17 SEPTEMBER 1927, Page 3

* * . The wreckage of one of the flying

machines that attempted to cross the Atlantic has been found after hope had steadily dwindled of their safety. The whole story of these flights is a sad tale of high adventurous spirit, but while it has thrilled warm-hearted people with admiration, it has aroused in cool, reasonable heads a demand for authoritative restrictions against rushing into unnecessary dangers. No one can say precisely where rashness becomes culpable, especially where the voluntary actor alone stands to suffer. Aristotle could only "shade off" the virtue of courage into the extremes of cowardice and foolhardiness. We have not forgotten this in attempting in a leading article to put before our readers our feelings on this question of the interference of authority with the free spirit of adventure.

* * * *