WOMAN OF THE HOUR

Grey River Argus, 14 October 1936, Page 5

WOMAN OF THE HOUR

MISS BATTEN AT SYDNEY WILL FLY TASMAN In Ten Hours FLIGHT FROM LONGREACH. (Aus. & N.Z. Cable Assn.) oYDNEY, October 13. Jean Batten arrived at Longreach, Queensland at 6.30 p.m. yesterday and remained overnight. She had hoped to reach Charleville before nightfall. but a 25 miles per hour headwind reduced her speed. Late in the afternoon the impossibility of reaching Charleville before dusk became apparent, but preparations were made to light Longreach. in ease of a night landing there. She landed at 6.30 p.m. to the accompaniment of the wild cheering of hundreds who had rushed to the Longreach aerodrome. Exhaused after battling with headwinds from Darwin and deaf from the roar of the motor, she had tea in bed at her hotel, and was asleep an hour after her arrival.

Immediately on alighting she made a thorough inspection of the plane. She declined Io discuss her trip, beyond saving that the hop from Darwin had been ‘‘quite fair.”

LATER. Jean Batten left Longreach at, 5.45 this morning. She stopped at Charleville and left again at 9.15. She may also stop at Bourke or Narromine on the way to Alascot Aerodrome, where she is now expected at about 12.30. Hundreds of people have already assembled at Alascot.

The New South Wales Aero Club has arranged a special welcome for her. Over the Harbour Bridge she will be met by an escort of about fifteen planes. LATER. Jean Batten after the 250 miles hop from Longreach had breakfast at Charleville. She said she was refreshed after a night’s sleep at Longreach, but she showed signs of fatigue. She said she hoped to bo at Sydney by one o’clock.

At Sydney she will take a few days’ rest prior to her flight to New Zealand. She is assured of a big welcome at Sydney, wherein the Aero Club is taking a prominent part.

Arrival at Mascot

TREMENDOUS RECEPTION. SYDNEY, October 13. .Miss Jean Batten landed at Alascnt ’drome this afternoon at 2.35 o’clock She received a tremendous reception

Welcomed by Thousands

SPEECH BY THE AVIATRIX. (Aus. & N.Z. Cable Assn.) (ReeeivCfl October 13. 9.25 p.m.) SYDNEY,' October 13. A tumultuous welcome was accord ed ATL'is Batum by thousands who waited for her to arrive at Alascot Aeordrome this afternoon. A formation of some fifteen planes flew outover the harbour, and escorted her to the aerodrome, where sustained applause greeted her neat landing. Amid shouts of ‘‘Bravo .lean!” ‘‘Well done. New Zealand!” she was led to an offieia l dais, where Commonwealth, State, city, and Dom nion officials paid high tributes to her nc.h’io.vome-nt. Mr Taylor represented the New Zealand Government. Miss Batten, who had been delayed by head-winds through to-day’s flight, su'd that she- was sorry she had kept the pcpple waiting so long for her n>Fval. remark’iig. t'o the delight of the crowd: ‘‘But. after al 1 , it’s a woman’s privilege to be ffiite. ’’ She said the occasion reminded her of a similar sccfne over two years ago, but th -s time she had a much better machine, and was pleased she had been able to pul un a hotter performance. She. was particularly glad to arrive in Sydney on such a lovely day.

Aviatrix Interviewed

DETERMINED TO FLY. HOME TO NEW ZEALAND. (Received October 13, 9.25 p.m.) SYDNEY,, October 13. Interviewed by the New Zea’nnd United Pres 1 ’ Association. Aliss Batten said that she was not particularI}' 1 }' tire-d. She had had a good sleep last n’glit. Nevertheless, she was glad that there remained only another 1350 miles to be covered to complete hei scheduled flight. She stated that ‘■he wa s dot.orm nod to fly the Tasman Sea., but she would nor attempt it iwitliiout a’l necessary preparations and precautions. She wonlfl remain in Sydney for a tew days while her engine was beng thoroughly overhauled. She would then -elect a favourable opportunity for. the Tasman flight, She had no intention of fixing u certa'u day. and then living regardless lof the weather. She had every confidence 'in the suitability of her plane) for the project. It couLl take 144 gjplonS giving a rang' 1 of twentv-throo hundred miles. It would, therefore, be unnecessary to load the plane to its full capacity for the,' Tasman crossing.

Miss Batten pointed out. that she was using the machine in which she had crossed the South Atlantic Ocean, which was -a longer hop than that across the Tasman Sea. She was quite confident, although she would not sa v that the l task wan'd he easv. She added: “I woifd not’say that anyth’ng was easv. especially as- far a" navigation is concerned.” Qucsfl'toned regarding her future plans. Miss Batten said that, as far ns she know. she would Ito remaining ; n Now Zealand indefinitely. Rhe said: “That is my home. I am flying home. The record fight was only ine'dental,'” ~ ‘ !?r: ” Conversing with nrcssmom, Miss Da’ton mentioned that she had four hours sleep at Brindisi, three hours at Karachi, throe nf Akyab, and five at Rom pang. That was al' the cfeop she had between England and Darwin. She stated that she spent six months rgarrsing her fl’ght. and she was deIwbted that everything had gone, s n

moothlv. Tier attention li'iv'ng boon draw" fo the suggestion that ‘■he could res’ on her laurels now that she had roach ejd Australia, and thus abandon the

Tasman flight without loss of prestige. | Miss Batten remarked: “That’s what, everybody said when 1 completed my first flight to Australia.” MISS BATTEN’S BROADCAST. (Received October 13, 10 p.m.) SYDNEY, October .13. Miss .Ivan Batten broadcast over the network of Australian B Class radio stations at 7.15 o’clock to-night. She spoke from 2CII ami 2GB Sydney. ASSISTANCE PROMISED. BY AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT. (Received Oct,obeir 13. 10.50 p.mJ SYDNEY, October 13. Miss Batten expects to fly the Tasman in ten hours. The Alinister of Defence,, S:r A Parkhill,, expressing admiration for Miso Batten in the House of Repu‘•■entatives at Canberra this afternoon, said that thei Commonwealth Govern ment would g' v e her every assistance if any was needed, and nothing would be done to embarrass her in her detorminntion to fly the Tasman. Among thosic who personal'y con gratulat-fd the aviatrix were the V'sit’ag German Consul for Nev, Zealand. Doctor TTelentlial; Airs Steven-, wife of the, N.S.W. Prenrer; Mri Prent’ee. who is president of the Neu Zealand AVomen’s Association; Cap tain V. Burgess, of the Civ’l Aviation Board; and Capfa.'n G Lam-on, on behalf of the N.S.AV. Governor. THE TASMAN CROSSING. ADVERSE OPINIONS CANBERRA, October 13. Referring to the suggestion that the Royal Australian Air Force should provide an escort across the Tasman for Jean Batten. Air Lyons said that he conferred with the Alinister of Defence, and the matter would receive full consideration bv the Government. MELBOURNE, October 13.

The Secretary of the Defence Department said that there was no possibility of the Air Force providing an escort for Joan Batten. He added that the Air Force did not have any machines available for such a purpose. The acting-Controller of Civil Aviation. pointing out that Jean Batten’s machine had a British certificate of airworthiness, said that if the machine had to be overloaded with petrol for the Tasman crossing, a communication would be sent to the British Air Alinistry. AUCKLAND. October 13. The Alayor (Air Davis) sent a cablegram to Jean Batten this afternoon; “The citizens of Auckland congratulate you on your historic achievement. There is a pronounced feeling in the community that you should not fly the Tasman. We all know you can do it easilv, but we don't want you to take any risk in a single-engined plane. Without wishing in any way to discourage vou I would personally assure von that your fellow citizens would welcome your agreement to what I know would be their wishes in this matter. Kindest regards from all.” “It is far too big a gamble,” said Air D. AL Allan, chief instructor to the Auckland Aero Club. ‘‘Anyone who knows what can go wrong with singleengined machines knows what she is asking of her aeroplane. I think she should be forbidden from making the attempt, if it is possible to stop her. The fact that she did it over the South Atlanic in the same aeroplane does not alter my opinion. I would not attempt a flight over any large stretch of water with a single-engined machine. ’ ’

Squadron Leader L. Al. Isitt. officer commanding the Hobsonville air base, said the New Zealand aviation authorities could not exercise any’ control over Aliss Jean Batten’s flight. As he understood the regulations, the civil aviation authorities of the country from which the flight would start were the only ones who could forbid it, if they 'considered it foolhardy. Even then,' however, if the machine was efficient and was not overloaded, it was doubtful whether they- could prevent the flight. AVing Commander T. AL Wilkes, Director of Air Services who is visiting Hobsonville, had no comment to make about the flight.

‘‘Of course, I am very anxious about Jean’s proposal to fly the Tasman,” said Air F. 11. Batten, Aliss Batten’s father, ‘‘but I cannot say no. can I? Then, too, Jean is bringing a letter out for the Prime Alinister from the High Commissioner, and she wants to deliver it in the fastest possible time. I’ll be very, concerned when she is doing it, and if she does make the attempt, I have every confidence that she will succeed. Certainly however. I would feel much more comfortable if she did not try, but the only way to stop her would be to burn the aeroplane or lock her up.” ‘‘l am sorry I was not at Darwin to meet Aliss Jean Batten. It was a wonderful performance,” said Air F. G. L. Bertram, Deputy-Director of Civil Aviation in Britain, who returned to Auckland this afternoon from a visit to the Bay of Islands. Asked whether he thought it advisable that Aliss Jean Batten should cross the Tasman by air, Air Bertram said that ho could not answer that question. ‘‘l absolutely refuse to be drawn,” he answered, when he was asked whether the risks involved in the making of record flights were justified. LONDON, October 12. Air F. E. Guest, a member of the House of Commons and Deputy-Mas-ter of the Guild of Air Pilots, in handing the Johnston memorial for Jean Batten, to Captain Lamplough. paid a tribute to her breaking the Australian record. The ‘‘Daily Alirror” in a leader says —Joan Batten must be a most extraordinary young woman. Is she human or superhuman? Are her nerves made of steel or reinforced concrete? The dream of physical isolation for nations will become more than ever a dream, if she and others like her, continue in this vein. Perhaps it is time we ceased squabbling about sex equality. PARIS, October 12. The Air Alinister, AL Cot, telegraphed to Lord Swinton: ‘‘l beg you to transmit to Jean Batten my con gratillations, and those of French aviation on her magnificent flight.

Atlantic Air Race

NO RESTRICTIONS. (Received October 13,. 10.40 p.m.) PARTS, October 12. There wiF be virtua'ly no restric Hons impo-cd on the pilots and plane in the Paris-New York aw race thn: is to lie held. Certificates of a.’rworthl ness will not be required. The race wMI be confined to lam 1 planes, each carrying a w're'ess re eoivor and transmitter. The distance of 3645 mFes must be completed in 40 hours. The prizes will be five thousand

pounds, three thousand pound-’, and two thousand pounds. MONOSPAR MISDIRECTION SYDNEY, October 13. Exhaustive tests, including a flight across the Timor Sea, will bo made in connection with the Air Board s investigations into the alleged inaccuracy of the wirless direction findingstation at Darwin. There is no suggestion of carelessness or incomp"' ence on the part of the staff of the Royal Australian Air Force.

‘‘The Signals Branch is operating in the direction of finding a set at Dar win,” said Air H. A. Digby, aviation manager for Robert Bryce and Company, Melbourne agents for the Monospar plane. He added that the inquiry into the reasons why the machine went off the course was desired purely to ascertain whether any phenomenon existed that might make bearings from the station unreliable, under any given set. of circumstances. LONDON. October 12.

Owing to bad weather the Zeppelin Hindenburg radioed asking for the permission of the Air Alinistiy to fly over England. This was granted, after which tho Zeppelin was seen over Bradford and Leeds. NAPLES, October 12.

Scott and Guthrie arrived from Cairo, after an adventurous flightScott said that they refuelled at Brindisi where thev received a weather report in Italian, which they could not understand. They met foul weather across the Appennines. necessitating returning, and living round the toe of Italy. LONDON. October 12.

An additional living boat squadron consisting of five Singapore tripleengined planes; will depart on October 14. for Singapore, where they will be stationed, increasing tho Air Force strength to two flying boats and two torpedo bomber souadrons.