PACIFIC FLIGHT

Greymouth Evening Star, 1 June 1928, Page 7

PACIFIC FLIGHT

SMITH’S GOOD START

EVERYTHING FAVOURABLE (United Service.) ,By Cable —Press Asyi. —Copyright.) (Received June/i, 10 a.m.) SAN FRANCISCO, May 31. Smith and his companions, Ulm, Lyons and Warner, {took off for Honolulu at 8.53, under’excellent weather conditions. With Smith at the controls, the giant monoplane started down the runway at 8.56, but the centre motor went dead, and Smith cut off the other two motors, and the ’plane stopped. He then returned and started again, making an easy take-off. The Southern Cross took air after a 5000 feet run. It rose from the ground for. a moment, settled down, then rose again gracefully, despite the seven-ton load it carried. There were 1200 gallons of petrol in the fuel tanks for the first 2100 miles stage of the flight. The plane climbed to an altitude of 100 feet and increased its speed, and a moment later it vanished from sight into the slight sun-pierced maze in.the west. The wings of the Southern Cross gleamed in the morning sun as the ship turned to the north-west and sped toward the open ocean, past Golden Gate.

The crowd had increased rapidly during the morning, and approximately 5000 people witnessed the departure. Additional police guards kept them from the runway. An airport fire wagon had proceeded to the 5000 feet mark.on the runway, ready for possible emergency. Smith was given a copy of the Government weather report just before the start, detailing the conditions along the route. A hacksaw was put in the cockpit of the plane to be used in cutting away the three heavy engines, in case they were forced to descend on the water Smith was confident the plane would remain afloat for some hours, with the engines cut away, and the petrol tanks emptied by emergency valves. Warner is expected to make hourly reports of the position of the plane to land stations along the California coast and in Hawaii, and to ships at sea. The plane carries three radio sets, one being supplied with power by the storage batteries, so that a message for aid could be sent out even if the motors were disabled. Nine vessels were reported early to-day along the route to Honolulu namely, the Calawaii, Vigilant, Masso Lubrico, Herborg, Wilhelmina, President McKinley, Malolo, and the tug Meigh. All were advised to keep a constant lookout for the passage of the plane. Word of its departure was flashed immediately to Honolulu where Army officers stood ready to begin working the radio beacon at Wheeler Field.

Friends pressed around Smith and his companions as they walked from the administration building of the airport, and took positions in the plane. One of the women who last talked with Smith was the mother of Lieut. Eichwaldt, who perished in the Dole flight. Mrs. Eichwaldt presented Smith with a silver ring, which her son fashioned from a franc piece, while serving with American forces in France. FAVOURABLE WEATHER. SAN FRANCISCO, May 31. Smith refused to state definitely whether he would be starting this morning when he entered the cockpit, but as the motors started, he shouted “cheerio” to his friends standing nearby, and began examining the charts on the instrument board. Other members of the crew entered the plane and took their positions, shortly before Smith entered the cockpit. The United States weather bureau, San Francisco, reported favourable conditions for the flight. The report said: “Aeroplanes leaving this morning for the Hawaiian Islands will have broken low clouds, and moderate to fresh northerly winds. The average wind velocity is about 16 miles an hour for the first 400 miles, then light and variable winds, and broken strato cumulus clouds until the vicinity of the Hawaiian Islands is approached, when clear skies and moderate east winds, 15 to 20 miles an hour, will be encountered. No disturbances are charted over the route between San Francisco and Hawaii.” The report concluded: “Weather and wind conditions are favourable for a start.”

100 MIEES AN HOUR. SAN FRANCISCO, May 31. The Southern Cross passed over the city at 8.59. Thousands of people in the streets halted and gazed upward at the blue and silver plane. The airmen will be guided during the first part of the flight by radio beacon at. Crissey field, San Francisco, then midway between San Francisco and Hawaiian Islands they will pick up radio beacon at Wheeler field near Honolulu. The flight should take approximately twenty-five hours. It is estimated that the Southern Cross would make a speed of from 95 to 100 miles an hour at toe start, later increasing this slightly as the weight of the fuel load was cut down. The crew decided not to carry life rafts or other safety devices. Smith said: “They would only increase the weight of the plane and we will not need them.’’ “ALL’S WELL.” (Reed. June 1, 11 a.m.) SAN FRANCISCO, May 31. The Southern Cross was in almost constant communication with the radio stations of San Francisco during the early stages of the flight to Honolulu. The messages told of passing Golden Gate and out over the vast expanse of the Pacific. A message received shortly before ten in the morning from Smith said: “Everything going fine. Weather perfect Motors working splendidly.” At 11.15 Smith radioed: “Flying at an altitude of 2000 ft. All’s well.” The speed was not given, but it is estimated that the plane was 190 miles or more from Oakland. The engines continue to function perfectly and the crew are in the best of spirits. FOUR HUNDRED MILES OUT SAN FRANCISCO, May 31. Early this afternoon, the fliers reported they were slightly off the course four hundred miles out. The

conditions were favourable. They expect to remain at Hawaii for thirtysix hours, thence depart for Suva.

GOOD PROGRESS REPORTS.

SAN FRANCISCO, May 31.

At 12.30 this afternoon, Southern Cross messages indicated that it had covered another three hundred miles. The plane is flying perfectly. HONOLULU, May 31.

The commercial wireless station here says that it picked up a message from the Southern Cross which was signalling to the steamer Wilhelmina for position and bearings. The agents state that the Wilhelmina is 1777 miles from Honolulu. SAN FRANCISCO, May 31.

The Southern Cross is reported to have lost the radio beacon at Crisseyfield, but Hs expected to pick it up soon again. It is said to be averaging approximately eighty-five miles an hour.

“ON TOP OF WORLD”

(Recd. June 1, 2.30 p.m.)

SAN FRANCISCO, May 31

The latest messages from the ’plane indicate it is. flying at 2500 feet, aver- . aging eighty miles an hour. Ulm relieved Smith twice briefly, and will i soon take his first long shift at the controls. The afternoon is reported as “cloudy with clear spots. A few clouds along the water don’t allow us to see very far ahead.” At 1.30, the airmen reported they were communicating with s.s. Wilhelmina. Their position at "noon was 32.35 north longitude 132.03 west (six hundred miles), Later, Ulm reported: ‘Visibility excellent under the clouds. Kingsford Smith and I feel like we are sitting on top of the world.” AIRMEN ROBBED. ' ' SAN FRANCISCO, May 30. Kingsford Smith’s trial flight was very satisfactory. When he landed he said that everything said “Go!” He plans to start possibly at 9 a.m., or earlier, to-morrow. When the fliers returned to their hotel at Oakland, they found that their rooms had been robbed. Major, Kingsford Smith lost 140 dollars; airman Ulm 160 dollars; Navigator Lynn, 100 dollars, and Radioman Warner 90 dollars. MISSING “ITALIA.”’ SEARCH PARTIES’ DIFFICULTY, i LONDON, May 30. < ' A copyright wireless from the steamer “Citta di Milano” (supply ship for the. Italia) dated King’s Bay, states: — ( “Our efforts to reach Verlegenhoek, at the extreme north of the Friesland Promontory, failed. This was owing to an ice barrier, which a north wind had raised on the northern coast of Spitzbergen. We had hoped, until Sunday, to reach our goal, for the ‘Citta di Milano.’ vtes steaming at a fair speed, despite vast numbers of immense ice locks, driven by the wind, and also despite snowsqualls, which often blotted out all visibility. There still remained a sufficient channel of clear water to squeeze through. Suddenly a white dyke loomed ahead, and 1 the pilot climbed to the topmast, seek- 1 ing for a way round, but he returned ] and reported that any further advance was impossible. The captain ordered ; the ship to turn about when we were i between Spitzbergen and Danes Is- ( land.” % 1 “Meanwhile, we had prepared a 1 land search party, under Kramer, an t experienced hunter and trapper. Only 1 four men were available, but all of s them were skilled mountaineers, and c noted ski experts.- Their object was 1 to reach Mossel Bay, via the trap- i pers’ stations. The north coast of Spitzbergen is a most rugged and f broken region. The party, as it pro- , ceeded, was to enlist the assistance of all the trappers in the Wilde Bay I area. Before proceeding, they- were to make a reconnaissance in the direction of North Friesland, communication with tile “Citta di Milano” be- 1 ing maintained by messengers using * Southgate or Green Harbour as their headquarters.” Other search parties are also being arranged. ' 1 All the hopes and plans are based on the assumption that General Nobile has been stranded off the Friesland Coast, or off the west coast of North East Land. WEATHER GETS WORSE. (United Service., (Recd June 1, 2.45 p.m.) LONDON, May 31. A wireless from Citta Di Milano search party at Kinjj's Bay stated :We landed at Southgate, and are slowly progressing in the direction of Mossel Bay. We cannot arrive before June 4. Owing to the terrible weather aerial reconnaissances cannot begin before June 7, as they must be thoroughly considered and “organised in view of the treacherous region. There is no news from the trappers on Fire Island coast as is at present exceptionally difficult. The weather continues of the stormiest, with north gales and. blinding snow squalls. NORWEGIAN SEARCH. OSLO, March 30. The Government has decided to j wait no longer for Italian action, and has now resolved to send Riisei Laisen immediately by aeroplane to Tromsoe, and thence by boat to King s Bay, to commence a search for the Italia. A MESSAGE RESENTED. LONDON, May 31. The “Daily News’s” Oslo correspondent states: An “insult to the Norwegian Government” is how the paper “Morgen Bladet describes Signor Mussolini’s personal cablegram to the Italian Minister at Oslo, stating that Norwegian help in the search for the “Italia” is at present not required. The paper adds that Italy should apologise, seeing how promptly Norway has already acted. RUSSIAN AID. LONDON, May 31. Advices from Riga state that the Soviet Aviation Department has decided to organise an urgent relief expedition to go after the “Italia.” Icebreakers -and hydroplanes have already left Archangel. LOST IN ALASKA. VANCOUVER, May 30. , Advices from Fairbanks, Alaska, state that the Fox Film Expedition, which went aboard two aeroplanes to greet General Nobile, at Point Barrow, in case he arrived there, appears to be lost. Two aviators and three photo-

graphers left Wiseman on the afternoon of May 13, and they have completely disappeared. A relief plane left last Friday to search for them, but it too has vanished, without the slightest report. Aboard the relief plane there was a radiq operator, carrying a portable wireless, with which he should have reported on Saturday. A miner living near the Endicott Mountains saw two ’planes on the afternoon of May 13, one appearing to have trouble to make altitude enough to clear the peaks. Its engine was missing, but it was still able to maintain speed when it passed beyond his sight.

ANTARCTIC EXPEDITION. (Australian Press Association.) LONDON, May 30. “The Times’s” New York correspondent states: —Captain Wilkins’s backers are a group of Detroit and Los. Angeles business men and they have opened headquarters at New York to prepare for Wilkins’ Antarctic Flight, in friendly competition with the Byrd expedition. Wilkins will be the City’s guest during the week. He sails for New Zealand on September 1 from San Francisco. Byrd sails for New Zealand on August 15 from Hampton Roads. Both explorers expect to arrive at the Bay of Whales on December 1 next; where .hey will establish their aerial bases. Byrd uses a tri-motored Ford plane. Wilkins’s plane will be one similar to his last one. BALLOON-RACE FATALITIES. NEW YORK, May 30. News from Pittsburgh states: Fourteen balloons left, here to-day in a national elimination balloon race, over South Western Pennsylvania. They ran into severe electrical storms, during which six balloons were forced down, or were struck by lightning. One man was killed, and one was injured severely. Others are reported to be injured, shocked or frozen. One balloon landed near a town on some high tension wires, and thus put the town in darkness. LATER. The latest report from Pittsburg states that two of the balloon pilots were killed as the result of the electrical storms. ’PLANES ON TOURIST-SHIPS. J \ SAN FRANCISCO, May 31. A message from Los Angeles states that J. Stanley Dollar announced that the Dollar Line ships, making around-the-world tours, would carry aeroplanes next year, so that passengers may take to the air for sight-seeing trips. ■ , EMPIRE FLYING-BOATS SYDNEY, June 1. Four Royal Air Force super-marine flying boats, Southamptons, which are making a world cruise, are due to leave Koepang at 5.45 a.m., and arrive at Broome (West Australia) about noon to-day.