AMY JOHNSON ARRIVES SAFELY AT ATAMBOEA.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 24 May 1930, Page 6

AMY JOHNSON ARRIVES SAFELY AT ATAMBOEA.

AS Well and Plane Undamaged.

' Australian Press Assn.—United Service. Received Friday, 8 p.m. WELTEVREDEN, May 23. Amy Johnson is safe. She landed aft Haliloelik, a village near Atamboea, yesterday evening. She proceeded by motorcar to Atamboea and intends to return to-day. She will then fly back to Atamboea. The time of her departure from Atamboea on the last stage of her flight to Darwin is not yet known. - This massage was sent by the Dutch East Indies radio authorities. It added that Miss Johnson is well and her machine uninjured. A message to evening papers stated that uneasiness was felt about Miss Johnson, as, since passing Bima-she was then heading for Atamboea—nothing had been heard of her. The wireless station at Kocpang, which is in telephone communication with Atamboea, was specially kept open until eleven o'clock last night (Java time), but reported at the closing hour that there was no -news of Miss Johnson. * Lands Sixteen Miles From Destination Received Friday, 10 p.m. • KOEPANG, May 2k Amy Johnson was obliged to land at six yesterday evening. The reason is unknown. Nearby was the Catholic mission of Haliloelik, sixteen miles from Atamobea. Motor-cars were sent to bring her to Atamboea this morning after which she motored back. Whole Dutch Indies Anxious and Sympathetic Received Friday, 11 p.m. WELTEVREDEN, May' 23. Amy Johnson landed twenty kilometres south of; the landing field at Atamboea on the main road to Koepang near the Portuguese boundary. As Haliloelik is entirely isolated and without telephones the whole of the Dutch Indies from yesterday evening till this morning were alarmed on account of the absence of news. The War Department had instructed the various commanders of garrisons in the outer possessions to take necessary measures, while the Resident at Timor instructed the Government steamer at present in Timor to search for the missing girl. At the saem time two Dornier Wal seaplanes from Sourabaya were on the point of starting for Timor to look for her. All these measures were cancelled in the nick of time when Timor and Kocpang received at ten o'clock (Java time) / the first report of her safe landing, thereby relieving the anxious tension not only because of the unusual interest in an important, world flight but on account of the general personal sympathy for the brave girl. Best News for Many a Day ' . • Received Friday, 8 p.m. SYDNEY, May 23. The news of Miss Johnson's safety was broadcast throughout Australia after lunch to-day. It was described as the host news the people had heard for a long time and caused a feeling of profound relief. LEAVES AT DAWN TO-DAY FOR DARWIN Received Saturday, 2 a.m. WELTEVREDEN, May 23. Amy Johnson has arrived at Atamboea in her plane from Haliloelik. She is hopping off lor Darwin to-morrow (Saturday) at dawn.

What a Wonderful Relief! FATHER'S FIBST WORDS ON HEARING GOOD NEWS. Received Saturday, 2 a.m. LONDON, May 23. "What a wonderful relief," were the first words of Amy's father when told she was safe. Her mother w<is terribly worried, neither of :-j3 could feel certain she would reach Australia." Noted Airman Considers Flight Wonderful GREAT DANGERS ENCOUNTERED. Few aviators are more compent to speak of the difficulties and trials of .the', long flight from England to #Australia than Flight-Lieutenant S. .1. Moir, who pays a high tribute to the achievement of Miss Amy Johnson. In his two flights to and from Australia Mr. Moir met with many obstacles anil difficulties, and when he ultimately reached London after the crash of his -machine in Greece he 'refused to take ■tlic advice of friends and return home by. .steamer. Instead he insisted on making the return journey in a Vick-ers-Vcllorc machine, and after passing through many perils he almost, met. disaster when, within an hour's journey of Darwin, his engine' began ro give. out. Darkness overtook him, <ujd h< sent up flares, Avhich were seen by i lonely watcher at Capo Don'lighthouse, where he landed, and was isolated for many days while Captain Brain searched for him and his companion. Flying Officer Owen. Thev were eventually brought to Sydney. "•I regard Miss Johnson's flight 'is wonderful." lie says.' "Memories' 'com" to me of the journey over strange land" and seas, when 1 flew to England an.l

back. I had company, but Miss Johnson, alone, and without the experience of others who have covered their names with glory, has passed through many perils. Only those who have experienced the thrills and trials of the long journey can see in true perspective the greatness of her flight. "Daily I have followed her flight, and when I read that she had reached Bagdad my mind went back to thu time when Flying-Officer Owen and r landed there. My companion was stricken down by the terrific heat. Dangers in Persia. "From Bagdad to Karachi we ran into some of the hottest and heaviest of weather. We flew over the Persian Gulf — a hazardous route, as was experienced by the fliers Piper and Kay. The very fact that they had so much trouble is a tribute to the success and capacity of Miss Johnson in her age over that region without mishap. "Because I have some little knowledge of the country crossed by her I can appreciate the greatness of her exploit. Alone hour after hour and day after day in her flight she has to guard against the danger of being lulled to sleep by the drone of the engine. "She has no companion to keep her ■company—no help if anything happens, and no one to assist her if she crashes in lonely or hostile country. She has no mechanic to help her with the engine, and no one to lend a hand if the engine breaks down. "She must solve all her own problems, must personally attend to the machine, and when she lands in some desolnle place at the end of the day must overhaul the machine, tired 1-honrrh w he mav lie. and nr'epar'o for the rftn'tinuatio'i of her'' ■ptmc flight;- 1 'Onlv a woman of gr>at pluek_ and character pnidd essay, such ~a. task, t and her achierenierit'fh'ns far sf'amps. her. as a>> exceptional woman.'""''' ' '''"' Eobbor Bands. "Miss Johnson faces danger the

whole way through. Her journey has taken her over places where unfriendly tribes might menace 'her,, and in her flight over the'./P'ersjan .GulfJ,, if she had been forßed^by-bfti'k-weather into the interior and brought down, she would havA.had -to fiice .(linger from robber bands, whjch infest tho .country? "I .can-not.: ■.•spealf:t:foo of f bo. meniornble-. and ; '>poeh-ma'khig ' .flight. and the whole aviation world-' must thrill at the record of her wonderful journey."