The Hawera Star TUESDAY, MAY 24, 1927. THE FLIGHT ACROSS THE ATLANTIC.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 24 May 1927, Page 4

The Hawera Star

TUESDAY, MAY 24, 1927. THE FLIGHT ACROSS THE ATLANTIC.

Delivered every evening by 5 o'clock in Hawera, Manaia, Normanby. Okaiawa. Ellham, Mangatoki, ■ Kaponga, AU-mi, Hurleyville, Patea. Waveriey. Mokoia, Whakamara. Ohangai, Meremere. Fraser Road and Ararata

A few months ago it was predicted that. • this would be a momentous year in the history of aviation, but in view of the achievements of airmen during the preceding year we were inclined to believe that there was little left for the flying men to do to astound a world which has had to much to amaze it during a limited period of time. Little was it thought that before the year was half completed we would be reading cabled accounts of a flight across the Atlantic by a young, unaccompanied and hitherto unknown member of the United States Flying Corps. Yet that is what has happened, and to-day all peoples, or at least -all of them who are served by cable news, are united in admiration of the wonderful feat of a young man who set off alone to take the big chance, pitting his skill, courage and endurance against all the forces of nature in a hazardous quest of fame and fortune. Lindbergh, who during the last day or two has been receiving the congratulations of the representatives of governments, who hasbeen feted in Paris and who has become “a front page story” in his native land, was, before he embarked upon what seemed the most foolhardy undertaking ever attempted by one man in an aeroplane, unknown so far as the world at large was concerned, and even in his own country he was only one of many daring young men who piloted flying machines. But during the thirty-three and a-half hours in which he disappeared from the ken of his follows he made new aviation history and proved that all the capabilities of the heavier-than-air machine, which had previously been considered to have achieved the “impossible,” were not yet known. But at present it is not so much what the accomplishment of the journey means to the future of aviation that has stirred the imagination of people of all nations as the nature of the feat itself when considered in the light of a human achievement. Lindbergh may have proved many things which the aviation experts have been anxious to learn, but lie has won the admiration of the world because lie has proved to commonplace people who walk on solid earth in pursuit of their [daily, uneventful lives that romance and the spirit of adventure are not dead. Though Lindbergh has gained the fame and will probably win the fortune that his effort so richly deserves, he lias done more than provide the world with a thrilling moment, for, as the French Minister of War said m offering his congratulations to the young aviator, his success has justified the efforts and the sacrifices of those men who went before him only to fail. “Some heroes succumb,” said M. Painlove, “others succeed afterwards; thus the former have not sacrificed themselves vainly.” But when the sliout-

ing ami the tumult dies it will be found that young Lindbergh has established an imperishable record of achievement for the science of aeronautics, in addition to a name as the first man to cross the Atlantic in a non-stop, un accompanied flight. By his success he has blazed the trail for many others, and has stimulated the flying men of all nations to offer their youth and skill in the never-ending task of conquering the forces of the air. But he, and those others like him who so blithely stake their all in their endeavour to give the world fresh knowledge in their chosen fields of exploration, do something, too, to hearten the commonplace people who may grow weary in the struggle to live their commonplace lives. It does not fall to the lot ,of many living under modern conditions to exercise the attributes which gain the admiration of men, but the world, despite, or, indeed, because of its new methods, is still producing men capable of rising to the greatest heights of selfsacrifice in the cause of progress, and those who look on can still experience a responsive glow of admiration for their deeds.