WORLD PEACE ASSURED
And thus it was that four lads from Brighton--the school which had
contributed so much in manly courage to the winning of the world
war--added new laurels to the name, not only by successfully carrying
out the first Transatlantic aerial flight for the accomplishment of
important governmental business, but by doing it upon a mission for the
whole of civilization and humanity.
For, when these lads awakened, after a deserved sleep of more than
twenty hours, it was to find the London newspapers laid out for them,
the head-lines telling the marvels of their accomplishment.
Japan was appeased. The work of the Peace Conference again took to
smooth channels. World confidence and world peace were again restored.
Small wonder that all civilization paid homage to the Brighton Boys who
had saved the situation!
But if there was tribute to the boys while abroad, it was small and
insignificant as compared with that which awaited them upon their
arrival home.
The officials at Washington decided that the lads had indeed earned a
rest from all nerve strain and fatigue, and so it was that they found
placed at their disposal, after a two-days' rest at Versailles, the best
facilities on one of the fastest Transatlantic liners.
They sailed from Liverpool three days later, but the news traveled long
ahead of them. On the boat they were lionized. Upon their arrival in New
York they were idolized.
They were treated as conquering heroes returning to their native land.
And indeed that is what they were. For they had conquered not only
almost every conceivable obstacle, including international intrigue, but
they had established the fact that American grit could master the air
and link the Old and the New Worlds in a quicker route than ever before
was known.