R.101 MEMORIAL CEREMONY

Greymouth Evening Star, 2 October 1933, Page 7

R.101 MEMORIAL CEREMONY

A TRAGIC SEQUEL THREE AIRMEN KILLED I [DY CABLE —PBESS ASSN.' —COPYRIGHT.] (Rec. October 2, Noon) LONDON, October 1. A Percival Jull aeroplane, returning from the RlOl ceremony, crashed in a field at Sandhurst, near Hawkhurst, killing Pilot Captain Styran, winner of the London-Cardiff air race, and third in the King’s Cup, lan MacGilchrist, Chairman of the Air Navigation Company, owners of the plane, and Bertram Wilson, “Daily Sketch” photographer, returning with pictures of the ceremony, whose parents are so ill that breaking of the news to them is deferred. I The disaster is believed to be due to bad visibility, caused by misty rain. Eyewitnesses saw the machine, which up to then was invisible, but audible, nose-dive from the mist, overturn, and smash to pieces, strewing the wreckage for fifty yards, and dreadfully mutilating the occupants. There was no fire“despite the petrol tank bursting. ' Subsequently, Mr. MacDonald and his party traversed the same route in an air liner, unaware of the accident.

ANGLO-FRENCH UNITY ALLONNE, October 1. The RlOl ceremony was marked by great simplicity, Mr. MacDonald's first act was to place at the foot of the memorial his Cabinet’s wreaths of laurel and Autumn flowers, symbolising that the memory of the victims remains green. The band played the i French and British anthems. Commander Eckener (Zeppelin), sent a wreath. Mr. MacDonald, Lord Londonderry, and Air Ministry officials flew from Croydon to Beauvais. A French service plane flew over the memorial dropping 48 wreaths. The assemblage, which numbered . ten thousand, included the six survivors. Mr. MacDonald, in a brief spech, said: “I thank you simply and humbly. On this wayside road, we have found a new union and new understanding. The memorial means more to our peoples than a dozen diplomatic signed and sealed documents. Our hearts are united in this granite.” M. Daladier paid a tribute to the crusading spirit of British youth. BALLOON ALTITUDE RUSSIANS’ NEW RECORD MOSCOW, September 30.

The stratosphere balloon “U.S.S.R,” piloted by George Propokiev and two companions, reached a height of 20,266 yards, thus beating the Belgian, Professor Piccard’s record, on September 21, 1932. LATER. The U.S.S.R. took off in perfect weather at dawn, and shot up six feet a second. It immediately established wireless communication with the earth, and in 42 minutes claimed to have risen over ten miles, adding: We are feeling fine. In 157 minutes, it passed Piccard’s record, and was still rising. The* oxygen apparatus was working well. The temperature within the aluminium gondola painted silver grey, was seventy-one degrees. The balloon was visible at. Moscow, and finally landed at Kolominsky, seventy miles from Moscow, after 377 minutes. It is claimed that the instruments recorded 19,000 metres, approximately eleven and. seven-eighths miles.

“VICTORY FOR COMMUNISTS.”

(Received October 2, 10.30 a.m.)

MOSCOW, October 1.

The balloon is 117 feet in diameter, and was filled with three thousand cubic metres of gas, which was expected to expand eight-fold during the ascent. After first dropping only a mile hourly, the latter Stages of the descent were made with extraordinary rapidity. Propokiev’s companions were Ernest Birnbaum (engineer), and C. D. Goudonov (scientist).

Interviewed, all said that they were tired, but in excellent physical condition. Propokiev said the ascent exceeded 19,000 metres, but the precise altitude would be known when the Government Commission examines the sealed barograph. When he landed, Propokiev harangued an enthusiastic crowd, describing the flight as a victory for the Communist Party, and the Proletariat.

MAIL SERVICES CRITICISED.

LONDON, September 29.

A deputation from the Chamber of Commerce, 'which "waited on the Air Minister, Lord Londonderry, condemned the slowness and costliness of the air mails. They urged that no further contracts should be made pending a full inquiry. Sir Geoffrey Clarke said that the Chamber strongly supported nightflying, though this entailed the separation of the passenger and mail services. He said the cruising speeds of the British services were much too slow for modern methods. Continuous flying and faster machines were needed to enable the transport of mails to Calcutta in three and a-half days, to Sydney in seven and a-half days, and to Wellington in eight, and a-half days. Meanwhile the mails should travel at least 2500 miles per day. He said that flying and then resting for twelve hours when the trains and the steamers travelled the twenty-four hours was reminiscent of the hare and the tortoise.

Lord Londonderry, in reply, agreed as to the desirability of improving the air services, but he said that nightflying -was scarcely practicable at present. Certain sections were being speeded up. It was mainly a matter of expense.

HEALTH PRECAUTIONS. SYDNEY, October 1. The Health authorities arc studying the question of whether there is any danger of deadly Asiatic disease being spread in the Commonwealth- with the advent, of a London —Australia air mail service. Two diseases are feared, namely yellow fever and cholera. It is suggested that medical stations be established at Singapore and Darwin for the examination of the passengers.