LONG VOYAGE.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18486, 14 September 1925, Page 7

LONG VOYAGE.

400 MILES IN SEAPLANE. U.S. AVIATORS' STORY. 6 CAPTAIN RODGERS* NEW APPOINTMENT. <BT CABLE—FBEBS ASSOdATIOS—COPTBJOHT.) (ACSTBALIAK AND K.Z. CASUS ASSOCIAXIOK.) (Received September 13ti. 5.0 p.m.) HONOLULU, September 10. In his first official statement, Captain Rodgors said: "Wo were forced to land 50 miles north of Aroos, and we took our position. Tb© gas gave out, killing the engines and radio transmission. We made' a perfect landing. We cut the fabric from the lower wing, rigged a foresail and sailed "before the wind, endeavouring to make Oahu. Wo made 50 miles that day and passed Oahu at 45 miles distance. The eighth day we close-hauled for Kauai and reached a point 15 miles off NawijUL We were trying to signal when" the submarine picked us np. We had sailed 400 miles under a jury rig. The 'plane behaved well at all times. The only miscarriage of plans was duo to our failure to find the ship, at which wo expected to refuel, and our only concern, then was the water."

Captain Rodgers and tho crew completed the journey on Thursday night. They arrived at Pearl Harbour on the destroyer MacDonough, receiving a great welcome. While the world read the story of tho adventure, Captain Rodgers and the crew rested. On Friday, technically, the flight was completed. The crew stayed on tho seaplane until it grounded, after being afloat 218 hours.

Tho aviators wore ordered to Pearl Harbour Hospital to rest and sleep. The 'plane covered 1800 miles in the air and 300 on ihe> surface of the ocean and was salvaged almost intact. There was still some food aboard, but it was unpalatable.

Groat praise was given Captain Rodgers, who has been promoted to Assistant-Chief of the Navy Bureau of Aeronautics. The crew are reticent as to the cause of the failure, but the actual conditions differed from those of the preliminary tests. / I __/ RIDING THE WAVES.

RAINWATER FOR DRINKING. CRAFT GROUNDS ON REEF. (AUSTRALIA* AITO K.Z. CABLI ASSOOATIOH.) HONOLULU, September 11. Commander John Rodgers, who according to 4 Washington dispatch, has been appointed Assistant-Chief of the. Navy Bureau of Aeronautics, in recognition of his conduct of the PN9I flight, gavo a laconic version of tho crew's experiences while "missing."

"We saw one merchant ship," he said, "and glimpsed an aeroplane. The worst weather was on the third day, when it rained, but the 'plane rode the waves well, and, aside from the wetting, we did not suffer. We spread canvas to catch some water for drinking. We had no food after the fourth day, as we had not stinted ourselves on the emergency rations carried. All the time we were confident of being rescued and' so we were. That's about all thero is to 'it."

Messages sent by searching 'planes and ships were heard by the PN9I, which could not respond because the antennae dropped under water. "IMd the PBI make a successful flight to Hawaii ?" was one of tho first questions tho fliers asked their rescuers. Ovation to Aviators. Greeted by the entire population of Kauai, the aviators were towed ashore at Lihue la3t night, "in good condition, well and happy." According to a message intercepted here, they were found at a point 450 miles west of tie spot where they were ' forced down, having drifted more slowly than Navy calculations indicated. The wings of the 'plan© were badly smashed, but the hull was intact, j After the 'plane dropped her anchor in the harbour, where she was towed by the submarine, the line broke and the craft drifted into the breakers on a coral reef. The crew refused to leave the 'plane until she was brought safely ashore. Heavilv-bearded and tanned, the men showed the effects of th© nine days' They were without food and water supplies for four days. The fabric torn off the machine by the buffeting waves was used to catch rain and tho heavy seas made matters uncomfortable, but onlv on one day was rough weather experienced, according to Commander John Rodgers.

THIRD MACHINE.

PLANS FOR HAWAIIAN FLIGHT.

(AUSTBAIJAX A3TD K.Z. CA»LK ASSOCIATION.)

SAN FRANCISCO, September 11. Captain Moses, Flight Project Commander, announces that tho PBI will attempt tho Hawaiian flight, probably about September 21. When the weather cleared the PBT successfully completed a test flight, carrying 1900 gallons of petrol, or 713 gal'ons more than the PN9I.