For newspaper readers flying the Atlantic has eclipsed swimming the
Channel. Now that we have become accustomed to the Atlantic being flown from west to east, excitement has centred upon the first flight from east to west—a more difficult flight in normal conditions, as the prevailing winds are adverse. Mr. Levine, who had already come from west to east as a passenger in his own aeroplane, was apparently determined to make the first flight in the contrary direction. He engaged a well-known Frenchman, M. Drouhin, to act as his pilot and the start was to be made from Le Bourget. It seems that Mr. Levine became impatient of what he regarded as unnecessary delays, and on Monday he impulsively decided to release his aeroplane from French influences. Although he had only once before controlled an aeroplane he piloted himself from Le Bourget to Croy- don. His erratic attempts to land at Croydon apparently caused much more agony to the onlookers than to himself. By what Seemed a miracle, however, he landed unhurt. His next step was to engage Captain Hinchcliffc to pilot him to New York, but in the meantime Colonel Minchin, Captain Leslie Hamilton and Princess Lowenstein- Wertheim leapt off from Upavon on Wednesday morning to try to fly to Ottawa. We do not know the outcome of their venture when we write. Meanwhile Mr. Levine seeks new oceans to fly—any ocean so long as he is the first.
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