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Show ROYAL WELCOME TOJTOORS Rear Admiral With Entire Staff Congratulates Read and Companions on Their Return. NEW YORK, June 27 An official welcome home such as previously had been accorded only to returning cabinet cabi-net members awaited Lieutenant Commander Com-mander Albert C. Read, who commanded com-manded the first aircraft to cross the Atlantic ocean, and his associates. Commander John H. Towers and Lieu teanl Commander P. N. L Bellinger, when they stepped ashore today from the army transport Zeppelin Rear Admiral James H. Glennon. commanding the Third naal district, was at the pier with his entire staff, to extend an official welcome to the aviators and the crews on behalf of the secretary of the navy. He congratulated congrat-ulated them on their achievement which he said "added to the glorious luster of the American nay" The men were hustled in automobiles automo-biles to the office of Brigadier General IMcManus where their wives and members mem-bers of Iheir families were awaiting them Both the officers and enlisted men were modest in replying to tnc con gratulations showered upon them. Commander Read expressed his appre-cial appre-cial Ion of ihe p i ept Ion. "We are glad io be home," ho said "We went over on a seaplane and came back on a Zeppelin." Were Magnificently Treated Aboard. "They certainly treated us magnificently magnifi-cently on the other side," ho continued, contin-ued, "and the British people gave us a royal reception. Judging by the reception re-ception e idenced here today, however, I am beginning to think that it has onlv just commenced. "There is only one thing I regret regarding the entire affair and that was that the undertaking was not a complete success in that all three planes instead of the one did not complete com-plete the journey." Commander Towers and Bellinger, whose machines came to grief near the Azores, were equally reticent regarding regard-ing the flight and evidently were quite willing that Commander Read should receive the lion's share of honors. Pier a Mass of Flags. The pier where the Zeppelin docked was a mass of flags and bunting. As the Zeppelin steamed into view through the mist escorted by a score of small naval craft, whistles blended into a deafening roar of welcome. Among those on the dock was E. C. Howard, formerly mechanic of the NC-4. who was prevented from making the flight by an accident which cost him one of his hands a few days before be-fore the departure from Rockaway Beach. Outside the fence which encloses the dock a great crowd had gathered and as ihe airnfeh made iheir appear ance,sH mjghly cheer was given them. Hundreds of telegrams of congratulations congratula-tions were awaiting them. A detailed report of the flight has been prepared which will be presented to Ihe nav department. Before the go to Washington, the flyers will be i guests of honor at dinners to be given here by the Aero Club of America, and the American Flying club. |