The little town of Kasumigaura (Lagoon in the Mist) where the Japanese navy has its principal aerodrome and aeronautical trai ing station was crowded with thousands on thousands of Japanese and foreigners this evening all strai ing their eyes and craning their' necks to catch a glimpse of the: American round-the-world aviators: who were due some time before dark.
Suddenly three specks appeared against the setting sun. A. loud shout from the assembled throng: greeted the sight. 'The specks grew bigger, took form, and three planes in triangular formation swept into) view. American and Japanese fags, by the thousands, were waved frantically by school' children, a detachment of blue-jackets stood at attention, the planes came nearer, the inmates waved greetings to the crowds waiting to do them honor. A few minutes Inter the landing was completed. Banzais rent the air, sailors threw their caps in much, the same fashion that school boys the world over do, people pressed forward to see the aviators, cameras clicked. The conquest of the Pacific by air was completed.
'A demure little Japanese lass, wearing a navy-blue serge skirt and sailor-fashion silk blouse, represent: ed the Governor of Ibarai Prefect~ ure in which is situated Kasumiaura and was amongst the first to welcome the intrepid American airmen to Japan. She tendered them a beautiful bouquet of chrysanthemums, the proudest of Japan's floral treasures. A pat on the head and thanks were uttered.
Airmen Worn Out, The airmen looked completely worn out. There" was not much enthusiasm visible in them. For weeks they had been battling with all the elements and some of these tat their worst, battling with them while death was often staring them in the face. For weeks they had no bath; for weeks they had lived tinned provisions; for weeks they had gone without a proper sleep; so that when Lieutenant Wade Smith jocosely told the little Japanese lady who, with her arms. laden with Mowers, bade the aviators welcome to the Land of the Rising Sun, that what they wanted more was'"a wash, a bite and a bed," he was more than merely joking.
The little village of Kasumigaurs, which depends for its existence on and Stars and Stripes. The entire population took a holi ay; people coming in from all holitions of the country, from the muddy paddies and' from the fashionable towns, swelled the tiny uage's population to an extent it has never yet had, not even when has Japanese acrodrome was first publicly opened after Colonel the. Master of Semphill, who instructed the Japanese in naval aviation, had completed the station, 1 all manner of ies in honor of the aviators come to the capital by motor to-morrow. They can not fy. ere because Tokio is within the fortified zones. of American destroyers ig the Japanese coust and between Nagasaki and The next lap on the Yoenlting fight will foe and from thence they will male 1a where the planes, ext week and the flying trio from eross the Pacific are expected to Teach Shanghai about the second week of June.
Despite the feeling over the exclusion bil, the press tenders. a rearm welcome to the American men "whose courage and persevere ance have evoked. the warmest ad-Iniration of the Japanese, for the Fapanese are a sporting people.
Newspaper Comment, Typical of the newspaper comment are the two following extracts from two different, journals "The ""Yomturt organ, says: We warmly congra-tulare the American aviators on the feat in be-they have achieveil fair, and the warmth of our congratulations is not in any way lessened by the courage and perseverance facing the rigors of the inhostable frigid zones through which they winged their way here. success shows how scientific Americans are and it also shows that the human faculty to govern natural force is steadily increasing. We pray that they will achieve final success and girdle the world."
The feat of the Americans is also regarded as a menace and as a les~ son to japan. One paper, after paying a tribute to the airmen, discusses Why Japanese are so backward in aviation and assigns the following reasons: (1) lack of skill in operation of airplanes; (2) technical defects inthe manufacture of planes; (3) the small budget appropriation. The military and naval authorities are urged to abridge other items of their huge budgets and to release more funds for aviation, and the Government is, urged to give technical men better pay and to guarantee them a good living. "The superiority shown by the foreign fliers," this paper remarks, "is a menace as well as a lesson and Japan should profit by it early as possible,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.