Evening star., 1932-09-01
Mollison's Courage Lauded
AS He Sets Westward Mark

the risk was less and the value to avi-
alton definite. Ones hat goes OF TO
him for a reckless gamble with death
and destruction, for there Is no dis
counting that phase Of the matter, and
at the same time wishes he wouldn't
try it again. There is work to be done
by men of his caliber that needs doing
and it seems a matter Of risking more
than can possibly be gained"
He few swiftly and without mis-
hap" records the Oakland Tribune.
"oVer route which has witnessed many
tragedies. and his greatest battle was
against fatigue. The feat is one air.
men have been expecting. sooner or
later, though many predicted it would
be a larger craft which would accom-
plish It. Capt. Mollison. modest and
capable. proved himself an expert naW-
gator as we'll as pilot" The San An
tonic Express, reviewing the signifl-
canoe of the achievement, states THE
possibilities of commercial aviation
were not realized by the public until
Lindbergh's flight Since that epochal
exploit the Atlantic and the Pacific
have been crossed by numerous hyc~s-
but many also have been lost. opt.
Mollison's flight doubtless will increase
the American pilots interest in small
developed in several types in some Eu-
ropean lands"
Capt. Mollison, in a stunt flight,
pure and simple, says the Dayton Daily
News, still makes the first page. Like
Amelia Earhart, he admits that the
feat is without practical purpose. More
can be said for his earlier flights from
London to Australia and Capetown,
blazing trails for commercial air routes.
Capt, Wolfgang Won Gronau, flying
carefully at fairly regular intervals be-
tween Europe and America via the far
northern route. likewise has madei a
more lasting contribution to await lon
progress than others concentrating
solely on fame and fortune. Ayiat Ion
is still young. Orville Wright, the fFst
man to fly, only few days ago pa1sed
his sixty-first birthday. Reviewing the
current activities, one cannot but sbe
impressed by the remarxs bic Develop
ment of few decades and the promise
of the next
"The credit of his feat" in the
opinion of the Providence Journal. .i5
in no way impaired b. the fact tRat
he was compelled to land far ShortIo of
his ultimate destination. In all other
respects it was a perfect fight, per
formed with the mastery skill that Ehe
nad previously manifested ana addulg
a third to the two record-breakhg
achievements which had already put
him in the front rank OF aviation ex-
perts. What Capt Mollison has
actually contributed to the progress of
transatlantic aviation remains to be
seen. A solo fight of that character is
hardly more than stunt, and it proves
nothing beyond individual courage and
skil. For all future practical purposes,
conquering the air is like conquerhg
the sea. 1t is not the lone voyaguer
VINO circumnavigates the globe who ad-
Vances the commercial cause of ocean
transportation, but the builders and
navieators of large ships. Capt. Mol
hson's experience, indeed. would seem
merely to have emphasized the hazards
and perils of the western air crossing
OF the Atlantic. 1t was good judgment
In choosing the time TO start, as well
as his Skill in flying. that crowned
ms enterprise with success. As he has
said himself. if he had gwen in TO the
lmpatience that almost moved him TO
take on prematurely from Ireland. he
would probably now be at the bottom
OF the sea-"