Chamberlin & Levine

There is no doubt that Pilot Clarence Duncan Chamberlin and Passenger Charles A. Levine accomplished a heroic feat (TIME, June 13). Daring, they made a non-stop flight of 3,905 miles--the longest in history. Resolute, they reached Berlin after twice being forced to descend en route. Worthy, they were honored by President Paul von Hindenburg and the German people.

Yet, despite their courage, despite their achievement, certain critics, captious, unpraising, sought to undermine their standing as heroes. Passenger Levine was particularly subjected to ill-natured criticism. Glorious in itself, their flight was followed by a series of "incidents" regrettably interfering with true appreciation of their accomplishment. Prominent among such incidents were:

Unlucky. Among the first utterances of Passenger Levine, after landing in Germany, was a cablegram to the Hearst press: "Lindbergh was lucky and we were not. If we had had one-tenth of Lindbergh's luck, we would have done much better. The wind was against us 75% of the way. . . . Still, we flew for 44 hours, and covered 4,400 miles as against Lindbergh's 33 1/2 hours and 3,600 miles. But Lindbergh was lucky and we were not."

Coolidge's Congratulations. The Jewish Press was irate because President Coolidge ignored Passenger Levine in cabling congratulations to Pilot Chamberlin. Said The Day (Jewish daily published in Manhattan) : "At last we, too, are convinced of the great economy of our President. He is so parsimonious, he watches so closely the cash register of Uncle Sam that even the great sum of about 66c (the cost of cabling three words to Germany) is of importance to him. . . .

"Two men left New York; two men risked their lives; two men have shown heroism and created a record even greater than Lindbergh's. Two men left; two men arrived, Americans both. But the President of the United States congratulates only one, and by strange coincidence the one whom the President has not found worthy of being mentioned by name is named Levine. . . .

"Would Roosevelt have acted in this way? Would Wilson have done it, or, for that matter Alfred Smith if he happened to be in the White House? But why should we wonder? Was ever a man with a Jewish name honored and recognized during the last Administration?

"Sixty-six cents economy, or the recognition of an American pioneer--and the 66c win, or is it only because the pioneer happens to be called Levine?"

Cancelled Stamps. Postmaster General Harry S. New reprimanded Fred Sealy, Hempstead, L. I., postmaster, because he had cancelled air mail stamps on 250 letters which Passenger Levine carried across the Atlantic. Neither Levine nor Chamberlin had any right to carry U. S. mail. Furthermore, the cancellation and the trip to Europe increased the value of each stamp from a few cents to $50 to $1,000, according to varying estimates. Several dozen of the letters bearing these stamps were said to be addressed to Passenger Levine.

Said Hempstead Postmaster Sealy: "Gosh, I'm sorry I got into this mixup. I didn't know that there was any controversy between the Post Office and Mr. Levine.

"Gosh, I didn't mean any harm. I just felt patriotic and wanted to do a personal favor--that's all."

Said Charles C. Lockwood, counsel for Mr. Levine: "It was, and still is, our purpose to deliver all the cancelled stamps which we receive back to Brooklyn Institute of Arts and Sciences, for them to retain such stamps as they want and distribute the others to museums and historic institutions."

Passports. The flyers did not carry passports with them. Said Pilot Chamberlin: "I have no passport and I don't want one." Said Passenger Levine: "I doubt if anyone will trouble us over passports."*

French Reaction. The Berlin correspondent of the Paris Midi aroused Frenchmen with the following despatch: "The moment has come to direct attention to the strange attitude adopted by the aviators as well as by the diplomatic representatives of the U. S., since the landing in Berlin. They systematically keep French journalists and officials out of all manifestations, social or political, in honor of the pilots of the Columbia."

* Charles Augustus Lindbergh took along a passport.