HAD REVOLVERS AND AMMUNITION

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6884, 13 April 1929, Page 10

HAD REVOLVERS AND AMMUNITION

’Plane Equipment Detailed by Ulm Prior to Flight FOOD AND WATER PROBLEM

On the Pacific flight, the Southern Cross flyers carried a small emergency wireless set in a cavity in the wing. In the same slot, they had a small axe, a hacksaw and emergency rations. A week beforo the proposed flight to England began, Flight-Lieutenant Ulm informed the Sydney Sun that ho had removed this emergency gear from the wing. The purpose of the axo and hacksaw, he said, had been to cut away the three engines of the aeroplane had they been forced down on the ocean. Their plan then was to use the wing as a raft and seek to tell the world of their plight by the emergency wireless set.

Ulm said that he did not expect, however, that there would be any call for the use of the axe and the small wireless set on the London flight, as they expected they would never be out of range of wireless and there would be comparatively little flying over the sea. V From the statement made by Ulm it would appear that, at least, some of this, emergency gear had been discharged. Moire clothes were taken by Kings-ford-Smith and Ulm on the present flight, says the Sydney Sun, than on the Pacific venture. When the Southern Cross left Richmond, Smith and Ulm each woro a sports coat, plus fours and golf socks. In addition, their air force uniforms were stowed away in a cabin, as well as two leather flying suits, with leather thigh boots lined with sheepskin. . Another report states that there were no blankets or tent in the aeroplane. Two Revolvers Carried.

One heartening piece of news published in a Melbourne paper was that in the Southern Cross were two colt ■revolvers and 200 rounds of ammunition, These weapons would kill any game or birds that might be about, as well as being useful for defence in case of attack by hostile natives. If the crew fell in with friendly blacks their food problem would be overcome. There should be po question of water shortage. When the two quarts of water and the coffee in the thermos flasks which they carried were exhausted, they should find plenty of water in the rain-sodden country.

In Palmerston North “GLORIOUS NEWS” WAS VERY WELCOME. Ever since the Southern Cross lost touch with the world, Palmerston North in common with the rest of the Dominion has awaited anxiously news of “Smithy” and his crew. The giant monoplane which first successfully spread its wings over the Tasman was regarded with the same proprietory interest in New Zealand as was the case in the Commonwealth, while the fact that a New Zealander, Mr. C. H. McWilliam, accompanied Kingsford Smith on the last ill-fated flight gave the Dominion an added interest.

Since, the night when the Southern Cross disappeared into the unknown solitudes of Northern Australia, the Times telephone has been kept busy every evening answering inquiries for news of the missing, airmen, i -The first query- in the mouth o£ all classes- of th© community has been for news of .the ’plane, and all information on ' the subject has been eageirly read and discussed. As day after day has passed, however, and the searchers’ Could report no progress, anxie-ty has grown until many have openly confessed alarm for the airmen’s safety. In the minds-of every Neiv Zealander, Kingsford Smith and his creiw stood as national figures, and in their disappearance was felt anxiety of an almost personal nature. When the news of the discovery of the ’plane and the safety of the crew was posted up in the Times window at '3.15 yesterday, a crowd quickly gathered and everywhere the news spread like wildfire. The general feeling of relief was expressed in a typical manner by an excited lady who stopped to read the telegram in the window. “Is this wonderful news true?” she asked delightedly of a bystander and without waiting for the equally delighted assurance, passed on her way as though a personal access of fortune had come her way. There could be only one budget of “wonderful news” and that was the official report of the safety of the airmen. Everywhere was apparent this same feeling of delighted relief from the days of rumour, conjecture, and anxiety. Bad news spread fast hut even before it is good news and all last evening, the telephone wires hummed with enquiries • for the confirmation of the glad tidings.