The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1933-07-15
PAIR HOPS Off FOR
NATIVE LUTHUAN|A
Minus PERMISSION
Stephen Darius and Stanley
Girenas May Get Spank.
Ing in Europe
ARE RESIDENTS OF CHICAGO
Fail to Inform Officials At Floyd
Bennett Field Regarding
Takeoff

New York, July 15.-(P-The mon
oplane Lithuanica took off on a pro-
jected 4,900-nile nonstop flight to
Lthuania Saturday, without ap-
proval Of the American government
and with prospect Of the two pilots
subjecting themselves to a spank
ing" If they should land in any
country short of their goal.
The plane, which left Floyd Ben
nett field at 5:24 q. m. (E.s.T.), was
flown by Stephen Darius and Stan
ley Girenas, Lithuanian Americans
from Chicago.
They took off just an hour and IA
minutes after Wiley Post had begun
his solo world flight from the same
field.
A plane believed to be the Lith-
uanica passed over Clarenville, Trim
ity Bay, New Foundland, at 1:45 p.
m. (e. S. to-.
Darius and Girenas have been in
alteration with official Washington
about permits to fly over countries
between America and Lthuania and
left without obtaining these permits.
The argument had oentered about
the question Of who should pay 500
for cost Of cables to the countries
in question.
Didn't Inform Officials
The filters took off without inform
ing field officials Of their intention
and commerce department official
in Washington said when informed
Of their action that II they should
land In some country on their route
1t would not only be embarrassing to
the American government but also
would make the fliers subject to q
spanking by that country
The big orange and silver Bellanca
monoplane was loaded to capacity
with ITO gallons of gasoline. 135 Of
which were in five-gallon cans, and
Is gallons Of oil.
The Tiers did not sign the register
1T the field, and Maj. J. Nelson, man
ager of the field, was not informed
That they were hopping the Atlantic.
Field officials say they are subject
10 a heavy fine and loss of license
II they do not return Saturday to
Floyd Bennett field and, further
more, are subject to arrest in any
foreign country In which they land,
since they nave no passports.
The ship had no wireless and the
filters carried no parachutes.
For food they took Is oranges, IL
apples, two bottles of matted milk
tablets, a quart Of black coffee,
roast chicken, and q gallon of wa
ter.
Natives Of Lithuania
Captain Darius was born in Tau
rege, Lithuania, and was brought to
the United States when 10 years old.
His mother Is Mrs. Augustine Degu-
It's of Chicago. He is a World war
veteran.
Entering the air corps of Lithuania
in 1921 he rose to the rank Of cap
tain. Returning to the United States
he opened in 1928 an aviation school
at South Bend, Ind.
The Lithuanica Is the plane he
flew during 1929, 1880 and 1881 for
the Chicago Daily News. Aided by
subscriptions from many Lithuanian
Americans, he bought 1t from the
News and rechristened it.
Girenas, who like his partner is
unmarried, IS an orphan whose home
Is Chicago. He was born in Upina,
Lithuania, came to the United States
when seven, and went to work in
Chicago when he finished grammar
school. He Is war veteran and
operated an aviation school in Chi
cago until 1881.