PERTH’S WELCOME

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVIII, Issue 220, 15 August 1928, Page 7

PERTH’S WELCOME

SOUTHERN CROSS FLIERS. COURAGEOUS QUARTET. NEW ZEALANDER EAGER ECUS TASMAN TRIP. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) Received August 15, 11.5 a.m. PERTH, Aug. 15. A civic reception was accorded the Southern Cross fliers at the Town Hall. There was a terrific crowd and the aviators received a wonderful welcome. Tho Mayor, Mr Franklin, spoke in flattering terms of the latest, wonderful achievement of Captain Kingsford Smith and Mr C. T. Ulm, and praised their colleagues Messrs Litchlield (navigator) and McWilliams (radio operator ,of New Zealand) and placed them on tho same high pedestal as Captain Lyon and Mr James Warner and not one whit lees courageous. In reply Mr Litchfield admitted that he had the “wind up” when he hit the west coast of Western Australia. Ho thought for a moment that Perth had shifted. Mr McWilliams said that he felt honoured being associated with such eminent aviators. His part in tho flight to New Zealand would be small compared with that of Captain Smith and Mr Ulm, but he would do his best. Ho was looking forward with eagerness to tho New Zealand flight, and assured his comrades of a cordial welcome there. Captain Smith and Mr Ulm have borrowed a small ’plane for the purpose of visiting friends in the country on Thursday and Friday. Arrangements have been made to move the Southern Cross from the present waterlogged location to a more suitable spot in the country, where thero will be a much better chance of taking off with tho heavy load at tho commencement of tho return journey.