Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-19

Commercial and military possibili-
ties are both emphasized in the COM
ment in this country on the crossing
, of the Atlantic by an Italian feet OF
seaplanes from the coast of Africa to
Brazil. While it is observed that there
were casualties along the way, the
achievement is noted as another adj
mass movement.
1T is the first dramatic mass move
ment, and its success is nothing short
of brilliant" .proclaimS the Salt Lake
DeSeret News, with the conclusion that
while mishaps to some Of the planes
have slightly held the others back, the
fact that the expedition as whole
met with such good fortune must be
reckoned as altogether marvellous" It
is described by the Rock Island Argus
as "the greatest squadron flight in his
tory" though 1.-The South Atlantic has
been SPAWNED nine times" and three
important long distance squadron
flights have preceded this last enter
prise"
at was altogether an impressive
achievement" says the Albany Evening
News, land some may predict that in
the future, if America should be at
war, squadrons of planes could fly
across the ocean and attack the coast
or even proceed inland. That is not
impossible, of course, and If there were
portant part. AS yet, however, this is
only one instance, and the planes were
subject to delays. The start was made
December II from Italy. Fourteen
planes started from Italy and IL from
Portuguese West Africa, and 10 ar
rived on this side of the ocean. While
this was great feat, 1t does not make
certain the movement of great fleets
of planes over the ocean"
"a step farther in establishing the
reliability of modern planes" is seen by
the Miami Daily News, "for the forma-
ton fight, with its unequaled record,
has demonstrated a standardized ex-
cellence comparable to the records Of
individual super planes of the past"
X X X X
1.-THE group flight made by the Ital-
ianS,' according to the Charleston Is.
O. Evening Post, shows how practical
is the air passage of the Atlantic In
mass as well as by single plane-that
Is to say, it shows that the plane, by
multiplication, has considerable carry
ing capacity at one flight" The Eve
ming Post also comments "It gives
a striking illustration of the possibili-
ties of the seaplane for this service as
compared with the land plane. And
1t emphasizes what has already been
remarked, that the course for such
flights lies farther to the south than
that which has been so frequently and
so often diSaStrouSly esSayed by ad-
venturous aViators."
zone Shudders to think of the dreadful
possibility of great air armadas crossing
seas and continents, in war, to scatter
devastation and death over wide areas"
declares the Pasadena Star-News, add
ing that zone becomes more enthusiast
tic and more profoundly thrilled to
contemplate the peaceful conqueStS Of
the air in the future" The Lexington
Leader AYERS that there can be no
question but that in a year or two Eu-
rope and South America, by way of
Africa, will be linked up by regular
service, mail, express and passenger,
and it is equally certain that the United
States and Europe will be united in the
same way"
"If fleets of planes can navigate an
ocean, then oceans are no barrier
against the attacks of air power in case
Of war;" argues the Milwaukee Journal,
while the Rockford Register-Republic
states: Gen. Balbo, who organized
strengthened his popularity with the
italian people UNNECESSARILY. Now he
is talked of as Mussolini's successor
when II Duce dies or retires." The
Portland (Oregon) Journal asks: "At
what distance Is a nation to be safe
from attack by air in the event Of an
other WARP" and holds that ''Ahe fight
certainly means that the warfare of the
future, If it is to be, will be dominated
from the air." a.
X n n X A#.
1--WE would like" remarks the Unihn-
town Morning Herald, Ito regard the |
Italian aerialSdemonstration whicA
I'll dua credit y axtended-aa an ext1@