Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-04-04


and Naval Medical Corps have met a
very difficult situation in manner TO
reflect great credit on themselves and
on the Navy. Praise for them came
from all Nationalist, and President
Moncada today expressed to me MS
great Indebtedness to them. Complete
cooperation exists throughout Mr..
Swift (Red Cross representative ar
rived today. Contents of all previous
dispatches as to conditions are sub
stantiated."
Plane TO Garry Anti-TOxins.
An emergency relief fight from
Philadelphia to earthquake-stricken
Managua. Nicaragua, to carry large
quantities of anti-toxins sorely needed
to check the spread Of epidemic dis
eases was ordered today by the Navy
Department. The emergency flight will
be put up to the Marine Corps, and 1t Is
hoped the big tri-motored transport
plane, with It's load Of precious medi-
cines, may reach the Nicaraguan cap
ital within "a hours.
Request that large quantities OF anti
toxins be rushed by air to Managua
was received by the Navy Department
late last night from Ernest j. Swift,
Red Cross director of relief work there.
Though two big Navy tri-motored
cargo planes are waiting at the Anacos-
tia Naval Air Station for emergency
service in connection with the relief OF
Managua, it was decided to send Ma
rine Corps plane because Of the greater
familiarity Of the Marines with cond1-
Tons in Nicaragua and because Marine
aviators have on several occasions made
rush flights from the East Coast to
Nicaragua in connection with their
campaigns there during the past two
years.
Hero to Pilot Plane.
The big plane will leave Philadelphia
with Lieut.. Christian F. Shit, hero OF
the Nicaraguan air fighting, at the con-
trolls as soon as the Red Cross completes
the loading of the necessary medical
supplies. 1t was announced at the Navy
Department this morning.
shit is to fly direct to Quantico, Va,
passing over the National Capital. At
Ouantico he will turn the ship and its
medical cargo over to Mai. Roy L..
Geiger Marine Corps, who is to fly the
plane to Nicaragua. Maj. Geiger took
a Marine transport plane from Quant-
90 10 Santo Domingo on similar mis-
sion Of mercy last Fall following the
disastrous hurricanes which resulted in
great loss Of life and property.
The plea for help came from Managua
last night following conference Of Red
Cross relief workers there with United
States Minister Matthew e. Hanna,
Rear Admiral Arthur St. Clair Smith
and Marine Corps officers. Admiral
Smith transmitted Swift's request for
$500 cubic centimeters Of anti-typhoid
toxin, 5000 cubic centimenters of SMALL
pox anti-toxin and 10000 tubes OF
chloride Of lime.
Four Stops Planned.
The flight from Quantico is TO be
made with only four intermediate stops
for fuel and oil, according to tentative
naval operation plans. If the plane Is
loaded this morning it is expected Maj.
Geiger will be able to reach Managua
by tomorrow night.
One Of the most famous Of all emer-
gency flights to Nicaragua was that
made early last May by the late Capt.
Arthur II. Page, Marine Corps, who q
few days later won the CurtiSs Marine
Trophy race here. Capt. Page was sent
to deliver q new plane of the type to be
used for today's relief trip for use in
the campaign against insurgents. Capt.
Page made the trip from the National
other plane in 6 days and 40 minutes
elapsed time and SIS hours Of actual
flying time.
Lexington Ordered to COrinto.
The aircraft carrier Lexington. which
dashed across the Caribbean and
launched flights Of planes carrying
medical and other supplies to Managua,
the department added, has been directed
to leave Greystone, Nicaraguan Atlantic
coast port. for Corinto, on the Pacific,
via the Panama Canal There she will
pick up her medical officers, all of
whom are at the disaster scene, when
they no longer are needed, then join
the feet at San Diego.
Her performance in getting five
planes carrying medical personnel and
supplies to Managua "a hours after
leaving Guantanamo Bay in her TOO
mile dash at 30 knots brought forth a
well done" today from Admiral William
V. Pratt, chief Of naval operations.