FLIGHT TO AUSTRALIA.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16703, 11 December 1919, Page 9

FLIGHT TO AUSTRALIA.

CAPTAIN ROSS SMITH'S TRIUMPH. vickers-vi::y at darwin. fl'.v r i->.. r*:■ 'i t—Corirr. kt.) A".i-y.iAV. : : N.Z. C.V.N A-'oc:v.i r..: Rereivd 1 . - 1' t' 1. 7.H-J j'.tll.'i DAIiV. IN. 'J.er ember 1 (' R ;»l the — Vsr.-.v t:iiv. >i H. 10 cYlnrk this afti-rii'■ .n :"r. ( :.i J."i: !<n. TlfK 1!N AI .-TANTX \v!;r::':;\T!;i.; d k>. I.'o". X;i.;;h !..n* : "! at A'-rt-b'lew.i, -:i t!'- T ~-: ir ■ Tintri, at fill ! 'ern"' N 'i. mid left at I t hi-, in"; nil.t '- 1" • in. n.M.MHN. D<-vmh:r 10. The r.-arsh'ti .'-yiliu v 1- It y. .'c-i 1 y to patrol ti;e :'ir:::e*r.% rout" b. t-.veca I'ort Darwin i;it l l 'i 11f.■->r. Evo-ytiling li.os !■< en prepared for tho lauding at Port T>.• fiviri in a ilrarin;; near tho br.K-l'.

' Ctt-.T, c-l I)." ' ni?-iT lOtli. 10..-0 p.m.) DAUVTiX. LS'rrmlor 10. Th<- f .-hi -• ■ r Sydnry sent a wireless ine. c <yi<;'> Fi.it in x th.l; ISoss Smith pn."S'd mcr tho <tui-i r l miles north of T>anvin at one o'c!el: to-day. DAK WIN. December ID. Despite tin' influenza regulations to the <(ii:irary tho crov. d rushed the aviators and carried them shoulder hiph from the prouiid. O'vinji to the citizens' banquet toiiipht Captain Rom Smith's story is nor available till to-morrow. A GREAT RECEPTION. (Received December 111b. 1.30 a.m.) DARWIN, December 10. Rosa Smith's landing was spectacular. Hp received a tremendous welcome. The Mnvor presented nn address on behalf of tho citizens. Tlip aviator, in retiring, saifl:—"l hoped to make the journey in thirty days, and nm proud > to linvo accomplished it in twenty-eight." AUSTRALIA'S CONGRATULATIONS THE .JOURNEY TO MELBOURNE. f Received DwemlKT 10th, 10.50 p.m.) MiCLIJOURNE, December 10. A shoal of congratulatory telegrams has been despatched to Cnptai 11 I loss Smith on tlio completion of his greati achievement. Tlio I>ofenee "Department has approved the imo of Flominpton racecourso as a landing ground here. Mr Hughes has refused a request to permit Captain Ross Smith fo iocludo fiydney in his aerial itinerary. Ho has cabled to Captain Ross Smith suggesting the presentation of tho machrno to tlio Australian "War Museum. Tin; Defence Department has mado arrangements for tho flight of the arriving airmen across Australia from Port Darwin to Melbourne, via Clonetirry, Charlovillr, Bourke and Albnry, whero thero will bo stores of potrol. Flying officers, to ndviso tho flyors, will be established at tho various stations. This upsets the original proposals regarding landing. THE STORY OF THE FLIGHT. THE AUSTRALIANS' TRIUMPH.

The Vickors-Vimy left Hounslow aerodrome, London, shortly before 9 a.m. on "Wednesday, November 12th, and arrived at Lyons at 3.10 p.m. The weather wbb misty above Kent, but tho English Channel was clear. Heavy clouds and a snow-storm were encountered above Eta pies, and tho machine climbed to 8000 feet. Tho machine flow tho compass course, and encountered mach snow and intonso cold, thero being 75 degrees of frost. Tho instruments wero frozen, and tho machine was covered with ice, while tho food was frozen too hard to eat. Tho wind was favourable throughout, hut much time was wasted in avoiding storms. ACROSS ITALY. Leaving Lyons at 10 o'clock on the following morning, tho machino flow along tho Riviora, crossed the Gulf of Genoa from San Romo to Spezin, and Jnnded at Pisa at 2.40 p.m., too Into to proceed to Romo that day. Sunshino was experienced all the way, and Captain Ross Smith described tho sunlit Alps as looking "very flna:" When Captain Rosa Smith was ready to leaVo Pisa on November 14th for Taranto, heavy rain came on. Tho aeroplano got bogged in attempting to tako off, and was delayed until next morning. Tho inachino was bogged twico on tho Saturday morning, and had to be dug out by Italian mechanics. When it was Anally got clear it mado a sensational start. Sergeant J. M. Bennett, ono of the mechanics, held down tho tail until the machine was moving, and then made a running jump from tho rear into tho cockpit, and was hauled on board while the machino was rising. Tho anrodromo by thi3 timo was two inches under water, hut tho Viekors-Vimy rose beautifully, tho crew being very wot but cheerful. Strong head winds wero encountered on tho way to Rome, and tho machine's Cund speed was onlv <30 miles an ir.

OVER MOUNT VE9T7VTUS. Leaving Romo nt 9 a.m. on Xovomber lGth, the machine landed at Tarnnto at 11.-1.3 n.m Slio passed oven Capua nnd Naples nnd then turned past over the mountain.*. The aoroplano flow low over Mount Vesuvius, but tho weather was too bad for photography. Tho flight over tho mountains was very "bumpy." tho mnehino falling several ; hundred feet at times, though she was j helped bv a pood wind. The aeroplane; left Taranto at 8 a.m. on Novomlvrj 17th, and arrived at Sudu Bay in the afternoon, *>>;nerioncing a strong benm wind and low clouds and rain all tho a J" to the south of () recce. Captain) Ross Smith- attempted to net abovo tho | hi if tlir-v were too liiph, so lio new at 800 feet, following the coast, and nearly hit a small island in tho mi*. CRETE AND EGYPT. J-eavinrr Srnla liny at 8 n.m. on November 16th, tho ncrnplane reached Cairo at The weather was an«l t low clouds made tho crossing of tho Crete mountains difficult. Alter leaving Crete the machine had to !lv. through rain at a height of toot most of the way aero?? tho Mediter-1 ranenn, the crossing tnkin" 2J hours.' Captain Smitli struck "th" African coast at the Gulf of Solium, Uo<) miles west of Alexandria, and then flow across the desert to Cairo bv wav of -Matruh and tho Wadi Natnin. AVritinp from Cairo, Captain Iloss Smith said; 14 1 tht* nssnt* aneo has been rendered by the aerial route stations, nothing being too much trouble? for thoni, ami it in kirgolv duo > to their rx'.ellent organisation that wo sire hero so soon. Tiio Viniv is go : ng perfectly." " fa CAIRO TO nA§UA. Two days wm> occupied in the flight from Cairo a- r;w s Hie Sinai Peninsula, I'sdestine, and Mesopotamia, to IJasra. Describing the journ<>y in ono of his