SAFE CROSSING

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 16 April 1928, Page 5

SAFE CROSSING

CONQUEST OF ATLANTIC GERMAN FLIERS’ TRIUMPH. GREENLY ISLAND REACSHED. FLIGHT IN SNOW STORMS. 'TTJHTED PRESS ASSOCIATION— BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH—COPYRIGHT.) (AUSTRALIAN PRESS ASSOCIATION.) NEW YORK, April 13. Confirmation of tiie safe landing oi the Bremen at Greenley Island, Labrador, was. received by a wireless niessawo to the North German Lloyd office from Baron Von Huenefeld, one ql the crew, as follows: —“jVlatle safe inteimeiiiate landing on Greenley Island, necessitated by lack of fuel and stiong head winds encountered o-n the way. The “New York Times” received a message from the Halifax radio station statin«■ that the Canadian Press and Canadian Pacific Railways confirmed the landing. The machine is undamaged and the crew are .safe. The New York correspondent of the Ullstein Agency of Berlin wirelessly telephoned his proprietors the following despatch : “All the circumstances indicate that the report that the Bremen landed at Greenley Island is true. lam trying to get confirmation by wireless and as soon as this is obtained a Junkers aeroplane, the only one of its kind in the United States and which has been kept here as a sample machine, will probably try to reach there, as no other means of getting to the island quickly, exist. Greenley Island is heavily ice-bound ‘ and trading vessels will probably not venture into northern waters for probably a month. The only other possibility is sending dog sledge teams front Quebec.” Henry Schopzel, the North German Lloyd representative, sent the following message to Baron von Huenefeldt: “In view of the reported damage and on account of your lack of fuel, your machine, the Junker PIS, will be sent to you to continue the flight.” There are conflicting reports coneening the time of the landing . Furthermore, it is now stated tnat the machine is only slightly damaged, although the aviators are uninjured. Efforts are being made to secure an aeroplane equipped with skis at Boston or Quebec in an effort to reach the fliers. It is likely that they will be brought to Npw York within the course of the next few days. REMOTENESS OF ISLAND. There is some belief that if the Bremen is not too seriously damaged she may be able to continue from Greenley Island to New York. The remoteness of the island on which the aviators landed is emphasised by the delay that occurred in word of their safety reaching the outside world. The messengers had to traverse the 20 miles between the island and the radio station either on foot or by dog team over ice. A Quebec telegram says : The first message detailing the flight stated that the Bremen wandered about- the skies lost in the dense fog for four hours, arid was forced to land at 5.30, eastern .standard. The machine was damaged and possibly there will be a delay in the flight to New York of some days. Food and shelter are obtainable. The. Government ice-breaker Montcalm left the Gulf of St. Lawrence today under forced steam for Point Armour (Labrador) to bring the airmen to C'anada on Sunday or Monday. Two Canadian ’planes are leaving to-dav or to-morrow to rescue the airmen.

The first, definite new.s from the fliers says the ’plane is so badly damaged that it is unable to continue the flight for several days. The airmen are in good condition. An Ottawa message says the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. W. F. McKenzie King, sent a telegram of congratulation upon the safe arrival of the airmen on Canadian territory. All business was held up while the news "was read. THOUSANDS . AWA IT ARRIVAL. Colonel Ralston announced in Parliament that the Bremen was forced down in a snowstorm on Greenley Island, where a lighthouse was situated. He said the fliers would be well cared for by the lighthouse employees. With the possible exception of Lindbergh’s flight to Paris, no aviation event has so stirred this city and the rest of the country as the Bremen’s hop. Apart from the thousands crowding Mitchell Field in expectation of the fliers’ arrival, such news as was,available throughout the night and day was broadcasted by radio. The newspaper offices received thousands of messages of inquiry, and even at this late hour it is difficult to make telephone connection with any metropolitan journal, due to the continuous flow of requests for information.

The fliers’ safety is now apparently assured, and messages of felicitation are being sent to them and to Europe, British war veterans here being the first to wireless their congratulations to Coin man dan t Fitzmaurice. Commander, Byrd is cabling congratulations to the German nation.

There is a complete lack of details as to the manner and the reason for the landing on Greenley Island. Calculations made here indicate that the distance between the point of departure and the landing of the Bremen is 2125 miles, although the machine probably flew further, due to the fog. The flight occupied 34 hours 32 minutes. Wind and not compass variations are believed to have been the chief contributing. factor which threw the ship ofT |f ,<5 course, the side-wind probably taking it further and further north every hour after departure.

A NTGTTT OF THRILL*. WATTING FOR THE NEWS. GREAT REJOICINGS IN GERMANY. LONDON. April 14. Dublin reports state that after a night of anxiety Mrs. Fitzmaurice was informed at two o’clock on Saturday morning that her husband was safe, and she exnressed deep thanks. Evc-v Atlantic flight has been resoon si ble for an extraordinary series of circumstantial reports, unfortnnntolv without foundation, but watching the, pi-,ogress of the Bremen from fondon was. thrilling in the extreme. Aft^ v tfvh-o disappeared from TTelfind on Thursday morning absolutely no word was received in England until

4.10 <m Saturday afternoon, approximately 35 hours after the start. After the evening papers published the fact that it was feared another tragedy had happened came an urgent message from New York that the Bremer had passed over King’s Port, Nova Scotia, at 3.45 g.m.t. The position and time corresponded approximately with where the ’plane should lie. Trie public, believing it was merely another rumour, paid small attention to it, but in the succeeding hour came message upon message from various centres along the .American coast that the Bremen had been seen and heard. By several she was imported to lie flying so high that she was a mere speck in the skv. In every case the time and position were approximately right. The reports aroused widespread interest. The climax carne during a night of thrilling anticipation, when this dramatic message was flashed out by the news agency tape machines at 9.45: “Direct wireless telephone message from New York to Berlin announces the arrival of the Bremen at Mitchell Field, New York, three-quarters of an hour ago. An enormous crowd greeted the fliers. Bands played the German and American national anthems as the machine landed.” There followed a vain wait for confirmation from New York. An hour passed without result, when there came the stunning announcement that each and every message was without foundation.

The effect in Berlin was electrical. Earlier in the day when the machine was overdue at Newfoundland the German papers published the gloomiest series of circumstantial reports. Towards evening they transformed Berlin into a. city of wild joy. An uncontrollable crowd seized newspapers and rushed the cafes, wildly proclaiming an Atlantic victory. Thereafter the second report definitely announced that the Bremen had crossed the Atlantic at four o’clock g.m.t., and due at New York at S p.m. The cruel wireless telephone rumour is thus far unaccounted for, but it is attributed to New York irresponsible* to set lingering doubts at rest. The Germans threw themselves over to unrestrained rejoicings. The scenes were reminiscent of Paris on the occasion of the false Nun gesso r-Coli rumour. Crowds stormed Koehl’s home. His wife’s- face was beaming with delight. She said: “I am overjoyed. I always knew lie would win through, and I will tell him so presently when I speak to him over the ,\ ( lan tic telephone.’ ’

Even the broadcast stations sent out vivid descriptions of the landing, and the welcome, news was also spread by thousands of loud speakers in the parks and open places, hut jov was turned to anger on the realisation that the reports .were, without foundation. THE ■ STORY OF FITZMAURICE. The “Daily Express” aviation correspondent reavels that Commandant Fitzmaurice, on the night before his departure, said to him: “I do not think there is a sporting chance.” Nevertheless he was desperately keen. He knew the odds were against success, but he went into the adventure with his eyes open. He added: “For a decent chance we want three engines, 60 hours’ fuel, and wireless. Personally, I think navigation is the chief cause of failure. There is nothing to go by when one is flying uncharted seas against the rotation of the earth. Nobody knows what magnetic effect this will have on the instruments.” Commandant- Fitzmauroe scoffed at the idea that paraffin oil would avoid the peril of ice on the wings, saying it would all he evaporated before they left the Irish coast. A noted cross-Channel pilot advanced the theory that the magnetic influence might iso disturb the instruments that even the altimeter might be so affected as to register thousands of feet high when the machine was actually flying close to the sea. John Redfern, a linotype operator of Sheffield, father-in-law of Commandant Fitzmaurice, says “Fitz”is a regular dare-devil; a typical. dashing, good-humoured Irishman. His marriage was a real love affair. Mr. Red fern’s daughter was only 16 when she met “Fitz,” who joined the- British Army when only 15. Tie served in France with the 17th Lancers and the West Kents. “Unknown lo each other Fitz and T were in the same trench in the Somme in 1916, said Mr. Redfern. “Fitz later joined the Air Eor-e and earned the reputation .of a daring mint. He was one of a party selected to raid Berlin in 1918. but the proiect was cancelled by the Armistice. Tie ioined the Free State Air Force in 1921.” The happiest women in Germany are Baron von Hucnfeld’s aged mother and Koehl’s young wife. Cheering erowds surrounded their houses all dav long. The former repeatedly came on to the porch, over which she nailed i gilded horseshoe and acknowledged ncolnmations.

The ox-Kaiser cabled his congm tnlnt.ion.s to the aviators, paying a special

tribute to the German aeroplane industry. which, though gagged, was able to construct a machine capable of performing such a feat. JUBILATION IN IRELAND. G Eh'M AN I 'ri ORGUG HNESS AX J > IRISH COURAGE. LONDON, April 14. The Irish Free Suite is jubilant, at [lie Bremen’s sinocenrs. Mis J' itzmaurioe was overcome by emotion on hearing the news of her husband’s safe arrival, She said he had achieved his life’s ambition, as ,hei had tanked, for ten years, ot flying the Atlantic.” But lie will do no more stunt flying if I can st<bp him,” she added. “I have not slept since my hiusband left.” Mrs, Fitzmaurice added that GovernorGoneral Air McNeill, and the Bienner, Ali- Cosgrove, had issued a. statement praising the achievement and expressing .gratification that an Irishman was associated with the venture. The Civic Guard and the Fro? State Army jointly pay a tribute to the (success: as a, combination of German thoroughness. and Irish courage. Air Sompill, president of the Royal Aeronautical Society, while warmly congratulating the fliers and admiring their pluck, initiative and, .skiP, says they' must not be led away to believe the day of frequent crossings of the Atlantic in either direction is necessarily nearer. . Personally, he was- inclined to the view tlraic an Atlaintic air .service will only be made practicable by airship. Though aeroplanes are not ruled out, flying boats: must be used to ensure safety and regularityMrs Hincheliffe said Captain Hinohcliffe told her before, starting that he might have to strife? in a north-wester Indirection. This was exactly what happened to the Bremen. Fifty _ miles to the north of Greenley Island lies desolate Eskimo country, where it is likely Captain Hincheliffe landed. IT If, as I expect, the. Eskimos are taking care of him, I will not resign hop? until. midJune. when, the melting snows will enable him to communicate with us,” she added.

BIG WELCOME PLANNED. WHEN AVIATORS REACH NEW YORK. Received 10.10 a.m. to-day. NEW YORK, April 15. Interest in the Bremen’s flight seemingly has doubled overnight, the. safety o’ the fliers and their peculiar isolation adding to the interest. Literally hundreds of messages of congratulation from American fliers and men prominent in official life have .been wirelessed to the Hie is. President Coolidge’s felicitations were sent h,\ wireless immediately after the news ol the binding had been confirmed. He is also congratulating the .Irish and German nations. . New York city is planning an official welcome to the fliers on their arrival here, to he on an unprecedented scale. Efforts will be made at a great State dinner to broadcast the speeches made bv them around the world.

“Big Bill’ Thompson, in the name of Chicago, has sent a wireless message to the aviators inviting them to he the guests of the city.