Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 171, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 July 1914 — WAY GROSS THE ATLANTIC [ARTICLE]

WAY GROSS THE ATLANTIC

Dutch Aviator Beem« to Hava the Right Idea In Project Ha Has in Mind. Between Brazil and Guinea the Atlantic ocean is only about 1,800 miles wide. From Newfoundland to Ireland, the narrowest breadth north of the equator, is nearly twice as far. From New York to the nearest point of France is nearly three times as far. Hitherto most schemes of aerial flight across the Atlantic have contemplated some northern route. That suggested by the authorities of the San Francisco exposition is by way of Labrador, Greenland and Iceland. It has remained for the Dutch aviator, Van der Born, to make the first preparation to cross the ocean from continent to continent without, stop, and «he proposes to take the southern route, where the Atlantic is narrowest. Van der Bom is now supervising the construction of a new type of hydroaeroplane. When it is complete he will go to the port of Konakey, in French Guinea, whence he promises to fly to Pernambuco, Brazil. The scheme is more plausible than any of the other discussed transoceanic flights. It is natural and sensible that the first crossing should be attempted at the narrowest place, even though the flight must be longer than any one of the stages of the Greenland route. There is, of course, the danger of tropical air currents, but these are not much more to be feared than the storms of sub-Arctic regions which are suggested for the northern route. -t—- 7 No one who has observed the progress of aviation doubts that before long the Atlantic will be crossed by some vAturesome flyer. There is no reason to maintain an attitude of scepticism toward the aviators of our own day, who have done so much in so brief a time, and who may do as much more within the next few years.