ACROSS AUSTRALIA.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 15 August 1928, Page 7

ACROSS AUSTRALIA.

AVIATORS .AT PERTH

PRAISED FOR- LATEST ACHIEVEMENT. (United Press Association —By Electric Telegraph Copyright.) (Australian Press Association.) Received 10.25 a.m. to-day. PERTH, Aug. To. At a civic reception to the Southern CTo«.s fliers, the Town Half was crowded. The aviators acknowledged the enthusiastic welcome at which the Mayor (Mr Franklin) spoke, in flattering terms of the latest wonderful achievement.

Squadron Leader Smith and Lieut. Uhn praised their colleagues, Messrs Litchfield and McWilliams, and placed them on the same high pedestal as Captain Lvon and Mr Warner, and not one whit less courageous. Mr Litchfield, replying, admitted that he had the “wind up.” When they hit the west coast of Western Australia he thought for a moment that Perth had shifted. Mr McWilliams said' that he felt honoured at being associated with such eminent aviator®. His part in the flight to New Zealand would be small compared with that of Squadron Leader Smith and Lieut. Xllrn, but lie would do bis best. Hie eagerly looked forward to the New Zealand flight, and assured his comrades of a cordial welcome there. The leader and Lieut. Ulm have borrowed a small ’plan© for t,fie purpose of visitino- country friends on Thursday and. Friday. Arrangements! have been made to move the Southern Dross from it« present waterlogged location to a more suitable snot in the country, where there will be a niucthi better chance of taking-off with 'a heavy load at the commencement of the return journey.