TRANSTASMAN FLIGHT.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 163, 12 July 1928, Page 10

TRANSTASMAN FLIGHT.

STARTING "AT ANY TIME NOW" LAHDDTG AT CHRISTCHURCH. AIRMEN'S REASONS FOR SECRECY. (By Telegraph.—Free* Association.) CHRISTCHURCH, Wednesday. The Christchurch manager of the Atlantic Union Oil Company, Mr. J. A. Philp, has received advice from the head office of the company at Wellington that | a private cablegram has been received from Squadron-Leader Kingsford Smith stating that the Southern Cross will leave Australia for New Zealand at any time now. The airmen intend to land at Christchurch. No definite advice has been received as to what hour the flyers intend to leave and land. It is presumed they will commence the flight as soon as the weather is favourable.

It is not through negligence that the time of the Southern Cross' departure is not known precisely. When speaking in Sydney at one of the inanv dinners given in the airmen's honour, Mr. C. T. Ulm said it could not be too strongly emphasised that they were convinced that the success of the flight across the Pacific was due to the fact that they were organised to meet any emergency that might arise. They absolutely refused to name a day when they would start ou the flight, as they did not want to be stampeded into making the attempt before they were properly prepared. Similarly, in the flight to New Zealand, they would not announce in advance the day on which that flight would be attempted. The people of Australia and New Zealand could, however, rest assured that the attempt would not be made until everything had been done that was possible to do in advance to ensure success.