AIR RACE LEADER MEETS MISFORTUNE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 233, 1 October 1936, Page 7

AIR RACE LEADER MEETS MISFORTUNE.

CAPT. HALSE CRASHES. Hours Ahead and 685 Miles From Winning Post. NECK AND NECK CONTEST. United Tress Association.—Copyright. (Received 11.30 a.m.)" • LONDON, September 30. Captain S. S. Halse, scratch in the Portsmouth- Johannesburg air race, crashed at Salisbury, Southern Rhodesia, and was taken to hospital. Halse, who was leading, arrived at Mbeya, Rhodesia, at noon, British standard time, and left at 12.10 for Salisbury. He was not feeling well, and it was thought he might land at Mpika or Broken Hill for a rest. He was delayed at Mbeya longer than he anticipated, owing to magneto trouble and during his enforced wait he made every effort to rest and shake off a feeling of weariness and sickness, due to bumpy conditions. After leading all day by hours, Halse crashed in the evening at Bomboshawo, about 20 miles from Salisbury, and only 685 miles from his goal. He is not seriously injured, but has head bruises, which necessitated Ms admission to hospital at Salisbury. He is also completely exhausted. The extent of the damage to the machine is at present unknown, but Halse has withdrawn from the race. Neck and Neck Race. The struggle for first place now lies between Scott and Llewellyn. They were flying neck and neck until this morning, but then they took different routes. Scott was last heard'of at 2.20 p.m. when he left Kisumu. He is expected to reach Broken Hill this evening. Llewellyn passed over Entebbe this afternoon and was reported subsequently as going well.

Earlier reports recorded the arrival of Captain Halse at Kisumu, about 140 miles north-west of Nairobi, Kenya, at 7.24 a.m., British standard time. He left again for Salisbury, Rhodesia, at 8 a.m. Captain Halse was six hours ahead of Scott and Guthrie. Captain Halse, who is the instructor to the Johannesburg Aero Club, took C hours from Cairo to Khartoum, compared with Scott's and Guthrie's G hours 7 minutes and Llewellyn's 7 hours. He covered the 43C7 miles to Kisumu in 24 lours 23 minutes. Position of Other Flyers. Messrs. C. W. A. Scott and Giles Guthrie (handicap 13h 14m), also Flying-Officer D. Llewellyn (handicap 13h 27m), reached Khartoum, about 1100 miles north of Kisumu, at 5.45 a.m; and left together at 6 a.m. They arrived at Kisumu at 2 p.m., British standard time, and departed 20 minutes later. Llewellyn passed over Entebbe at 2.15 p.m., British standard time, en route to Mpika. Flying-Officer A. E. Clouston, of New Zealand (handicap 6h 25m), "landed at Khartoum at 2.45 p.m., local time. He complained of engine trouble. . It appeared that he had run a bearing and it is doubtful whether he will be able to continue. An Italian machine is taking from Cairo a spare piston to Clouston at Khartoum, and he hopes to leave this afternoon. The outstanding surprise of the day was the news that Mr. Victor Smith (handicap lOh 34m) was still participating in the race. He left Skoplje, Yugoslavia, where he had damaged his machine in landing, but again was dogged by ill-luck and forced to land 20 miles outside of Salonika. He says he will resume the flight after repairs have been effected. There was no sign of Mr. Ken Waller ' an d Flight-Lieutenant Findlay (handicap 3h 13m) at Khartoum. It was conjectured that they decided not to call there. It transpired later that Waller and Findlay landed at Kerma, 325 miles from Khartoum, as their petrol was exhausted. After refuelling they continued the flight to Khartoum, where, they later arrived.

STRUCK ANT HEAP. SEASON FOR HALSE'S CRASH. (Received 12 noon.) JOHANNESBURG, September 30. Captain Halse said: "My instruments gave me trouble and for the greater part of the day I was unable to find Salisbury. Stability and visibility were bad from the smoke of numerous veldt fires. "Having only five minutes' daylight left I decided to land and selected a suitable field, but when slowing up the machine struck an ant heap and overturned." Halse's arm was dislocated and was set under an anaesthetic. He is now sleeping. Other reports say his machine is completely smashed.