TRIBUTE TO AIRMEN

Te Aroha News, Volume XLI, Issue 6544, 15 November 1924, Page 5

TRIBUTE TO AIRMEN

• * ■ • >' •' ■ . , • V ? - ***"'""■ * O. AN OLD NATIONAL TRADITION •4 y? % • - - - -v The Portuguese airmen, ifajor Brito Pais, Major Sar&mentq de Beires and Lieut. Gouveia, who starting from Lisbon in' April; flew to Macao, in China, were gpests of members of the Portuguese* CJoldny in London at a dinner held at, the Trocadero Restaurant. The gathering was organised by the Portuguese Chamber of'Conimercfif The 'Portuguese Ambassador The three airmen were given an enthusiastic reception, and /each was. presented^-with a silver vase. Mr S. I. de Lears, president of the Portuguese Chamber .of Commerce, 'prop©toast pf “Our Guests,”, said they-were illustrious' airmen and' had performed a mggomcent feat in flying from Lisbon jtb Macao, a distance of 11,000 miles, in 118 hours. It was a hard test that once more illustrated the old spirit for quest and endurance, and was worthy .of the traditions of the Portuguese navigators fox; centuries past, (pheers.) The Portuguese Ambassador proposed “The Portuguese Airmen,” and said the bold flight they Were commemorating had shown the great possibilities of journeys through different climates at the', greatest speed. He congratulated their guests on their splendid achievement. Major Brito Pais, replying, said that the gathering afforded him an opportunity of expressing their appreciation of the assistance given them by the English'authorities in India and • Egypt. He would like, also, to refer to the splendid attempt recently, made by the English aviators to fly round the world. They contended successfully with many obstacles)' and they had won the admirati'op of .the world.