ALLEGATION DENIED

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 49, Issue 198, 7 June 1929, Page 6

ALLEGATION DENIED

THE SOUTHERN CROSS LANDING

"NOT EVEN AS A JOKE." (United Press Association—Copyright.) SYDNEY, June 0. The inquiry into the "forced" landings of the aeroplanes, Southern Cross and Kookaburra, was continued to-day before Brigadier-General Wilson, Mr C. N. McKay, and Captain Godfrey

Hughes. Flight-Lieutenant Charles Ulm was recalled and questioned about the allegation made by James Portus yesterday that he had once suggested getting lost in Central Australia as a means Of focusing attention on some proposed fljeht. Ulm said he had never at any time suggested to Tortus that he should undertake a flight round Australia and get lost for publicity purposes'. Such a statement was not even made as a joke. He added that when the flight round Australia was* mentioned a couple of years Portus was always putting him off,, and was unable to say definitely whether the Shell Company would stand behind such a venture. In other words, I did not trust lnm,« said Ulm who stated that he then approached another company, this time successfully. . . Ulm, ia accordance with his promise made earlier at the inquiry, submitted a number of proposals for the better control of long distance exploratory flights, the chief of which was that honorarv advisers should be ••appointed to assist aviators of this type. "William Sutherland, of the Vacuum Oil Co., related a conversation he had with Flight-Lieut. Keith Anderson before the latter began his search. Witness asked Anderson where he thought the Southern Cross had oome down. Anderson marred on a six feet size map in. witness's office a spot which had proved to be approximately within a few hundred vards of where the Southern Cross was actually found. "Witness also -marked a spot which proved to be. 120 miles wrong. A third partv pin-pointed a spot nearer Darwin. Witness undertook to produce this map. . „ ~ Ulm recalled, said the spot allegedly marked or indicated by Anderson was at least 100 miles from where they were forced down. Squadron-Leader Kmgsford Smith, in evidence said he had no recollection of a conversation in Cantor's Hotel in which Ulm suggested to Portus that he and Ulm should lose themselves in Central Australia. ' Wing- Commander Wackett gave the committee many suggestions about the type of radio gear needed for long distance aviators. He produced a set carried in a haversack which had been in touch with Auckland. Norman Paul, a former resident ot Port George Mission, read letters received from the Rev. George Baird, ot the Mission, in which the writer described the country between the Mission and where he found the crew ot the Southern Cross in a starving condition. Mr Baird walked both wavs. Leaving the Mission at 9 a.m., he reac-hecf the marooned men at 3.30 p.m. He described the aviators as fools to undertake a flight over that territory during the rainy season, with the countrvside ail swamp, mud, and blue grass eight feet high in the vicinity Sf the Mission. « The taking of evidence has closed, and counsel are addressing the committee. The sitting has adjourned. A report will be ready in a few days.— Australian Press Association.