FORCED LANDINGS

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 129, 5 June 1929, Page 11

FORCED LANDINGS

AIR INQUIRY RESUMED

SOUTHERN CROSS RADIO

ULM AS OEGANISER

United Press Association—By Electric Tele-

graph—Copyright.

SYDNEY, 4th June.

The Commission inquiring into the forced landing of the' Southern Cross resumed its sittings to-day. Henry Campbell Jones, editor and director of "Sun Newspapers," gave evidence that there was not the faintest suggestion of _an agreement or understanding that the crew of the Southern Cross" should lose themselves and give exclusive details to the "Sun.',' The only agreement was that already tendered relating to the remuneration if they beat Hinkler's record. Witness did not for a moment think it likely that either Smith or trim would be associated with any prearranged scheme of spectacular flying simply for publicity purposes.

_ Mr. Hammond: "Where did the information come from as published in the "Sun" that the crew left without emergency rations?" Jones: "I cannot say, but I will have immediate inquiries made in my oflice." ■'

;Jones added, that he was so impressed with TJlni's gifts in regard to organisation that he had offered him control of the "Sun's" publishing department, but unfortunately Ulm refused. . ,

William Crawford, wireless inspector for the Government, said that ho had tested the Southern Cross's emergency radio set before the flight and found it next to useless. Witness then made exhaustive^tests of the main set carried by the Southern Cross, and found it most effective. This set could have been converted into a transmitting set with the material carried by the Southern Cross. .-...' Mr. Hammond: • "Could that have been done at Coffee Eoyal?" _ Witness: "Yes, and if a handdriven generator had been carried much stronger signals could have been made. 1 KOOKABURRA MYSTERY. Laurence., Phipps, motor . meeUanie, who overhauled Keith . Anderson's Kookaburra before its ill-fated flight said that the compass was efficient be±ore the departure of the machine it was apparent, however, that the compass had failed after leaving Alice Springs owing to the loss of tools alreaty reported to have been stolen. Witness had impressed on Hitchcock to keep fifteen pounds of tools and s],are +]P arts near the compass, theretc re their absence prevented the compass swinging correctly. Further if wf+wfV 90, 1* °J* from Alice Springs with the big load reported, then he was 4301b overloaded.. Hitchcock was a very sick man when, he started the flight. SECRET INSTRUCTIONS GIVEN ANDERSON. John Garliek, Chief Civic CommisCrn^' arPP cs of the Southern Cross relief fund, produced correspondence with John Cantor, the city publican who backed Anderson's flight cantor, lie said, was asked for details pf the secret instructions given to "gretted to fa/cantor had declined to disclose them. The inquiry was adjourned. r \