Battling Against Elements to Goal

Manawatu Times, Volume LIII, Issue 6631, 9 June 1928, Page 7

Battling Against Elements to Goal

‘Southern Cross ’ Strikes Worst Weather of Flight

Half Way Across Before Midnight BRISBANE AT EIGHT O’CLOCK THIS MORNING, Australian Press Association—United Service. SUVA, June 8. The Southern Cross hopped off from Naselai Sands at 2.52. They have taken aboard 750 gallons of petrol, and there are about 800 gallons in the tanks. - The Southern Cross passed over Suva at 3.4, Suva time, .flying west. Signals from the ’plane were picked up by two Palmerston North amateurs, Messrs. J. V. Kyle and K. Lane, throughout ihe evening till after mid-night A message received at 10.3 p.m., New Zealand time, stated that for the two hours preceding the Southern Cross had been battling with the worst weather of the whole flight at 7500 ft. to 10,000 ft There had been exceptionally heavy, rain, bumps giving the-’plane several drops of over 500 ft. at a time. A message received a little later stated that at; 11 p.m., Suva time, the ’plane was 838 miles from Brisbane, practically half-way across. . . J • ‘ . At the rate the ’plane is travelling it ‘is anticipated that it will make Brisbane at about 8 o’clock this morning.

TAKES OFF SPLENDIDLY. The Government yacht Pioneer reports that the Southern Cross took o2 from Nasalai Sands without difficulty, and with plenty of room to spare. A Yangona ceremony was performed by a large gathering of Fijians prior to the departure. Captain Smith thanked the natives. The crowd cheered the Southern Cross. The motors were warmed up, and for ten minutes the machine circled then disappeared in the direction of Suva. The fliers were cheered on entering the 'plane. The Southern Cross wirelessed at 4.40 p.m.— “Governor, Suva—Please convey to Mayor Marks and all residents our truly sincere and grateful appreciation of all that has been done for us, ...Long will we remember your wonderful hospitality. Everything has been done for, us; and without Suva's wonderful co-opera- ■ tion our flight could not have been the success we feel sure it now will he. Please also personally thank all Fijians for their great help.— Kingsford Smith." Hard, Grey Sand, An earlier cable yesterday from Suva stated: Major Joske went to Naselai yesterday, independent of the parties there. When the Southern Cross landed she made a perfect landing on an excellent beach of hard, grey sand, half a mile from the petrol depot. The 'plane taxied along the beach without trouble. Delay was caused chiefly through ineufficent time being allowed to filter all the petrol through new chamois leather; also the great difficulty in landing the petrol from'the Pioneer, which was compelled to stand off in choppy water. The airmen finally decided at five o'clock yesterday afternoon that it was impossible to take off, so they fixed two o'clock this afternoon as the time.

The ’plane was then man-handled up the beach by the crew of the Pioneer and the Adi Beti, and the native police sent over from Suva to guard the machine, which was taken above highwater mark. It was a glorious night, and there was no need even to tie the machine down.

Lyons and Warner arrived at Naselai at 3.15 p.m., after a very rough passage in the Adi Beti outside the reef. Lyons lost his glasses when boarding the Pioneer, and the Adi Beti returns to secure them. Lyons will not bo incapacitated by the loss of the spectacles. Sleep at Native Village. At 6 p.m. Smith, Ulm, and Lyons boarded the Pioneer to return to Suva, leaving Warner and Inspector Tucker, the Eupropean police officer, in charge of the machine. They slept at a Naselai native village. Evidently the captain of the Pioneer considered it impossible to leave the anchorage safely, so ho remained all night. There is sufficient food, and the Pioneer will not return till the ’plane has gone. The delay of the Pioneer was a good thing for the fliers, as they were worn out by the festivities at Suva, which might have been renewed if they had returned. Major Joske returned at mid-night. The fliers arc in the best of spirits after a good night’s rest on the Pioneer, The conditions are very favourlb'o, and all are going ashore about soon to get the ’plane in position to itart. Bound the World Next. A message from San Francisco states that Girard M‘Graven, who was chief mechanician for the Southern Cross while at Oakland Airport, said that Kingsford Smith discussed with him his ambition to fly around the world, provided the Australian venture proved successful, continuing the flight from Brisbane. Profit Goes to Crew. A Los Angeles cable is to the effect: Only the four members of the crew of the Southern Cross will share in the profit resulting from the flight, it was said on behalf of Mr. Allan Hancock, their backer, on Thursday. Mr. Eaymond Stephens, Mr. Han-

cook’s attorney, explained that his client desires no personal gain from the flight. He said that the Los Angeles capitalist gave assistance only to further the development' of aerial navigation and in admiration of the perseverance of Smith and Ulm. Mr. Hancock sailed for Mexico the day the Southern Cross took off from Oakland. He was not then aware that his connection with the flight was to become public, but he wirelessed permission on Thursday that his association should be explained How Funds Found The statement by Mr. Stephens revealed, that, deprived of the backing which they expected when they left Australis, Smith an&.Jllnq found themselves stranded, with the airplane mortgaged to stay within the boundaries of California. They also had insufficient equipment and numerous debts. Smith and TJIm met Mr. Hancock through Mr. Andrew Chaffey, a Los Angeles bank president. Mr. Hancock immediately became interested in the fliers, and took a short flight with them. Then he advanced the necessary funds for the project. SOUTHERN CROSS TO CONTINUE FLIGHT TO N.Z. IN ABOUT WEEK. CHRISTCHURCH, Last Night. The Sun newspaper states that after Captain Kingsford Smith has reached Australia he will fly Ms big machine across the Tasman to' New Zealand, landing at Wigram Aerodrome, Christchurch. On this last lap of the flight he will ■bo accompanied by the Christchurch airman, S. F. Napper, a member of the Royal Flying Corps during the war. When he went through training at the same time as Captain Kingsford Smith, of whom he is a close friend, Napper states this arrangement was made between Captain Kingsford Smith and himself. When Captain Smith passed through Wellington, goUg to America, Napper states, Smith promised he would leave Australia for New Zealand about a week after his arrival. 2TA WELLINGTON WILL BE ON AIR THIS MORNING TO RE-BROADCAST ARRIVAL WELLINGTON, Last Night, The Radio Broadcasting Cojnpany New Zealand have arranged to endeav our to re-broadcast from 2YA Wellington a running description of the ar rival of the Southern Cross at Brisbane to-morrow. The description will be given by broadcast station 4QG, Bris bane, and a land lino will connect 4QQ with station 2PC, Sydney, which will relay the description per medium of their powerful short-wave station 2MB on 28.5 metres.

As short waves travel well in daylight, it is anticipated that reception in Wellington will be satisfactory enough to re-broadcast it by the Wellington station, which will bo on the air from D a.m. to 2 p.m. specially for the occasion. SOUTHERN CROSS SHOULD ARRIVE BETWEEN 8 AND 9. WELLINGTON, Last Night. At 8.30 o’clock to-night, New Zealand time, broadcast station 2BL, Sydney, announced that at the then rate of progress of the Southern Cross, she was expected to arrive at Brisbane between 8 and 9 o’clock to-morrow morning. Shortly after 8 o’clock last evening a listener-in in Wellington heard from broadcast station 2BL, Sydney, that they had just received a wireless message from the South Gross as follows: “8 p.m.: Latitude 21.12 deg. south, longtitudc 171.24 deg. oast.” The children’s session was then being conducted by 2BL, Sydney, and the station switched over to their short-wave receiving station which was then receiving Morse broadcast signals from the Southern Cross. The clicking of the aviator operator’s key was heard with considerable volume from Wellington loud speakers. Shortly after 9 o’clock to-night, New Zealand time, broadcast station 2BL, Sydney, switched over to their short-

wave receiving station, and permitted listeners-in to hear the operator on the Southern Cross sending a Morse message. The message was interpreted by 2BL as follows: —

‘ 1 Time on • airplane 9 p.m., latitude 21.47 deg. south, longtitude 170.01 east, altitude 5000 ft., cloudy. Will see you later.” The announcer of 2BL commented that evidently the aeroplane had passed out of the stormy area which it had encountered. About 9.35 o’clock to-night, New Zealand time, station 2BL, Sydney, called station SIX), Melbourne, and SCL, Adelaide, asking them to request an Adelaide amateur transmitter to desist transmitting on top of the wave length of the Southern Cross. He was intorferring with the reception in ney2BL, Sydney, announced that prior to the aeroplane encountering the storm area she was making 96 miles an hour. When she hit the storm her speed was reduced to 73 miles. 9.10 p.m., New Zealand time, the aeroplane was 180 miles south of Neiw Caledonia and 90 miles northeast of Walpole Island. At 9.36 p.m. New Zealand time, the aeroplane sent the following moise message to Suva and Honolulu. “Cheerio. Harry and Jim.” At 10.13 o’clock, New Zealand time, the following morse message from the Southern Cross was picked up in Wellington: “Direct drops of over 400 ft. A series of mean tricks by the elephant on a last stage. Smithy and I are wet throgh, but as soon as the moon comes up and ‘blind flying’ ends for the night we will have a spot of pur emergency rations of whisky. lam too cold to write more with gloves. Will send later. Cheerio. We will get there O.K. Signed Ulm.”

PALMERSTON NORTH IN TOUCH WITH THE ’PLANE,

Palmerston North radio enthusiasts in possession of short wave wireless sets or adapters, were able to keep touch with the Southern Cross all last night, and intercept its messages to Australia and Fiji. After setting out, the fliers’ first message .was one of thanks to the people of Suva for their hospitality. In a message to the Sydney Sun Lieutentanf* Ulm radioed:— “We took off from Naselai Beach with 880 gallons of fuel so will have enough for 25 hours, but should be in in about 18 or 20 hours. Sorry we could not take off yesterday but felt we were not justified in commencing to take risks when so near our goal. It will bo good to see old Brisbane in the morning. Carrying letters to the Governor from Suva. This is the life.— Lieut. Ulm."

Later he morsed: “As Smithy just remarked, it is really remarkable how one’s air-mind expands. A few years ago a 1700-mile flight over water wai enormous. Now it is the shortest of oil three hops. Please thank all who sent cables of congratulation to Honolulu and Suva. Wo have been unable to re ply individually. Cheerio.—Lieut. Ulm At 6.50 p.m., the ’plane notified that it was longitude 173 cast, latitude 20 south, which is about 350 miles from Suva. Battle Against Heavy Weather. A message about 8 p.m. stated that they were experiencing heavy weather. At 9 p.m. came: We did not want to worry everyone while in*it (the heavy weather) but now wo are out of it. Well, will tell you that for the past two hours we have been battling with the weather, heavy rain bumps giving us several drops of over 400 ft. at once and generally a series of mean tricks by the elements. As soon as the moon comes up and “blind flying" ends for the night, we will eat and have a spot of mir emergency ration of whisky, I am too cold to transmit more. We have no gloves. Will send more later. Cheerio.—Lieut. Ulm. At 9.35 p.m, the ’plane morsed to Suva: Cheerio.—Harry and Jim. At 9.37 p.m. to Honolulu: Cheer to all,— Harry and Jim. 10.3: 22 deg. 15 mins. S. 169 deg. east alt. 2500 ft. KHAB called up Sydney. ‘Wo wanted to work you but now we are out of the storm, wo will toll you that for the past two hours, we have had the worst weather of the whole trip, stormy with rain, and bumped us several times Wo had drops of over 500 ft. We are glad this is our last stage. Smithy and I are wet and cold but as soon as the moon comes up, it won’t be ‘blind flying’. We will have a spot of our emergency whisky. I am too cold to send more, have no gloves. I will send later. We will be there O.K, Lieut. Ulm, KHAB. Half Journey Covered.

11 p.m, Suva time: Southern Cross south of New Caledonia. 838 miles to Brisbane. Expect to arrive at 8 a.m.

11.10: Position now latitutde 22.56 south, longitude 107 east. 12.3: Sent out call, QST do KHAB several times. No message however accompanied. [The ‘Times” is indebted to Messrs J. V. Kyle and K. Lane, of Palmerston North for these messages.]