Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-06


Summer. DR.. Marvin expressed the
opinion that such attempts are EEK
tremely dangerous, foolhardy and con-
tribute nothing to the advancement of
aviation or to the public benefit"
Replies to Request for Ruling.
In a letter to DR.. James H. Scarf,
chief of the New York branch of the
Weather Bureau, who had asked for a
ruling, DR.. Marvin said:
such flights may enhance the per-
sonal glory and pecuniary status of the
Adventures, but in our opinion, moth
ing else.
Concerning participation of the
Weather Bureau in such flights by the
furnishing of weather information and
forecasts, If decision should rest on
our personal attitude, such service
would not be given. -. However Serv-
ice has been given in connection. with
other flights and it is doubtful II we
can properly refuse assistance in the
future.
However strong our opinions may
be as TO the foolhardiness Of an at
tempt, our right to withhold service
might be questioned and we would
surely be accused of discrimination by
the participants and sponsors OF the
flight. Moreover, should we refuse help
and the flight were attempted without
it, We might be placed in a bad light
should disaster occur because OF
weather"
Dr. Marvin said he approved COM
pletely Of the efforts of forecssters to
discourage unwise ocean flights.
Trade Wind Was Warned.
Charles L. Mitchell and r. Hanson
Weightman, local forecasters on whom
has rested the burden of advising
bergh popular1zed the sport" are
known to have given personal warnings
to flyers on a number OF occasions in
the past. although a strict interpreta-
ton of their authority would have re-
stricted them TO a bare statement OF
weather prospects.
A notable instance was Mitchells
technically unauthorized radio warning
to the ill-fated Trade Wind, which
sought to fly pay loal' to Europe by
way of Bermuda last January. Learning
Mrs. Beryl Hart and william s. Mac
Laren to hop of from Bermuda with
out seeking weather advices, Mitchell
radioed a poignant warning Of stormy
conditions of the Azores that would
render flying impossible. Unfortunately,
the warning impressed the pair only TO
the extent of delaying the take-oh for
one day. They have never been heard
from since.
DR.. Scarf and his associate, DR..
James H. Kimball. have maintained
liaison between the Weather Bureau and
New York flyers and have rendered
much informal advice in that sector. In
a letter to DR.. Marvin, DR.. Scarr re-
ferred to the plans Of several women
for solo ocean hops and said:
we have done what we could to dis
courage these attempts. We see in
them no purpose to further the knoWl-
edge of transatlantic air navigation, or
the demonstration Of safety devices or
instrumental equipment 1t looks to us
like personal or sex competition. 1t
may or may not demonstrate that
wherever man has ventured woman
may also essay to conquer.
Risk Held Unjustified.
"It is something to have been the first
or 'farthest' woman In any venture. It
NAV crafty a personal ambition and
elevate the morale of womankind. But
it does seem to us a dangerous risk to
take for so little real addition TO the
cause of air navigation.
"These women may demonstrate that
with better equipment, more careful
preparation and reasonably favorable
weather conditions, the feat OF the
Lone Eagle would not now be so diff
cult nor arouse such universal enthuS-
iasm. But they can hardly hope to
escape altogether the tinge OF profess
sionalism and the lure Of personal ag-
erandizement that will inevitably attach
to these ventures.
personally, we value most highly the
man or woman who first conquers the
uncomfortable or accomplishes the i'm
possible. 1t elevates and strengthens
the morale Of the race. We are all
hero worshipers, and rightly so. But
too many limitations not only cheaper
the mark. but tend to rob the original
of some of its elevating value"
Although the Weather Bureau men
toned no names, it is known the fore
casters have been asked to advise a
number of flyers who are planning
transoceariic flights in the near future.
Miss Ruth Nichols is among the women
who have been reported preparing Tor
solo hops across the Atlantic.
The Bureau has been consulted re-
Gently by persons interested in an
around world flight by an italian
plane and a transpacific hop by a
French plane. The Chicago Daily
News also is planning globe circling
fight, another American plane Is ready
TO try a nonstop jump from Toxic to
the United States and Japanese flyer
already is en- route here, ny way OF the
Aleutians.