JOURNEY FROM SINGAPORE

Evening Post, Volume XCVIII, Issue 138, 9 December 1919, Page 7

JOURNEY FROM SINGAPORE

BAD GROUND AT SOURABAYA.

SYDNEY, Bth December,

A cablegram: received by the Sydney Sun frcm Captain Ross-Smith, dated! Singapore, sth December, says : "I am working on the machine, and preparing for the last stage. We have discarded most of our kit and some spares, taking only necessities. Practically the whole population have visited the machine." Cabling on 6th December, he says : "Early in the morning we saw the Southern Cross, and regarded it as a good omen. We left at seven p'clock, and a large crowd saw us off from the small .racecourse. Tlie machine lifted splendidly, and, after circling the city, we proceeded south along the coast of Sumatra. The country was all dense jungle. The passage was very bumpy, and some rain fell. We passed over the Thousand Isles to Tangerang,- thence to the railway post at Batavia. and arrived at Kalidjati at four o'clock. Wfe had ap enthusiastic welcome, and 'a reception by the Governor-General: flying officers presented laurel wreaths. We hope to reach Sourabava to-morrow."

SYDNEY, Bth December. Captain Ross-Smith cables from* Sourabaya :— .

7th December,

"We left Kalidjati at 7.30 a.m.. and arrived at Sourabaya at noon, after an uneventful and good trip. The aerodrome in on new reclaimed land,-and very soft. After landing, the machine sank to the axles, and we had. great difficulty in' getting it ont. We then got bogged again, and eventually had to build a bamboo road for the machine. With twp hundred coplies empleyed, it took seven hours to push the Vimy five hundred yards. We are all right now, and in the morning we will build a road of bamboo mats for taking off. The greatest assistance was given by the Dutch officers and local officials, including the British Cpmmissipner, Mr. i Dalton. We hope to reach Bima, Sumbawa. on Bth December, Atanboea, Timor, pn 9th December, and Darwin pn 10th December. We will then take a."few. days' rest. The crew are all well,_ but very tired, especially the mechanics, whc work wonderfully well, sometimes all night. Tlie Vimy is going beautifully."