stated that
the Spanish plane was only slightly
damaged, latest adtices indicated that
it was badly wrecked
Demonstrations Of Joy.
Street demonstrations of joy began
spontaneously throughout Madrid q few
minutes after the government an
nouncement of the message saying that
Maj. Franco and his companions had
been found alive floating near the
Azores.
Thousands of enthusiasts began
marching through the streets shouting
and cheering, There was a drizzling
rain falling. but this did not dampen
their ardor and cries Of 'Vivo Francol"
constantly resounded.
The men whose rescue had added q
new chapter to the history of flyers
Snatched from death after floating at
sea for many days were Mai. Ramon
Franco, commanding off1cer: Mai. Ed
uardo Gonzalez Gallarza, pilot; Capt.
Julio Ruiz de Aida, navigator, and
Sergt. Pedro Madariaga, mechanic.
After hard luck had dogged their foot
steps in their preparations for the flight,
motor trouble developing with their
first plane and a minor field accident
almost running their second effort, they
took OH from Alcazares Air Field Car
tagena, at 4:50 pm. on June al. They
passed over Cadiz and then Cape st.
Vincent, Portugal, where they headed
out to sea. Little further was heard
until the steamship Greldon picked up
the sound Of their motors Saturday
morning.
Long Silence Follows.
Then followed a long silence, which
finally was replaced by a series of re-
ports and announcements that they had
arrived in the Azores, all of them sub
sequently found to be erroneous. Even
Premier Primo de Rivera himself gave
out a report Of their arrival, which he
The chief cause Of the misinformation
sprang from garbled radio dispatch
from the Portuguese warship Vasco
Da Cana, which reported that the
flyers had landed safely in the Azores
and would continue their trip on Sun
day. Apparently the warShip had mere
ly relayed an ordinary press message
which it had picked up regarding the
flyers, but this. In turn, was picked up
in garbled fashion
Further reports, all of which subSe-
quently proved without foundation,
we're received that the men had reached
the Island of San Miguel. When no
confirmation could be obtained of the
arrival In the Azores, the Spanish gov
ernn1ent took steps to send out rescue
parties, and particularly asked Great
Britain for the aid of the airplane-
carrier Eagle, at that time en- route
from London to its station In the Azores.
Meanwhile italian and Portuguese
ships and planes had started in search
for them and even q German plane
was being prepared.
The British government acquiesced
Immediately to the Spanish request
and the Eagle began securing the seas
between the European coast and the
Azores. Airplanes were sent out and
scanned wide areas but without success.
Finally the Eagle turned toward
Gibraltar to cover a line from the
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