Flying at Large

Flying over continents and oceans keeps nations as busy and anxious as mothers whose children are at large in the neighbors fields, playing "sardines" or "Indians." Last week it was Spain's turn to look for missing flyers, Uruguay's to worry. Major Tadeo Larre-Borges and three comrades, the flower of Uruguay's few aviators, had left Casablanca, Spanish Morocco, for Cape Juby, 600 miles further down the West coast of Northern Africa, in a seaplane which they sought to fly across the Atlantic. But they had not turned up at Cape Juby. The Spanish government ordered a search.

A plane was sighted, wrecked on the North African sea dunes, 60 miles from Cape Juby. Then a native trotted in to civilization with a letter from Major Larre-Borges. Moorish tribesmen had taken him and his comrades and their possessions into camp, he said. There must be a ransom. Uruguay cabled its diplomats to spare no cost. Spain mustered a military rescue party. Semi-financial negotiations moved. Commercial planes flew out to pick up the castaways.

The gallant Major explained that a faulty oil pipe had caused his descent, in a rough sea, near the mouth of the Fatma River. Waves quickly smashed the plane. It was a hard mile swim to shore. Soon Moorish tribesmen swarmed over the wrecked plane, dug into the batteries for gold and silver, got nothing but a bad electric shock. From the aviators they took money and watches, cut the soles of their shoes for concealed gold. Later they marched the Major and his companions barefooted over the hot sands for many hours, hid them, in sacks on camels' backs while tribesmen shot at planes sent in search of the flyers. But now he felt fine. Soon he would try again to fly home from so gracious and hospitable Spain.

Uruguay also played flyers' host last week. The three surviving U. S. Army "Good Will" planes (TIME, March 7), flew in to Montevideo from Buenos Aires. Leaving the harbor soon after, the San Francisco failed to rise from the water, hit a rock. Damage was (slight and soon mended, though ; Lieut. Muir S. Fairchild broke a irib. Soon Rio de Janeiro turned out to welcome* the pilgrims to Brazil.

Major Sarmento Beires of Portugal filled his seaplane full of fuel last fortnight and started "around the world in 90 days."/-

Last week his second hop was to be across the South Atlantic, from Bolama, Portuguese Guinea, to Natal, Brazil (1,715 miles), not far out, he turned back landed on the island of Bissagos.

*"The midair collision of the New York and Detroit at Palomar, Argentine (TIME, March 7) with its two deaths, appeared to have softened South American hearts to the U. S. "good will" bearers, whose receptions, both in the press and officially, were, prior to that, cool if not downright unfriendly.

/-The record globe trot was made by Linton Wells, and Edward S. Evans in 1926. Their time was 28 days, 14 hours, 86 minutes and 5 seconds.