AIRMEN’S RIVALRY

Greymouth Evening Star, 14 May 1927, Page 6

AIRMEN’S RIVALRY

U.S.A. TO FRANCE FLIGHT

THREE MACHINES TO RACE

(Australian &. N.Z. Cable Assn.) (By Cable—Press Assn.—Copyright.)

NEW YORK, May 12. With the first report of favourable weather, it is expected that three planes now at Curtis, Roosevelt fields, will race from New York to Paris simultaneously. The fate of Captain Nungesser and Coli has acted as a stimulus rather than as a deterrent to the aviators, who are now highly nervous lest one of their number should take off first. Chamberlain and Bertrand are ready to' fly to-morrow. Linbergh arrived to-night from St. Louis, after having established a record non-stop flight for a line pilot. He averaged 2.23 miles per minute. He looms as a dangerous rival. Byrd, in a Fokker plane, arrived at nearly the same time. The three camps are closely guarded. Mechanicians are working feverishly to tune the planes to the highest pitch of efficiency.

LATER—

Chamberlain and Bertrand have postponed their flight till Saturday morning owing to the news of squally weather in the North Atlantic.

AN EARLY START

NEW YORK, May 13

There are indications that two of the three planes planning non-stop flights to Paris, will start on Saturday, in lhe race for the first to cross. Chamberlain and Bertaud, in a Bellanca. plane, await favourable weather. Charles Lindberth, in a singleseater monoplane, intends starting on Saturday. Commander Byrd awaits to learn the fate of Nungesser before attempting the flight in a Fokker.

NUNGESSER’S PLANE?

ST. JOHN’S, May 12

Five more residents at Harbour Grace (Newfoundland) said that they heard an aeroplane on Monday morning, according to a statement received on Thursday evening from Magistrate Casey.

The Halifax Herald’s correspondent at Freeport, Nova Scotia, reported on Thursday evening that fishermen of that district had briefly glimpsed an aeroplane heading west across the mouth of the Bay of Fundy on Mon 7 day morning.

REWARD OFFERED

WASHINGTON, May 13

The Navy Department is considering the feasibility of sending the dirigible Los Angeles to the North Coast of Labrador to search for Nungesser Naval hydrographers believe that if the fliers are alive they.are probably in Labrador.

Raymond Orteig/, sponsor of the ■New York-Paris flight, cabled from Paris offering a reward of five thousand dollars to any aviator discovering the fate of Nungesser and Coli.

The Newfoundland Government is sending a ship to search Placentia Bay.

EXPERTS OPTIMISTIC

MR. COOLIDGE’S MESSAGE

WASHINGTON, May 13

Lieuts. Ramsay and Kincaid, naval hydrographic experts, who have carefully studied the weather conditions, presented a. report to Mr. AAilbur, evolving- the theory that Nungesser and Coli may have turned over Labrador, and are safe. The theory is based on the assumption that engine trouble interrupted the flight. The weather report shows that they would have struck the storm centre moving northvd across the course and might have been blown from the course or turned North purposely to avoid the storm, which turn would have carried then over Labrador. Investigations disclosed that the wind conditions along the route were the best that could be hoped for, but if they descended in Labrador, it might .be months before they reached civilisation.

Raymond Orteig, of New York, is the donor of* the 25,000 dollars prize for the Atlantic flight. Orteig’s attorney advised the Commerce Department that the reward for discovery of the airmen’s fate has been placed in a New York bank. Should a dispute arise, the contest committee of the National Aeronautic Association will decide.

President Coolidge sent a message of sympathy to M. Doumergue, reading in part: “I desire to extend to you and the people of France, the expression of deep personal sympathy which I assure you is shared by all Americans at this time of anxiety, over the fate of Nungesser and Coll. Their splendid courage touched the imagination of America. There is everywhere the most earnest hope that they may still be found.”

POLISH OFFICIAL KILLED

WARSAW, May 12

The Deputy Chief of the Polish Air Force, Lieut.-Colonel Polowsky, was flying over the city when a gust of wind overturned his machine, which crashed on to a hotel roof, and then fell into tatters in the street. Colonel Polowsky was fatally crushed.