AVIATION.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIII, Issue 1709, 27 December 1919, Page 5

AVIATION.

ROSS SMITH BREAKS DOWN.

By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright Vustralian-NeW Zealand Cable Association SYDNEY, Doc. 26. Captain Rom Smith proposed to read Syndey at noon on Sunday. A. round ol festivities is. being arranged, including chimes of bolls, dinners, and a public welcome in the Town Hall.

Roes Smith’s arrangements have been upset owing to the breakdown of his engine. After starting from Chnrlovillo a fault was discovered Jn an engine compelling the aviators to descend after travelling- five miles. It was found that a connecting, rod had como off tho crank-shaft breaking the crank arm binding ihe shaft. The Defence Department to-day advised that it is doubtful _if the engine can be repaired. Ross Smith wired the Sydney reception committee stating that he cqnnot be in Sydney on Sunday. As Ross Smith dispensed with all duplicate parts before leaving India, the probability is that tho machine will be dismantled and railed to Sydney, where duplicates will be awaited from London or India, Crowds from Charleville flocked to view the famous disabled machine.

POULET ABANDONS HIS FLIGHT. Australian-New Zealand Cable Association ; _ LONDON, Dec. 23. A Rangoon message states that Poulet broke a piston rod, and -has abandoned his flight. Ho is shipping his machine to Franco. POULET WILL CONTINUE. Australian-New Zealand Cable Association. Received December 87, 10.27 a.m . PARIS, Dec. 26.. M. Poulet intends to continue the journey to Australia. CAPE TO CAIRO. FLYING ROUTE MARKED OUT.

Australian-New Zealand Cable Association Received December 27. 11.40 a.m. LONDON, Dec. 24. . The Air Ministry announces that, after twelve months’ work, three survey parties have explored the various zones of the Capo to Cairo living route, and cleared aerodromes’ landing grounds, about 200 miles apart, along a selected route which follows the Nile for the greater part of the way to Khartoum. Thence through Uganda it skirts the eastern side of Lake Victoria, crosses over German East Africa, Bulawayo, Pretoria, Johannesburg and Bloemfontein to Capetown. The aerial route is approximately 5200 miles in length.

GENERAL SEELY’S WARNING.

Australian-New Zealand Cable Association LONDON, Dec. 22.

General Seely warns the Government that Germany has begun the utmost development In aviation by subsidising aerial transport and securing the retention of all the designing staffs possible, to convert to war purposes future peace machines, which will probably be all

metal. In a few hours, even minutes, the enemy in the. next European war will aim at instantly destroying his antagonist’s seat of-government, moans of production and transport and thus render military operations ineffective. Owing to their slowness, surface ships will have a poor chance. . . ./