ACROSS AUSTRALIA

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 269, 14 August 1928, Page 11

ACROSS AUSTRALIA

FROM MELBOURNE TO PERTH FIRST NON-STOP FLIGHT EARLY ARRIVAL OF THE SOUTHERN CROSS The Southern Cross, which has made the first non-stop flight across the Australian Continent, arrived at Perth so much earlier than expected that only an aerodrome official was present at the landing. (United Press Association.—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) Perth, August 13. The landing of the Southern Cross at the Maylands Aerodrome on Sunday morning was remarkable for the fact that only one person was present, namely, the aerodrome official, Mr. Seale, who had marked the landing spot by laying down two huge sheets, which enabled the aviators to make a fine landing on a water-logged flat. “How do you do, everybody?” remarked Captain Kingsford Smith when he was greeted cordially by the enthusiastic Mr. Seale, who hastened to explain that nobody expected the aviators two hours and a half before the scheduled hour of arrival. Captain Smith cheerily answered: “Better be here early than not at all.” The news of the arrival spread like wildfire, and cars filled with people were soon swarming over the enclosure. Mr. H. Millington, Minister of Agriculture, who welcomed the aviators on behalf of the Government, apologised for the lateness, which was due to a confusion of times, somebody in authority having failed to realise that Perth time was two hours different from Melbourne time. The airmen were worn and tired. Bitchfield and McWilliams were cramped and unable to stand after alighting from the cockpit, but they soon recovered, faced the photographers, gathered up their own luggage, and were driven to the Palace Hotel, where Litchfield and McWilliams went straight to bed. . The aviators will be entertained by the civic and other authorities to-day, to-morrow, and on Wednesday. The return journey to Adelaide will begin next Saturday or Sunday. The approximate distance from Melbourne to Perth is 2000 air miles, and this was accomplished in 23 hours 24 minutes. It was the first non-stop flight across the Australian Continent, and is regarded as one of the finest feats in aviation, the more so as the aviators encountered a head wind and were never more than five minutes without rain, and were flying “blind.” Smith and Him pay warm tributes to Litchfield and McWilliams.

NIGHT MANOEUVRES BOMBING ATTACK ON LONDON DEFENCES (United Service.) London, August 12. Three hundred aeroplanes are participating in the coming week’s night manoeuvres in the shape of a bombing attack on the London defences. (British Official Wireless.) Kugby, August 12. Three hundred aircraft and reserves and ground units of the regular and territorial army will particip ite in air exercises over London and the home counties this week. The exercises are to be conducted to test the efhciency and provide practice for all the units engaged on defence against air attacks, and to test also the system of- observation, intelligence and communications.