LOST IN THE SKIES

Gisborne Times, Volume LXVII, Issue 10563, 17 April 1928, Page 5

LOST IN THE SKIES

BREMEN IN AHt FOR THIRTYEIGHT HOURS. HARROWING EXPERIENCES .OF FLIERS. fog nearly Brings disaster. ALL sense OF DIRECTION LOST . DETERMINED TO FLY ON, • PLANE CRASHES ON ICE. AVIATORS UNINJURED. United Press Assn, by El. Tel. Copyright (Australian Press Association.) (Received April 16; 11.52 p.m.) NEW YORK, April 16. Tlie arrival of" tw;o Canadian ' aviators from the outside world ol Greenley has made .possible the disclosure of even the briefest facts concerning the harrowing experiences of the three fliers on the Bremen. The details thus far are terse and unadorned, but an amazing story stands out even clearer as the result. . . , It is now determined that the Bremen was 38 hours in the air. • The fog proved an enemy that nearly lireught disaster, but curiously enough a blanket of impenetrable mist wherein the Bremen first plunged upon nearing Newfoundland dispersed so quickly that the fliers congratulated themselves that night was just coming on, and they confidently expected to be able to determine their whereabouts since the air was clear, but again they leaped into a layer of thick log and were lost. Then began trouble with the compass since they were approaching the magnetic field that has often proved dangerous to aviators. Then it began to snow, and a high wind helped to make the weather extremely thick. Snow alternated with sleet, and they were ready to give up iiope, especially since the Uenziuc was running low. They were beginning to lose all sense of direction, nut even knowing whether they were progressing westward or out towards /tlie nnudle ol the Atlantic, but they determined to continue as long as the machine could keep aloft. They tnen came to the conclusion that they had reached land, but were unable to make out any contours or terrain, and it was impossible to get beaiings. The realisation, however, that they had spanned the ocean gave them courage. They pressed on throughout the night, it seeming to tlie in that at times the plane was standing -still or under tlie control of the winds, not of the engine. it was not until 5.15 in th© evening of Friday they were able to distinguish that they were passing over a lake in a small island, and they then determined to land. The machine, being equipped with wheel gear, it thresned down upon tlie ice with great force, smashing through it and -slightly damaging die tail, out they themselves were uninjured. ONE OF THE MOST BARREN SPOTS IN THE WORLD. (Received April 1/, 12.55 a.in.) NEW YORK, April 16. Probably one of the most barren spots in the world, Greenley island, vaith its lighthouse and half dozen fisher-folks’ huts, seemed a welcome place, despite its apparent inhospitality. Information was gathered from the inhabitants, who first greeted the fliers who dropped out of the air like aucient magicians, but under circumstances not imagined even in the most fanciful fiction. Tlie fliers were haggard and gaunt from their straining flight. It was not only the concluding phase of the flight that had tried them nearly to breaking point. The air conditions from the very start had been Pad, and the greater part of the way they had been forced to fly low, but in comparison with the last phase they insisted that the earlier part of the flight was made under the easiest circumstances. “COMPASS BEGAN TO' FAIL?' “Tlie compass began to fail,” says a message relayed to-niglit from Greenley Island, and therein lies perhaps the principal reason lor the desperate physical condition which the men showed upon arrival. AVIATORS SET TO WORK TO REPAIR PLANE. But the men were not yet ready to rest. Their desire was to continue the flight, and an immediate examination was made to determine the extent of tlie injury to the plane. They barely took the time off to send radios informing the world ol' their sale arrival before they enlisted tlie'aid of a lighthouse keeper, mho lias an excellent workshop, in an effort to make tlie plane ready for tlie resumption of the hop to New York. Baron von Huenefeld, in his first messages to reach the outside world from any of the fliers, expressed ins apparent confidence and ability to make tlie necessary repairs. BAD WEATHER MAY HOLD UP FLIGHT. Word from Greenley Island this morning indicates that the repairs are nearing completion, and that the plane will soon be able to resume its flight, UsJLfc the Canadian aviators who arrived there last night state their machine fought its way through a continuous -storm, which is still unabated. Tlie heavy easterly gale, moreover, makes it unlikely that the continuation of tlie Bremen flight can begin at present. % MONEY WANTED AT ISLAND. (Received April 17, 1.23 a.m.) NEW YORK, April 16. It should be mentioned that, aside from the damage to tlie Bremen’s tail, the propeller is bent, and the landing gear broken. The lighthouse-keeper, a 1' reach Canadian, speaking little or no English, importuned the fliers to rest/ and take food. Tlie aviators latexreported that they were treated with the utmost hospitality an( i courtesy, and given /every care and attention. . An amusing touch to the -situation is given by the fact that the fliers left, without any money, and Baron von Huenefeld thought it necessary to obtain funds immediately. The first wireless request' he made to the North German Lloyd was to have the latter telegraph 500 : dollars. The North German Lloyd agent found none of the telegraph companies could transmit fur ds, but after many pleas one company undertook to make an effort to telegraph the sum to the nearest station, and if possible deliver the money Uy dogsled, but it is liardlv likely that delivery will be achieved. ’ FITZMAURICE PROMOTED ■ _ ; :■ MAJOR.' United Press Assn, by. El. Tel. Copyright Australian' Press Assn.—United Service. V LONDON,' April 15. Commandant Fitzmauribe has been nroittoted to the rank of major in th® Free State Air Force in recognition hf the trans-Atlantic flight, on the 8remen,.".?....

german a Viators at GREENLEY ISLAND. HELD UP BY BAD 1 WEATHER. PLANES AND~ICEBREAKER LEAVE FOR SPOT. SMALL PROSPECT OF CONTINUING FLIGHT UNAIDED. United Press Assn, by El. Tel. Copyright (Australian Press Association.) NEW YORK, April 15. Two aeroplanes which are now attempting to reach. (Greenley Island are reported to have been held up by bad weather, hut both will proceed as soon as possible. ' ; In the, meantime there is very iff?tie rtulditkoual) rnjfprmation concerning the fliers. The Newf York agent of the Bremen .has wirelessed tlie fliers asking whether they need a new propeller, as there .is .now some likelihood that the attempt may be made to send by aeroplane the necessary parts for the repairing of the plan©. NEW YORK, April 15. The outstanding fact of a day filled with reported efforts to reach

the Bremen’s fliers,' is that they are as completely isolated as if at tlie North Pole. * They are unable to get out, and no one is able to reach Greenley Island. The ice-cutter Montcalm may get there, even before aerial efforts can prove successful, although one machine has started frum Canada and others may start to-morrow. A ‘really serious effort to send a plane to Labrador now rests' with Commander R. Byrd, who has been strongly urged to fly one ol' his skiequipped planes to Greenley Island. He, however, expressed grave doubts as to his ability to land his machine there without doing it serious damage, thus in no way remedying the situation. , The prospects of the Bremen hieing repaired and continuing the flight unaided are extremely small. There is neither equipment nor petrol at Greenley. Efforts to charter -sealing steamers at Newfoundland to make a trip to Greenley have been unsuccessful, skippers declaring that it is too great a risk to trust their vessels and crews among dangerous ice jams, and expressing scepticism as to the Montcalm’s ability to overcome the ice. The fliers have received a message of congratulation- from ex-Kaiser Wilhelm, containing tlie observation that the flight demonstrated German ability “in defiance of all opposition to German aircraft construction. Per aspera ad astra. Per aspera ad astra.” ICEBREAKER IN BELLE ISLE STRAIT. HEAVY BLIZZARD IN LABRADOR. United Press Assn, by El. Tel. Copyright (Australian Press Association.) (Received April 16, 7.15 p.m.) NEW YORK, April 15. The Bremen fliers have reported that due to damage to the plane they will make no attempt to continue their flight and will wait for the icebreaker Montcalm to reach Greenley Island, Two planes left Mitchell Field for the island to-night, with newspaper men and photographers. A propeller and other parts stripped from the New York Junker plane will he shipped to Canada on the railroad to-night accompanied by repair men. NEW YORK, April 15. A message received from the Montcalm, which is now believed to be at Belle Isle Straits, states: “Moving in very heavy ice, which is reaching the steamer's deck. It is impossible to say when w© will reach Greenley Island.’ Local reports state a heavy blizazrd is being experienced in the Labrador region and aerial communication is impossible. FIRST T© GREET FLIERS. VAN ADI A N GO VERN MEN T PLANE AT GREEN-LEY ISLAND. United Press Assn, by El. Tel. Copyright (Received April 16, 7.15 p.m.) (Australian Press Association.) OTTAWA. April 16. A message received at Montreal at 10.30 o’clock from Point Amour announced that the Government plane carrying Luis Cni-siuier and Duke Sclieller lias arrived at Greenley Island.

FLIERS SEND NATIONAL GREETINGS. HOPE TO REACH NEW YORK IN FEW DAYS. United Press Assn, by El. Tel. Copyright (Received April 10, 7.15 p.m.) (Australian Press Association.) WASHINGTON. April 16. The Irish Minister, Mr Smiddy, received the following wireless from Commandant Fitzmaurice : “By God’s grace tlie east and west flight is at last accomplished. I am happy in the thought that it brings great credit and honor to our native laud. My German comrades join me in sending you greetings from Erin. We hope to reach New York in a few days.” The German Ambassador received a somewhat similarly worded message . from the three lliei's. HUNDREDS OF CONGRATULATORY MESSAGES. NEW YORK PLANS OFFICIAL WELCOME. United Press Assn, by El. Tel. Copyright (Australian Press Association.) NEW YORK, April 15. Interest in tlie Bremen’s flight seemingly has. doubled overnight, the safety of the fliers and their peculiar isolation adding to the interest. Literally hundreds of messages of congratulation from American iiiers and men prominent in official life have been wirelessed to tlie fliers. President Ooolidge’s felicitations were sent by wireless iinjiiodiately after the news had been '(Tonflrmed. H© is also congratulating the Irish and German nations. In the meantime New York City is planning an official welcome on an unprecedented scale to the fliers on arrival here. Efforts will be made at a great State, dinner to broadcast the speeches around the world. “Big Bill” Thompson, in tlie namei, of Chicago, has sent a wireless message to the aviators inviting them to be tiie guests of the city. FLIGHT PROVED NOTHING OF VALUE. PLANE NARROWLY ESCAPED DISASTER. DRIFTED 400 MILES OUT OF COURSE. . - United Press Assn, by El. Tel. Copyright Australian Press Assn. —United Service LONDON, April 15. The Daily Telegraph’s aviation expert says that without in the least detracting from the aviators’ courage ‘anß sound technical preparations, giving .full marks to the engine, it must life said that'-.the-Bre-‘men’s flight proved nothing except that the difficulties. of the' 1 westward

Hi glib have been accurately estimated. She; drifted 400 miles out of her course anti, was- so delayed by head winds that she narrowly escaped disaster. She. was picked up after 37 hours/ but ought to hare had petrol for another three hours. Probably towards the end the aviators, tailing to sight land, realised they must increase speed even at the cost of shortening the duration of the flight. The distance flown in the straight line was 2100 miles, working out at only 55 miles an hour.. Calm air cruising speed is 90 miles an hour. The loss of speed was due to opposing winds and wandering oil' the course.' Accurate navigation was impossible .without either astronomical observations or directional wireless.' For an eastward trans-Atlantic flight 20 I,lours would sullice to reach land somewhere in Europe. A plane for a westward flight must have a capacity of 40 hours’ Hying, but the reason for the series of attempts in single-engined machines without wireless Ties hi the inherent disability of an, aeroplane, which cannot carry the' necessary weight of fuel required fly a multi-engined machine lor such a long period, but a two or three-engined machine could be adapted for the purpose, especially a flying boat, which could land in the ocean if necessary and keep afloat till help came. THE DEPARTURE FROM IRELAND. 11LTZMA U RICE’S FAREWELL MESSAGE. United Press Assn, by El. Tel. Copyright (Australian Press Association.) LONDON, April 12. The German, aeroplane Bremen took oif in the preseucci oi Mr Cosgrave, the German Consul and Jive hutidred spectators. The airmail Lieut, Koelil stated: “Everything favored success. The Atlantic weather report is excellent. The plane is taking the great North circle route.” The Bremen passed over Galway at 7.5 flying strongly, and was last seen at Castleho twenty miles west of Galway. Visibility was then bad. Baron vou Huencfeld ,and Commandant Fitzmaurice accompanied Lieut. Koefd. LONDON, April 12. Commandant Fitzmaurice, sending a message before the departure' ol the Bremen across the Atlantic, said that in view of her geographical position in reference to future air transport, it was appropriate that Ireland should be associated with the present flight, discouraging criticism whereof could be answered by the simple statement that every success requires a certain amount oi risk. “By the time this is published,” he said, “we shall be a hundred miles from the Irish coast, and God willing, thirty hours thereafter we shall reach New York and claim the conquest of the Atlantic westwards.” UNBOUNDED JOY IN GERMANV FLIERS NO AY ARE HEROES OF THE DAY. United Press Assn, by El. Tel. Copyright (Australian Press Association.) BERLIN. April 1-5. Joy in Germany over the Bremen feat is unbounded., the more so because of the bitter disappointment yesterday when it was learned that all three reports of the aviators' safety were premature. Radio, cinemas, and special editions of newspapers bad aroused tense anxiety, and excitement was at fever beat when, at midday, the newspapers announced the lauding. _ “Nothing succeeds like success.'* Regardless of the cold water previously thrown on the scheme, the fliers are nov.*< the heroes oi the day, and exuberantly hailed as brilliant testimony to German courage and enterprise,-and the machine as witness of Germany’s technical skill. Though leaders of German aviation previously viewed the venture with tacit and* expressed disapproval, Professor Junkers now telegraphs his “proud joy and grateful admiration.” He inis even decided D* baptise the Lufthansa’s latest and largest machine “German Ivoehl. NO CONGRATULATIONS FROM BREMEN. AVIATORS CARRIED OLD IMPERIAL FLAG. United Press Assn, by El. Tel. Copyright (Australian Press Association.BREMEN, April 15. The Senate of Bremen State has refused to congratulate Lieut. Ivoehl and Baron von Hulineiekl because, they carried the old Imperial instead of the Republican flag. ARTIFICIAL J SLAN DS FOR TRANS-OCEAN FLIGHTS. AM E RICAN EN GINEE B’ S SCHEME. ' AMERICA TO AUSTRALIA IN FOUR DAYS. United Press Assn, by El. Tel. Copyright (United Service.) NEW YORK, April L>. An air service linking America with Australia in four day* is possible at the present stage of aerial development by means of artificial islands, according to an American group, which lias I'ecu organised to construct such. islands in the Atlantic. They will extend the service to the Pacific as soon as they have proved the worth of the European route. The construction of an island that will withstand the worst buffeting of the seas is already practicable, they say, models constructed by Mr E. R. Armstrong, a well-known engineer, having remained level under tests which would swamp the largest liners. Mr Armstrong’s island consists of a huge platform resting upon buoyant tanks with ballast underneath. The island will be anchored bv concave discs lowered to the ocean’s floor, where a combination of suction with the pressure of the sea upon the discs makes them absolutely immovable. Each island will cost about £500,000 to build. They will be placed; about 400' miles apart, with hotels, supply houses, repair shops, etc. The inventor, Mr Armstrong, who is chief engineer for the Dupont Co. and lias a great reputation among engineers, has been working to perfect the island for 10 years. Models have met the most rigid tests devisable. The only obstacle, he predicts, ’is international objections to pushing the artificial islands. close to the countries against which they could be used as-air bases in case of war.