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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (May 19, 1919)
k.EE WANT ADS WILL HELP YOU TO THE JOBTfdU SEEK OR TO THE MAN FOR THE JOB. R I E F RIG H T REE ZY THE WEATHER: , Partly cloudy Monday, possibly showers in southeast portion; Tuesday showers. V Hourly Temprturra: 5 a. m.. 36 at. m.. ........ SS 1 It. m. ..61 ,.M .. ..JO .. Omaha Daily Bee THE v . p. m... 3 p. Bl... 4 n. m... 5 p.m., . 6 p. m.. . 1 p. ... $ p. m... 1 a. m..A M ' I a. ni..... 6 A a. m .. . . M 10 a. m. M 11 a. ni 63 1 m ..84 BITS OF NEWS IT ( MILK DRIVERS' STRIKE SETTLED; PRICE GOES UP. 'Chicago,- May 18. The milk wagon drivers strike was settled Friday by federal ' mediation. v The . drivers were granted their demands, an increase of $9 per week, and the milk distributors will be permitted to increase, the price of milk from 13 to 14 cents. , ' ..Fred L.s Prick.' federal commis , sioner of the department .of labor, who interceded in the strike and . brought about the agreement, issued a statement, in which he said: "The government felt the situa tion so precarious to the people of - the city and to other cities that dif ferences should be settled imme diately, with concessions from both sides. . ; - " MAY DRAW, PA YK ALTHOUGH DENIED SEAT IN HOUSE. Washington, May 18. Though de- nied a seat In the house, Victor Ber ' ' ger may draw pay as a congressman for several months.; This possibil ity loomed up when it was suggest ed by some of the leaders in the . house that the committee to which Berger'a case will be referred may decide to await the result of his ap ; peal before making its report. The socialist representative-elect from the Fifth Wisconsin district haj an appeal from his conviction of violating the espionage act pending before the federal court of appeals. If the decision there is against him, he is certain to take his case up to the supreme court of the United States. .. ' ..: PADEREWSKI TENDERS . RESIGNATION AS PREMIER. Warsaw, May 18. Ignace Pader ewski tendered his resignation as Polish premier as the result of the grave political cfisis which has . arisen, here. The Polish diet has refused to accept it. The famous pianists' request to be - relieved of his office came after the diet had refused to support his pledge to the allies to stop the Polish offensive, the diet leaders, all . of whom are violently anti-German, insisting -that the offensive be pushed with the greatest energy. War Minister Pildurski supports . Paderewski's sand and has coun termanded the order for a Polish attack in Galicia. WOMEN LOSE JOBS AS CONDUCTORETTES. New Y6rk, May1 18. The con ductorettein New York is doomed. The Brooklyn Rapid Transit com pany discharged 22 of them. The reason for the company's action is given as the law recently ' passed by the state legislature pro hibiting women from working be tween the hours of 10 p. m. and 7 a. m. Because of the shift systejn, the transit lines say they will be un able to retain trie women. -, Officials of the Manhattan Trans- portation lines announced tl.ey are preparing . to oust 2,000 or 3,000 women in their employ, and that men will he called uporr to take the places of the conductorettes and V women ticket agents. GERMAN WAR LOSSES ARE GIVEN AS 6,873,410 MEN. Paris, Saturday, May 18. German war losses up to April 30, last, were 2,050,460 dead, - 4,207,028 wounded s and 615,922 prisoners, a total of 6.873,410, according to figures pub lished in Berlin. , MOST COSMOPOLITAN - DIVISION IS IN NEW YORK. ''New York, May 18. Units of the 82d, or All-American, division arrived today from France on the steamships Noordam, Walter A. Luckenbach and Antonio ''Lopez. The military passenger lists totalled - 5,536 officers and men. The most cosmopolitan regiment that has returned from France, hay ing in itsrank nearly all nationali ties, including three Chinese and an Eskimo, returned on the steamship "Walter A. Luckenbach.. This was the. 327th infantry,-composed of 28 - officers and 2,465 men. WOULD DEPORT REDS ON SHIP OJ STONE. New York, May 18. Every bol . shevist and radical in the United States should be daoorted on a "shin of stone, with sails of lead. , the wrath of God for a gale, and hell for the nearest port," the Rev. Dr. John Wesley Hill, chancellor of Lincoln Memorial university, Cum 4y. berlaml Gap, Tenn , declared in an address here tonight. - - Speaking at a pro-American rally . under th$, auspices of the American Defense society, Dr. Hill urged that " there be no hesitation in dealing with radicals .who oppose the Amer ican governmental system. Former Ambassador 1 '. to Turkey Predicts -Another Great Combat Coblenz, May 18. Henry Mor genthau, former American ambassa- . "; dor to Turkey, addressing an as serably of soldiers . here, predicted that the United States would again .be involved in war -within 15 or 20 years. ' "Do not go home and tell the peo- v pie the war is over," he said. "We have got to prepare for a greater conflict, a greater sacrifice, a great er responsibility. -The younger man 7 of America may yet have to fight" The representatives of the coun v tries of -the world came to Paris, he , continued, with fixed and conflict-; ing demands, and consequently sey eral nations had been disappointed -because their representatives did t not get Everything they expected. It was because of this general feeling of discontent, Hr. Morgen thau said, that he was led to believe that war was not of the past Car Service Resumed. ' Pittsburgh. Pa., May 18. Pitts burgh's street car service was re ' sumed tonight after hating been tied : up since midnight Wednesday, v Striking members of the carmen's . union agreed to return to work at once. and submit their demands to Hat war labor board. VOL. 48 NO .287. CONGRESS ALL READY TO START SESSION Republicans Propose Election of Cummins as President, Pro Tempore; Prepare Wil sWs Message for Delivery. ' N - ' Washington, May 18. Attention of America and of the world is turned upon the new congress the 66th in American history which is to convene at noon tomorrow in extraordinary session called by President Wilson from Paris. All was in readiness tonight for the inauguration of the special ses sion, which is expected to open a new and important chapter in American and world history, with its long program of aetion, includ ing consideration of the. peace treaty, the proposed treaty for the military protection of France and of vital questions of domestic con cern. The opening day will be taken up with, routine business, including orjanlzation of senate and house by the 'republicans, who supplant the democrats in control for the first time in eight years. President Wilson's message, cabled from Paris, was being pre pared tonight ror submission to the congress, but is not schedukJ for delivery tomorrow, v , Cummins For President Organization to- ...ow by the re publicans proposes election of Senator Cummins of'Iowa, as presi dent por tempore of the senate and of Representative Gillett of Massa chusetts as speaker.-The republicans have a majority of two in the senate and of about 40 in the house. House committees will be organized to morrow, preparatory to beginning work immediately, but senate com mittee organization will be de ferred. s - Work of congress throughout the session will be entwined with prep arations for the 1920 presidential campaign. -Congress expects to turn its at tention immediately to the seven regular appropriation bills, includ ing the large army and navy -measures, which died in the republican filibuster last March. Passage of these bills will be followed by con sideration of revenue, railroad, ship ping, woman suffrage, prohibition and other legislation. The peace treaty is expected to be submitted next month by Presi dent Wilson in person. Ratification of the treaty, including the league of nations, promises to develop into one of the most dramatic and hard fought contests in congressional history. Plan Investigations. Numerous investigations are planned by the republicans, princi pally into administrative acts dur ing the war. Many' committees, it is expected, soon will be busy delv ing into affairs of popular interest. 1 Tomorrow's program, as outlined tonight, contemplated organization of both branches by the republicans. No hitch in the house program was "In prospect, but senate democrats were considering objections to the republican organization plans, with possible blocking of them, forthe day at least, because of cancellation by the republicans for "pairs" by ab sent members. Few leaders expect the session opening tomorrow to end before the regular. iJecemoer session, wnicn, u is believed, will continue until the national party conventions, and pos- SiDiy De resumed nnmeuiaiciy mcic after, to continue until the late fall of 1920. - D Democratic Chairman Charges Campaign of Slander on President ( - : New York, May 18. A campaign of slander "which is the very spume of oolitics.. has been reserved for America's leader in the hour of America's " greatest triumph," Ho mer S. Cumminjts. chairman of the democratic national committee, . de clared in an address "before the (Westchester, county democratic club. "I wonder," he continued, "what phrases of abuse, what language of vituperation would have agitated the oolitical atmosphere if the ores ident had led the country to the dis astrous conclusion of an unsuccess ful war. Every epithet of reproach has already been exhausted in an attempt to discredit him at a time when America's prestige was never greater, America's power never so vast and America's success never so transcendent. William G. McAdoo, another speaker, predicted that "efforts of the . republican leaders to discredit President Wilson's administration will result in ab disastrous defeat as they suffered in the last two na- vtioual campaigns (tart aa weoW-ttaM Pitt Mar It, 1 90. at Oaaha P. O. aa.r art at Marak S, , Ii73. Eddie Rickenbacker, Ace of Aces, is City's Guest Today : , n " : .' CAPT,. EDDIE - '"E(fclief "Kicfienba'clcer . "American ace of aces," and daredevil automo bile race driver,- who will ' be 'the guest of honor of Omaha" today, is enough ' of an Omaha boy to be claimed, at least in part, by this city. Before the war broke out, so tar THREATENS TO SHOOT HIS WIFE, BABYJIND SELF Man Tries vto Escape With Child in Motorcycle and Fires Shots at Pur suing Detectives. - Holding a revolver to his 3-months-old baby's head and threat ening to blow out her brains if an attempt be made to arrest him, James Rybin, insurance, man, 4715 South Twentieth street, held five detectives at bay Sunday afternoon. The detectives had . gone to Rybin's home to arrest him . after he had at the point of a gun taken the baby from its mothers arms at Fifteenth and William streets, fired several shots into the air and fled on a waiting motorcycle." Rybin was finally arrested and charged with threatening to kill.. Separated Six Months. -Rybin had been separate from his wife for six months. Two months ago he was arrested on the South Side for nonpayment of ali mony. Yesterday afternoon, at the home of his sister-in-law, Miss Katherine Nelson, 1247 South Fif teenth street, he is said to have- quarreled with his wife over the custody of the child. He left the house, and several minutes later when he saw his wife with the baby in her arms at Fifteenth and Wil liam streets, Rybin, pointed a gun at her, commanding her to hand over the baby. The wife screamed and Rybin fired once in the air. He ran a block east with the baby and jumped into the side car of a mo torcycle which he had hired. ;, Speeds Away in Cycle. , The driver of the machine, whose name has not been learned, drove Rybin to Twentieth and Missouri avenue. Sergt. Thomas Baughman, Detec tives Hayes, Palmtag and Herdzina from the central station, and Cap tain Briggs, South Side, made an emergency call to the Rybin home. Rybin saw them. With the babe in his arms, he ran to the rear, of his home, firing two shots into the air. Then pressing the gun to the baby's head, defied the 'police: "Come a step farther, and I'll ' kill it and everyone of you." Detectives stood their pac.e and talked him into putting the gun away. Rybin backed into the house and liid the gun" on a buffet. The detectives followed and arrested OMAHA, MONDAY, , MAY 19, 1919. n t RICKENBACKER. as, America .was'-concerned, Ricken backer was a cracking good driver of A racing car.i He had burned up 'most .of the race tracks in the coun try and had finished first more times than he was listed among the "also rans." ' He met such expert drivers as (Continued on Page Two, Column Five.) BOY KILLED BY CAR IN FALL ON WET PAVEMENT i According to Witnesses John Williams Fell Directly Un der Wheels of Harry Heyman's Auto. " John M. Williams, the 16-year-old son of Manley J. Williams, 3420 Lincoln boulevard, president of the Williams printing company, was killed Sunday evening 'at Thirty third and Cuming streets when he was run over by an automobile driv en by Harry Heyman, 3330 Califor nia street. The wheels of the car passed over Williams neck, witnesses-said. The lad was killed almost instant ly. He was dressed in a Boy Scout unitorm. ihe body was taken to N. P. Swanson & Co. at the order of the county attorney. Heyman was arrested and held at Central station, pending an investigation of the acci dent. ' According to Heyman, the lad slipped on the wet pavement and slid under the automobile. "I was driving north on Thirty third street," said Heyman. "I stopped to let a car pass Thirty third street, going east. When I started across Cuming street a Har ney car south bound also started to cross The boy ran east'on Cuming street from behind the Harney street car,, and when he tried to stop on seeing my machine his feet slipped on the wet pavement and he slid feet first into the path of my car. I was not going more than nine miles an hour at the time." Witnesses substantiate Heyman's story. Young Williams was returning from a hike with the Boy Scouts of which he was a member, to Child's Point. He is survived by four sis ters and -five brothers, Mrs. James O'Hanlon, Mrs. Albert Noe, Misses Margaret and Mary Williams, Arthur M. Williams, Cecil S. Will iams, of the First cavalry; Patrick H. Williams, recently second lieu tenant field artillery; J. Wesley, U. S. navy transport Oswego, now at sea, and Frank X. Williams, re cently in the air service. Publication of Peace s Terms to Br Postponed : t Paris, May 18. The Havas agen cy says it understands the Big Four has decided to postpone , for the present publication of the Jerms of the peace treaty, with Germany, RANTZAU WILL NOT RETURN TO CONGRESS Head of German Delegation Leaves Versailles; Will Re fuse to Return, Says Report Trom Spa. ' Versailles,. May 18. It is quite possible that Count Von Brock-dorff-Rantzau, head of the German peace delegation, who left here last night, will not return to conduct further negotiations at Versailles, according to reports received here today from Spa. - The views of the chief of the Ger man delegation and representatives sent from Berlin to consult with him differed so strongly ai to the further conduct of the negotiations, according to these reports, that Count von Brockdorff-Rantzgu re quested that he be replaced at Ver sailles. The special train which took the German party to Sp'a last night , is expected to arrive at Paris tomor row afternoon on its return trip. It will then be evident whether Count von Brockdorff-Rantzau has aban doned the mission or not. Paris, 'May 18. While Sunday morning newspapers accept the semi-official French version that Count von Brockdorff-Rantzau, head of the German peace delegation, has gone to Spa to meet financial ex perts from Berlin and will be back in Versailles Monday, the Journal says i,t would not be surprised to learn that the count will stay away longer and that his destination is beyond Spa. According to- the Havas agency, serious " disagreements have arisen among the "German 'delegates. A' majority are said to be violently op posed to .ignijig the treaty, while Count von Brockdorff-Rantzau and the minority see no way out but to sign The departure of the count is said to be in connection with the disagreements. Must Sign Treaty. Versailles, May 18. A member of the German delegation with the rank of councillor of legation, who re turned here recently from Berlin, made this declaration today con cerning the peace treaty:' "We will sign despite all, because we 'will be hacked to pieces if we return to Berlin without signing." Makes Stay Brief. Paris, May 18. (By the Associated Press.) The head of the German peace delegation, Count von Brock- (Contlnued on Page Two, Column Seven.) Woman Runs Down Lad Making Away With a Bike He Had Stolen Mrs. Lois E. Ringle, 1006 South Thirty-eighth avenue, acted unwit tingly as a minion of the law Sun day afternapn when with her auto mobile she actually and figuratively ran down Vernon Baker, 13-year-old colored lad, mounted on a bicycle, at Twenty-fourth and Lake streets. Baker, according to the police, had just stolen the bicycle he was rid ing. When Mrs. Ringle hurried to. Baker's side to see if he had been injured, Lloyd Henry, 14, panted up to her side, exclaiming, "Gee, that's my wheel did you bust it much?" Henry explained that he saw Ba ker stealing his bicycle and took after the fleeing cyclist on foot Mrs. Ringle cut the pursuit short. L Baker suffered only minor bruises. He was turned over to juvenile au thorities. Lloyd Henry lives at 2308 Douglas street. 400 Greeks and Turks Killed in Fighting at Smyrna Thursday Constantinople, May , 18. In the fighting which took place after the landing of Greek troops at Smyrna Thursday 300 Turks and .100 Greeks were killed. Paris. May 18. A political crisis has arisen in Constantinople sinceN the debarkation-ot Greek and allied forces at Smyrna, the Journal says. The Turkish grand vizier, or prime minister, is saia to have resigned. Mrs. Jefferis to Remain in ' Omaha Until Schools Close Washington', May 18. (Special Telegram.) Representative Jefferis, who is located at the Burlington hotel, said that Mrs. Jefferis would not come to Washington until after the closing of the schools in Omaha. He believed he would like congres sional work and he. esteemed it a great honor to be a member of a gislative body, whose responsibil ities were so great and the possibili ties so big to do something worth whileloog constructive lines, . , Dally and Sun., M.50: ftald Nab. By Mall (I yaart, Oally. 14.50; PEGGY'S PARTNER IS ARRESTED ON FEDERAL CHARGE ,"" : . Man Alleged to Have Tried to Sell Chrisman Worthless Stocks Nabbed at Louisville. Geprge L. Chrisman, whose name recently filled the columns of the Omaha press in connection with his. sensational suit against Marguerite Gilch'rest "Peggy" Sellers, last night returned from Louisville, Ky., where he caused the arrest by federat au thorities of F. L. Harris, alleged to be the master- mind that - directed the machinations of "Peggy" in at tempting to unload leases of worth less oil stocks on him. A' Louisville dispatch to Ine Bee states that Har ris has been taken into custody for the alleged misuse of the United States mails to defraud Chrisman. Harris was once the editor of The Oil and' Mineral Jaurnal, and, ac cording, to Chrisman, general pro moler of "bottomless oil companies" at Billings and other places in the west, before he went to Kentucky to work the same game there. ' It is understood that Chrisman has furnished agents of the department of justice with a large amount. of information against Harris. , h , Harris Mentioned During Trial. The name of F. L. Harris figured prominently during the recent sen sational trial between George C. Chrisman and Marguerite -Gilchrist "Peggy" Sellers, before Judge Holmes in municipal court. Peggy, in her testimony, impli cated Harris in - an alleged frame up to inveigle Chrisman to invest in Kentucky lands of doubtful value. Chrisman during the trial testified that he was going to start legal ac tion against Harris; that he be lieved Peggy was honest, but that she had been imposed upon. - Peggy testified that Harris and C. W. Green had been associated in business at Billings and that she had worked for Harris in connection with the publication of the "Oil and (Continued on Page Two, ' Column Four.) Col. Edwards Here to Confer With Ringer -. on Commissioner Job Lt. Col. James F. Edwards, "cftief surgeon of Carrjp Mills, Long Island, arrived here yesterday from Camp Dodge to confer with Police Com missioner Ringer with reference to the position of health commissioner now held by Dr. E. T. Manning, who has resigned. "I was impressed with Dr. Ed wards, who will meet the city com missioners this morning," said Mr. Ringer. "I am not ready to say whether I will recommend Dr. Ed wards; We discussed public health matters, and I obtained a general idea of his experience. I have re ceived ome splendid recommenda tions of his ability." The Camp Mills surgeon brought a contingent of disabled soldiers from the east to Camp Dodge. He expects to be released from service next month. Dr. Manning has agreed to remain as health commis sioner until his successor shall have been appointed. Richardson Badly Hurt When Auto Hits , Him; It. Fails" to Stop Charlie Richardson, 38 years old, 708 South Sixteenth street, was seriously injured at 10 o'clock last night when he was struck by a speeding Ford Sedan at Twenty fourth and- Marcy streets. The driver of the automobie did not stop. Richardson was taken to the Lord Lister hospital. His condition is (serious. He suffered broken ribs' and internal injuries." Blanche Olson,, a witness of the accident, said Richardson's body was thrown onto the radiator of the car and carried 100 feet before the driver made .a sharp turn, throwing him unconscious into the gutter. H. P. Brannon, 4304 South Twenty-second street carried Rich ardson into a nearby . house, - "The car was going at a high rate of speed," said Brannon. ,"I did not have time to notice the number or even the make of the car." Capt. Eric Johnson, Civil War Veteran, Dies at 81 Eric Johnson, captain of the Fifty-seventh Illinois volunteers during the. civil war, died last night after a short 'Illness at the age of 81 ' years, at .his ' home, ' 1039 Park avenue. Captain Johnson ' is sur vived by his wife, Mrs. Georgia T. Johnson and " three children, A. T. Johnson of Hot Springs S. D., E. G. Johnson of Osceola, . Neb., and Miss Julia C Johnson of Omaha. Until recently he lived in Los An geles, Cal. May Not Appoint Usual Xumtar 0f Committees Washington, May 18. Notifica tion of President Wilson of the con vening of .congress next Monday was discussed at a conference today of republican leaders. Final de cision of the question raised by the president's absence abroad was left until, next Monday. It was said, howev.er, that, congressional leaders believe appointment of the usual senate and house committees of nptificatioA.umiecessary, -v. aoitM axlra. TWO PENTS Saaday. J2.S0: 1W jEtli3. HAWKER "HOPS OFF" IN ATTEMPT TO DEFEAT AMERICAN AVIATORS 9 Vast Force of Vessels Concen trating v Efforts .to Find NC-3; Heavy Sea Causes Apprehension. London, May 18. Lloyds' reports that the steamer Ionia, with the crew of the Amer'can seaplane NC-1 aboard, arrived at Horta Sunday and that the NC-1 sank 120 miles off the Island of Flores. Washington, May 18. Appre hension as to. the safety of Coin- Imander John H. Towers and his crew pf four men, -whoin the sea plane NC-3 have been lost at sea for more than 40 hours, had begun tonight to. displace the- feeling of confidence among naval officials that the transatlantic fliers soon would b found by searching vessels. No word had been received from the NC-3 since 5:15 o'clock yester day morning, when Commander Towers reported that' his plane, the flagship of the squadron, was off her course, some 300 miles from the Island of Fayal, Azores. Dis patches "from Rear Admiral Jack son, aboard the U. S. S. Melville at Ponta Delgada, Azores, tonight said a gale was sweeping the seas north west of the Azores and that high waves were running. Search For Plane. With the NC-4 at Horta ready for the next leg of the transatlantic flight and the crew of the NC-1 safely aboard the cruiser Columbia at Horta, the navy, with fts ,vast force of vessels, concentrated to aid in the transatlantic attempt, was bending its energies to the finding of the lost fliers. Two battleships, the Florida and Texas, and nearly a score of destroyers were scouring the sea over a wide area all day today and tonight. t The fog, which, it is supposed, forced - the NC-1 to the . open sea when, within a few miles of Corva headland, the objective, had been dissipated by strong west winds this morning, which increased to a gale by 9 a. m. and whipped up a! choppy sea, the most menacing condition possible for a seaplane riding the ocean's surface. Apprehension Increases. Messages received from Rear Ad miral Jackson late onight telling of the damage to the NC-1 caused by the heavy seas running at the time the plane was found served to increase apprehension felt for the safety of the crew of the NC-3. The lower planes of the NC-1 were bad ly damaged, one pontoon was en tirely carried away, the right wing was badly broken, the left wing ribs were damaged and the elevators were smashed. Naval vessels standing by in an effort to salvage the big boat re ported to the department the seas were running so high that it was impossible to save it at this time. It was pointed out that only good fortune could possibly save the NC-3 from even more serious dam age, since it is handicapped by the extra weight of its crew,. Weather Forecast Favorable. Uing .Corva island as an operat ing base, the screen of battleships and destroyers were sweeping west ward in a great semi-circle in an effort to catch sight of the NC-3 or pick up radio distress signals. The high winds and heavy seas prevail ing made the work of the rescue party most .difficult. x The main element of hope in the situation was the fact .that - the weather forecasts predict diminish ing winds and abated seas late in the night -a'nd Monday morning. It was thought that if Commander Towers' frail craft could success fully ride out the gale until morn ing, that the probability of rescue would be greatly increased. Each of -the' seaplanes carried sufficient food and water for six days when the squadron left Trepassey bay. Th members of the crew of NC-3, in addition to Commander Towers, are: Com. H. C. Richard son, Lt. D, N. McCullough. Lt. Com. R. A. Lavender and Machin ist L. R. Moore. Pick Up Crew.' Washington, , May 18. Rear Admiral Jackson, aboard the U. S. S. Melville, at - Ponta Delgada, Azores, cabled the Navy department tonight that the crew of the sea plane NC-1 was safe on board the cruiser Columbia at Hor'.a. Previous reports from Admiral Jackson had said the steamer Ionia was bringing Lieutenant Commander Bellinger, of the NC-1, and his crew to port. Ponta Delgada, May 18. The crew of the NC-1 was picked up last night 95 miles northwest of the Is land of Fayal by the Ionia, The NC-1 was found by the destroyer Harding 30 miles from the point where the crew abandoned it at 10 o'clock Sunday morning. -r The destroyer Harding reported that the right wing and one pontoon of the NC-1 were damaged and that a propeller had been broken. May Resume Flight. London, May 18. Meterological conditions favorable to a continua tion of the transatlantic flight of the American naval seaplane NC-4 from the Azores to Lisbon are re ported by the air ministry in an official statement issued Jtodayj j rr n n m-hu Australian Makes Eleventh hour Start N on Overseas Flight; Raynham Smashes Machine in Takeoff, j St. Johns, N. F.,' May 18. Harry G. Hawker, Australian aviator, and his navigator, Commander Macken zie Grieves, tonight are winging their way across the Atlantic on the most perilous airplane flight in his tory, in an eleventh hour effort to tvrest from American navy nilots - the honor of being the first to com plete a trans-Atlantic flight. The . Australian late today decided not to delay longen and started for the( Irish coast, despite weather condi tions, characterized as "not favor able, but possible." When Hawker's Sopwith plane disappeared from view it left behind the shattered hopes of his English, rival, Frederick P. Raynham', who, MrsHawker Confident . That Husband Will Win Mrs. rfenry Hawker, wife of the Australian aviator, said: "Our boys have had no help at all. Even the weather reports are unsatisfactory.- Still I believe we shall be first." in attempting to follow the Austra- lian with" his Martinsyde" plane, broke an axle on his machine. Rayn ham and his navigator, Charles W. F. Morgan, were not injured, but the plane was wrecked. - - Delayed. for Weeks. . Both Hawker and Raynham have . been here for weeks awaiting favor able weather to- start their flight for the $50,000 London Daily Mail prize, but day after day the start ' was postponed because of .unfavor able conditions on the Atlantic. To day, howevert with the news that the NC-4, the American ' navy sea plane, had reached the Azores on"-; the first leg of its trans-Atlantic attempt, Hawker decided to wait no longer, and quietly slipped away.' ' The hundreds of persons lining the shore thought he was merely ' . making a test-flight, but suddenly, he was observed to drop his land- ing gear, thus lightening th load, and only then were the spectator and Raynham aware that Hawker had decided to start his perilous flight, Hawker and Grieve toefc the air at 5:55 p. m. today, Greenwich time (1:55 p. m. New York time), and expect to reach the Irish .coast in , 20 hours, unless some accident " forces them to plunge into the sea. Attempts to Follow. When the Sopwith biplane passed from view beyond the hills to the -northeast, headed for the open sea, -Raynham was tuning up the engine of his machine. Raynham and his' navigator, Charles W. F. Morgan,' . instantly determined to follow him,.. for all their preparations- had been made weeks ago. As the Martinsyde "taxied" along the uneaven -surface of the runway, preparatory to ftie take-off, a rear" axle broke under its heavy load and . i the' machine ploughed into the ground. Pilot ind navigator, were jammed in the wreckage, but ap-. . parently neither .was" seriously hurt. . , The 20-hour journey planned by Hawker would land him on the Irish coast at about 1:55 p. m., , Greenwich time, tomorrow (9:55 a.. m. New York time). He is flying straight1 for Ireland, winging his way regardless of shipping lanes. Hawker got away in a lurching 300-yard run, bumping hazardously over the uneaven fields The little ' plane careened and rocked reck lessly until a hummock lifted it and its wings "took the air" for a low, swinging start Hawker was. at the control. , ' Flying straight, the little plane -faded rapidly from view. In six. minutes it was out of sight beyond the- hills. . ; , - Hawker and his navigator gravely t considered the hazards of the ' at- , tempt, and decided to 'stake every- ' thing on an effort to "beat the ; Americans." - I ' - Decide to Start. '' Overnight reports to the meteoro logical station here showed .in creased atmospheric pressures, ' smoother seas and fair barometer conditions. Although winds and pressures were not all they hoped for, Hawker and Grieve decided to start. It was 5 o'clock in the afternoon -Greenwich time, when Hawker or', dered his Sopwith plane out of itt hangar for a ground and wind test. He tried out the Sopwith for a min- ' ute or two and called conditions for a start "good enough." Grieve fc agreed. The plane then , was given a final inspection. At 5:55 p. m.v Hawker gave the word and the ground crew "let go." -The little plane jerked forward, " -moved steadily oVer the uneven ground and with a last lurch "took, the air." . - Hawker and Grieve are flying v over a course all their own, figured out last night and this morning with ' the one object in mind of "how to " head off the Americans." . Early today they hurried to the office of the Royal air force meteorologists. Finding conditions improved a lit- y .(OofttillUNd rw Xxh Criuu Jta v. 4