RUSSIANS' AIR TRIP

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 15, 18 January 1930, Page 20

RUSSIANS' AIR TRIP

MOSCOW TO NEW YORK

The arrival at New York last month of four Eussian aviators from Moscow, flying in their big monoplane, "Land of the Soviets," was the occasion of a Communist demonstration when they landed at Curtis Field, says an overseas paper.

The cheering crowd of 10,000 people which met the airmen at the end of their 12,500-mile journey comprised many Russians, who waved red flags and sang the "Internationale." In the rush to ahake hands with the flyers the police lines were broken, and a great struggle followed. In the midst of the flag-waving and the singing of the excited throng, Colonel Charles Lindberg landed from the 'plane which he had flown to Curtis Field, and took part in the popular welcome.

In the fight with the police, who sought to protect the aviators and their machine, an excited Comninnist shouted "Cossacks." Finally the aeroplane was dragged into tho hangar without injury.

Only one of the flyers spoke English, and he very.imporfectly. Ik said that the two most difficult legs of the long flight wero across the Sea of Okotsk and from Alaska to Seattle. Acros" the Sea of Okotsk they battled with a snowstorm for ton hours, scarcely fire feet abovo the water. The slightest miscalculation would havo meant disaster. From the Waterfell (Alaska) to Seattle they fought st&rma all the way, flying more than 1000 miles in and out among the islands instead of the COO tn the direct air line. The flight across the Bearing Sea was also difficult.

Bussian Sympathisers with the Soviet Government, togother with American Cojmmunists, sought to give political significance to the trip concluded so successfully. ; M. Bterhgof, the navigator, predicted that within a few years there will be a regular air service between Moscow and New Sork, and, while he admitted the dangers of the route ■ followed, said he believed that they were not insuperable. "With all our talk," he said, "long-distance flying has hardly emerged from tho nursery stage, but, in view of the progress made and tho difficulties overcome, who can say that within a very short time Moscow to Seattilo by the North Pole route will not be a comparatively easy matter!'.? " " ' ■..■■'■