AIRMEN AT VARIANCE

Greymouth Evening Star, 11 July 1927, Page 5

AIRMEN AT VARIANCE

ATLANTIC FLIGHT PARTNERS “ASSOCIATION ENDED” (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) . (By Cable—Press Assn.—Copyright.) LONDON, July 8. Atlantic flights are very much in the air and out of the welter of projects there emerges deep French chagrin centred around the question: “What is wrong with French machines?” The French Press is extolling American, Italian ahd British flights, including Sir A. Cobham’s journey to Australia. The papers also assert: “We have got brave intrepid airmen, but where are out aeroplanes?” The newspapers ask should Nungesser and Coli have been allowed to go to their fate, and they point out that St. Romain was permitted, to embark on a totally unsuitable machine. Now the depression is heightened by the decision of France’s outstanding airman, Maurice Drouhin, to pilot Levine back to New York in “Miss Columbia.” Droughin has jettisoned a plan to fly a French plane across, and has accepted Levine’s invitation to pilot him. Herein rests an interestingstory. There have been rumours of a disagreement between Chamberlain and Levine. The former, on arriving at Croydon, took refuge in noncommittal phrases; “I want to go home by steamer. He (Levine) was to fly. I am going by steamer; he is going by air, so everything is all right.” Thus these two intrepid men part company, and Levine faces a new difficulty. He does not. speak a word of French and Drouhin cannot speak a word of English, The question arises how will they fare on their thirty-six hours’ flight across the Atlantic? Levine says that he is going to learn a few essential words of French, sufficient to enable them to understand each other.

In the background, it is reliably stated there lurks Chamberlain’s doubt as to the-practicability of bridging the Atlantic from this side. Chamberlain says: “We have accomplished what we set out for. It is unnecessary to take further chances.” Levine remarks: “Chamberlain may have his own reasons why he will not take “Miss Columbia” back to America. That is his business. We have, I suppose, ended our association, but that is no reason why we should not remain friends.” It is curious to note a difference between Chamberlain’s and Lindbergh’s reception. Only a few people gathered at Croydon to welcome “Miss Columbia,” which arrived with an escort ot two trans-Channel aeroplanes. It certainly is to be regretted that two intrepid aviators should close then journey with such a disagreement. ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION. PARIS, July 10. Byrd announces that a crew of thirty to forty will accompany him on the South Pole expedition, setting out by water from New Zealand. A second aeroplane will carry fifty sledge dogs with Eskimo masters.