"Beat The Yanks!"

A huge Vickers Amphibian left the waters of the Calshot airdrome near Southampton for a flight of 25,000 miles 'round the world. Squadron Leader A. Stuart MacLaren, Flying Officer J. Prenderleigh and Sergeant Andrews had a telegram from the King, enthusiastic plaudits from the crowd, loud shouts of "Beat the Yanks!" to speed them on their way. As the amphibian soared above Southampton, a huge fleet of vessels of all descriptions, including several transatlantic liners, filled the air with shrill siren blasts.

To cry "Beat the Yanks!" makes no sense, of course. There is no race between the American and British airmen. Colonel L. E. Broome, advance agent of the British expedition, had indeed suggested a race. But General Patrick, U. S. Chief of Air Service, very wisely refused to accept the challenge. To speed the American flight would seriously strain the equipment and increase the hazard of our gallant officers.

In comparison with the extraordinarily careful preparations made by the U. S. the English expedition appears typically casual. They have one plane instead of four, only one or two officers sent ahead, scant Government help for what is purely a private venture. Still MacLaren is a very experienced pilot, his plans have been laid carefully in advance, he has the advantage of a plane which, with its retractible landing wheels, is just as much at home on water as on land.

The British plan to return on June 26. Lyons, Rome, Brindisi, Athens, Cairo, Karachai is their first lap. They will then go to Calcutta, across Burma to Hongkong and Tokyo, then across the Pacific to Vancouver, through Canada to Newfoundland, and then across the Atlantic to Lisbon, via the Azores, Paris, London. If all goes according to schedule, the two expeditions will cross each other's paths in Japan.