PACIFIC CROSSED

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 2 June 1928, Page 5

PACIFIC CROSSED

CAPT. SMITH SUCCEEDS.

ARRIVAL AT HONOLULU. EVER YTHING IN GOOD ORDE R. (UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION—BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH—COPYRIGHT.) (AUSTRALIAN PRESS ASSOCIATION.) Received 9.25 a.m. ,to-day. HONOLULU, June 1. The “iSou'thern. Cross’ passed the steamer M'anoa at 2.35 Pacific standard time, an Lour and la 'half ahead of schedule, at. a speed of eighty miles per hour and at an altitude of 4500 feet. 'She wfas then 750 .miles front Honolulu and on her true course. The weather was perfect. As she passed the ship, the ’plane discharged rockets and displayed a strong light. The crew wired their best wishes and asked for the latest baseball scores. It stated that the motors and crew were O.K. The airmen expect .to arrive a. 10 a.m. The Southern Cross” landed (a't Wheeler field at 9.40 a.m.

SPEED' INCREASED WITH LIGHTED LOAD'. Received 9.40 a.m. to-day. SAN FRANCISCO’, June 1. When the “Southern Cross’’ was three hundred miles from Wheeler field her speed was more than one hundred miles per hour and it increased as the islands drew near.

JUST ENOUGH GAS' TO MAKE IT

HONOLULU, June 1. The “Southern Cross’’ radioed when KJ.S miles out that there was “just enough gas to make it.’’ DUTIES ON THE PLANE. Received 10.10 a.m. to-day. SAN FRANCISCO, June I. Late messages from the airmen stated that the crew took meals regularly, and frequently drinking stimulating draughts of coffee from thermos bottles. Lieut. Ulrii was at the* controls for a period after midnight, while Captain Smith first slept and then operated the radio. Warner had been sending eon-, istantly from the time of the take-off till Captain Smith relieved him.

A. BEAUTIFUL TRIP. *

FLIERS TIRED BUT HAPPY

Received 10.15 a.m. to-day

HONOLULU, June 1. Captain Kingsiord Smith on landing said: “We had a beautiful trip, no* trouble at all. We will continue as we planned to Suva.’’

The ffiers, tired and happy, left the field immediately for their hotel. The navigator, Captain Lyon, said: “We were never lost, but we lost the radio beac-on three hundred miles out from San Fran cisco and never picked it up again.” The time occupied for the trip was 27 hours 27 minutes.

BEARINGS FROM CRUISER

Received 10.10 a.m. to-day

HONOLULU, June 1. .* Mutual wireless received a message that the “Southern Cross’ got her bearings from the cruiser Richmond and reported that land was sighted.

MORE MESSAGES WHILE FLYING Received 10.45 a.m. to-day. •HONOLULU, June 1. As the first/ streaks of dawn set a "low on the Hawaiian Islands, the “Southern Gross” was four hundred miles from her goal, the first lap of her flight to Australia. With the approach of the fliers mast intense interest in the history of trans- Pacific- flightsgripped this city and the road to Wheeler field represented a moving caravan, hundreds of automobile passengers being bent upon witnessing tlm arrival of the Australians-. At 6.35 а. the “Southern Gross’’ wired : “Sighted land, ’plane making good time, weather fine.” A message at б. stated: “Clouds fooling us; thought we sighted land, but guess not. Can fly four hours more; radio reception out of order.’’ Riec-eived 9.55 a.m. to-day. HONOLULU, June 1. Early this morning the “Southern Cross” radioed: “Guess were lost; radio A battery down, please get ship with receiver to get our bearings on my 740 wave; will keep going so they . can track ns.”

AUSTRALIAN ASSISTANCE PROMISED. Received 11.30 a.m. t-o-dav. CANBERRA, June 2. The lit. Hon. S. M. Bruce informed the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ League that everything possible will be done to safeguard the lives of Captain Kingsford Smith arid his companions by the Navy anti Aviation Departments, who were watching the progress of the flight closely. DANGER SPOT PASSED. ’PLANE APPROACHING HAWAII. UNITED SERVICE.) SAN FRANCISCO, May 31. At 8 p.m. the “Southern Cross” reported her location as latitude 31.45 north, longitude 138.10 west, approximately 950 miles south-west of here. Toe fliers signalled at 7.25 p.m.: ‘‘Speed 75 miles an hour; altitude 4000 feet, lie passed through a pocket- and dropped down a hit, hut are n»»w gain" at 000 rnel iVks.” At 9.36 p.m. messages indicated that the “Scut hern Class” had -passed the hail-nay i.oiri; to Honolulu. The engine* were working perfectly', and 11 1- ■ ispoed averaged 7o knots. The ’plane had passed through tho ‘danger spot ’ where the accidents in the previous Hawaiian (lights are believed to have oee-uiwd. Preparation.® are going forward at Honolulu to -greet i the fliers early to-day. ' A Macka-v radio message a* 10 p.m. ! said the “Southern Crons” had "-ymc- i out,” hut whether purposely or not ! could not be determined. A later message stated the radio came in again at 11.30. but. the operator did not send a ! message. •The “Examiner” inn noun cedi at 11.40 that the. “Southern Cross” was calling, but int-orferenc • prevented, the receipt of the message. At 12.40 a.in. on Friday the following message from the “Southern Gross” (vas picked up here: “Everytiring OK. Stand by.” Tee 'ast report from the eteamer Manoaf stated that the “Southern Cross” was 800 mile* from Honolulu. The ’piano had passed the steamer Maliko.