AIR INQUIRY

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIX, Issue 160, 7 June 1929, Page 7

AIR INQUIRY

CONCLUSION OF EVIDENCE.

LIEUTENANT ULM RECALLED. ALLEGATION DENIED. (United Press Association.—By Electrio Telegraph.—Copyright.) SYDNEY, June 6. The air inquiry was resumed to-day. Charles Ulm was recalled. He was questioned concerning the allegation made by James Portus, assistant manager to the Shell Oil Company—that a couple of years before the flight of the Southern Cross lie had a conversation with Flight-Lieutenant Ulm at Cantor’s Hotel, Sydney. lllm then suggested as a means of focusing public attention on some proposed flight that wireless should be installed on an aeroplane and that they should get lost in Central Australia. Witness stated that he never at any time suggested to Portus that he should undertake a flight round Australia, and get lost for publicity purposes. Such a statement was not even made as a joke. Ulm added that when a flight round Australia was mentioned a couple of years ago, Portus was always putting him off, and was unable to say definitely w'hether the Shell Company would stand behind such a venture. “In other words, I did not trust him, 1 said Ulm. Witness added that lie approached another company, this time successfullyIn accordance with a promise, made earlier at the inquiry, Ulm submitted a number of proposals for the better control of long-distance exploratory flights, the chief of which was that honorary advisers should be appointed to assist aviators of this type. William Sutherland, of the Vacuum Oil Company, related a conversation with Lieutenant Anderson before the latter began his search. Witness asked Lieutenant Anderson where he thought the Southern Cross had come dow r n. Lieutenant Anderson made a mark on a map in witness’s office. It proved approximately to be within a few hundred yards of where the Southern Cross was actually found. Witness also marked a spot which proved to be 120 miles wrong. A. third party pinpointed a spot nearer Darwin. Witness undertoook to produce this map. Recalled, Ulm stated that the spot allegedly marked or indicated by Lieutenant Anderson was at least 100 miles from where they were forced down. Wing-Commander Wackett gave the committee many suggestions about the type of radio gear needed for long-dis-tance aviators. He produced a set carried in a haversack; the set had been in touch with Auckland, New Zealand. Norman Paul, a former resident of the Port George Mission read letters received from the Rev. George Baird, of the Mission. The writer described the country between the Mission and where he found the Southern Cross crew in a starving condition. Mr Baird walked both ways. Leaving the Mission at 9 a.m., ho reached the marooned men at 3.30 p.m. He described the aviators as fools to undertake a flight over that territory during the rainy season. Kingsford Smith stated in evidence that he had no recollection of a conversation in Cantor’s Hotel in which Ulm suggested to Portus that lie and Ulm should lose themselves in Central Australia.

The evidence has now concluded, and the sitting adjourned. The report will be ready in a few days.

KOOKABURRA’S FLIGHT.

ADELAIDE, June 6

The party journeying in the motor truck is nearing the scene of the illfated landing of the Kookaburra. The party lias seen only two white women since leaving for Central Australia.