DIRE STRAITS.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 90, 17 April 1929, Page 7

DIRE STRAITS.

AIRMEN'S PLIGHT.

Effect Of Adventure On Smith

And His Men.

"INSANE WITH EXCITEMENT."

(Australian and X.Z. Tress Association.)

(By Flight-Lieutenant <*'. T. P. Vim. — " Sydney Sun " Copyright.) SYDNEY, April 1(3. In a further dispatch from the mud flat near the Cilenelg River, Western Australia, where tlie crew of the Southern Cross and their machine are stranded, Flight-Lieutenant C. T. P. Ului says:— The hour when the Canberra flew over the 'Cafe Iioyal" was one of the most memorable in our lives, for, without exaggeration, we were just on the point of complete starvation and utterly exhausted.

Tho spring tides had covered the mud fh-.ts to the south, completely cutting off our main food supply —mud snails. The few adjacent waterholes in the foothills were dried up, and we were far too weak to climb to our best water supply halfway up "Darlinghurst Hill." Even that was fast drying up.

A painful death l>v starvation and thirst was not more than three #r four days away. It can be realised, in view of the condition we were in, and the awful I' 2 days we had been through, that we were literally almost insane with excitement on that memorable Friday morning. To me several outstanding features of this experience are left. Firstly, the knowledge of how much abuse the human frame will stand up to without breaking down altogether. And here I pay a tribute to my comrades for their wonderful efforts. None of us is by any means physically perfect. Three of us normally weigh about 101 stone each, yet at the end of the 12 days of almost total starvation, one of us —Litchfield—is still capable of hard physical work under the most trying conditions. But even he could not have lasted more than another two days. Smithy, the smallest in stature and the lightest of all of us, caved in only on the night of the eleventh day. Prior to that he certainly worked the most strenuously of all. His energy was truly astounding. McWilliam and I are practically on a level. We lasted well up to the ninth day, but after that we were physically incapable of further real hard work. If ever we have to go through such trying times again, Smithy and I could desire no better comrades than Litcli. and Mac. They are splendid. Mac is a born humourist. He was always cheerful and kept us amused all the time. Some people say a mouth orpan is not worthy of the name of musical instrument. Well, they have not heard Mac play one. When things were most black he would strike up a lively tunc and brighten us all up greatly.

FAREWELL MESSAGE

Men Optimistic When Machine

Hopped Off.

WORDS FROM 'PLANE'S COCKPIT

From the cockpit of the Southern Cross while the engine was being tuned up before their hope-off for England, Squadron-Leader Kingsford Smith, Flight-Lieutenant' Ulm, and Mr. T. H. MeWilliams, broadcast farewell messages to the thousands who had gathered to see them leave. Gramophone records were made of the messages, and through the courtesy of Howies, Ltd., the "Star" was able to listen to the farewells. Only one record lias yet reached Xew Zealand, it having been brought direct from the factory to Auckland by a passenger on the Uliluaroa.

Kingsford Smith, who spoke said: "Well, it's only a matter of two or three minutes before the Southern Cross will be gone, so 1 have not much time to make much of a speech to you, and it is not my intention anyway. It's fine indeed, to see so many of you good folk here to speed us on our way, and when we are sitting up in the sun, it will be something for us to think about. Jn a moment, the old Southern Cross will be only a speck to you, and we we will be on our way to the Old Country. Jf the bus behaves as she did 011 her last flight, 1 have no doubt about making our objective. We'll win through, and I hope to achieve something which will contribute towards the linking up of the Empire by air communication, and incidentally do something for Australia. Well, cheerio everybody, and many thanks for the wonderful send-off." For the Glory of the Country. As the roar of the engine increased, Flight-Lieut. UIIII began to speak. He said:—

"My partner, Kingsford. Smith, lias told you of our hopes and our prospects, and I can only tell you that for the future glory and success of this great country of ours, i do sincerely hope that the good wishes showered on our little party will come to fruition by a successful landing in that little island—the Motherland—]2.ooo miles away, thereby strengthening the bonds of friendship, and bringing much nearer the time when it will be only days and not weeks, that divide us from the hub of the world. The Southern Cross is in splendid condition. and we look forward confidently to a very successful journey. Cheer, everybody!" "Good Enough to Circle the World." The last to speak was Mr. T. 11. McWilliams, the wireless operator, who said: "With good visibility and a wee bit of luck, tin; Southern Cross is good enough to circle the globe. My chance of telling you our hopes and prospects will begin when we get in the air and J start transmitting. Until then, cheerio!" There is a message on .the back of the record which reads: "We desire to record our appreciation of the good wishes of the Australian and New Zealand public, which are an incentive to carrv out successfully our flight from Australia to England. Au revoir." Richmond. X.S.W., March 30, 1929. The record is autographed, by Kingsford Smith and Ulni, co-commanders of the Southern Cross,