ULM RECOUNTS GRAPHIC STORY OF UNHAPPY HOLIDAY

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6885, 15 April 1929, Page 7

ULM RECOUNTS GRAPHIC STORY OF UNHAPPY HOLIDAY

Plane to be Reconditioned Before Starting Again NO WORD OF KEITH ANDERSON. ’ Australian Press Association. Received Sunday, 7 p.m. SYDNEY, April 14. The Sun states that the first message from the stranded fliers arrived at Sydney late on Saturday night from Ulm. According Yc his companion, Kingsford (Smith said he thought he could take-off from the mud flats as soon as petrol and oil were procured. They proposed to bring Southern Cross back to Sydney for reconditioning before starting again on the flight to England. ' The party was still feeling weak from starvation. Ulm also telegraphed his wife and the Chief Civic Commissioner, Mr. Garlick, extending the thanks of the party for what the Sydney citizens had done for them. Smith also sent a message ic his parents, announcing that all were well and would be reluming to Sydney for overhaul. These messages were lodged at Derby, apparently being taken thither by the ’plane which landed alongside Southern Cross yesterday. This was a Westralian Airways machine, which the aii liner Canberra found there when she made her second trip yesterday with food for the marooned men. Keith Anderson’s ’plane, Kookooburra, is still missing and two R.AA.F. ’planes which have gone in search of her, have not yet reported from Maree or Alice Springs .

Westralian Pilots, Flew Several Times Over Spot ASTONISHED DID NOT GET SIGNAL. COULD EASILY HAVE WALKED TO MISSION. Received Sunday, 7 p.m. SYDNEY, April 14. Messages from Derby state that the Westralian pilots are astonished that Kingsford Smith and Uim did not signal to any of them, as all had flown several times over the spot where Southern Cross landed. Capt. Shadforth, who is in chaTgc of the mission schooner, says ho was at Port Gcorgo* Mission on the day Smith circled overhead and dropped a ntfteHe received directions from the mission and flew off over the ranges. The day was clear. Capt Shadforth considers it would have been an awkward proposition for tho Southern Cross crew to walk to the mission across the ranges. On the other hand, Mr. Pauli, formerly for eight years manager of the Port George Mission, says he knows the country thoroughly. If the airmen had known the country, they could easily have walked to the mission in a day. He thinks they were ablo to hear Sydnoy’s wireless and knew rescue 'planes were searching and considered it best to stay by tho machine. According to messages through Amalgamated Wireless, Canberra landed at Derby yesterday afternoon. Capt. Holden reported that in answer to questions to Southern Cross, it had been learned that tho latter was undamaged and had room to take off. This means that all they need is pertol, oil, and good luck. The men aboard Canberra when the 'plane made her memorable discovery on Friday, were Captain Holden, Doctor Hamilton, the wireless operator, Stannage, two residents of Wyndham, Lyall and Dunn and an Evening News reporter, Davidson, w'ho yesterday gave the world the first coherent account of tho event. Not since the Armistice ha 3 any item of news stirred Australia as did the brief announcement that Southern Cross had been found on Friday. There is no further news this afternoon regarding Anderson. Pilot Heath Drops Down Beside Marooned Airmen CANBERRA DROPS PROVISIONS. SMITH COULD HEAR RADIO, BUT COULD NOT ANSWER. Received Sunday, 7 p.m. SYDNEY, April 14. - Private advices from Wave Hill i»-

dicate that there' is no news that police assistance for tho search is being sought. Tho 'plane which lauded beside Southern Cross was piloted by Heath. The Canberra, according to messages intercepted by Amalgamated Wireless, dropped II parcels of food, clothes, fishing tackle, a revolver and ammunition, also many telegrams of congratulation from all parts of the world; then seeing all was well with the Smith-Ulni party, proceeded to Derby. Canberra's message added: “Kingsford Smith and his crew are now well on tho vay to .being rescued, for while we were dropping provisions, a Westralian 'plane flew up and made a landing ou tho mud flat near Southern Cross.'' Wireless experts believe Southern Cross has been ablo to receive messages from Sydney. Therefore, they knew of the steps being taken for their rescue, but they were unable to speak in reply. A messago for Wyndham to Amalgamated Wireless states: “Holden yesterday dropped a note to Southorn Cross, asking: ‘Can you hear our wireless 1 ' Tho reply was ‘No.' Suggest that Sydney station keep him fully advised of the latest news. Presume it is your short wave wo cau hear, as he gave no' indication that Wyndham's 000 metres signals were being received. “Pilot Holden further suggested transmitting the following message for Southern Cross: ‘Endeavouring to have Koolinda sail for Port George to drop petrol; also to arrange for Derby planes to supply food, blankets and clothes. In case a land party is unable to reach the Southern Cross for a few days, have advised Port George Mission of the rough position of Southern Cross.’ ’’ Another ’Plane to Try To Alight Alongside RESCUE A MATTER OF DAYS. Received Sunday, 7 p.m. SYDNEY, April 13. The air liner Canberra left Wyndham to-day to take more food to Southern Cross. She wirelessed at 1.50: “On the way to the marooned airmen, afterwards going Derby if the landing ground is suitable there.'' Advices from Derby, however, indicate that a very high spring tide there yesterday had saturated the landing ground. Pilot Woods, of the newspaper Sun’s 'plane, which has done great work in searching during tho past ten days, telegraphed from Broome that he knows the spot where Southern Cross landed and when his machine is overhauled, he will fly there and attempt to land alongside and help the party. Pilot Chater, of the Westralian Airways Service, says he flow five times over the locality, chasing native smoke

signals, but a landing was impossible, therefore he was unable to get their news. Captain Chateau telegraphs from Wyndham: “‘lt will be a matter days before the marooned party will be able to Tcturn to civilisation. In tho meantime, they have ample food." Albatross Receives Orders to Put About CITIZENS’ FUND NOT FOB ANDERSON. Received Sunday, 7 p.m. SYDNEY, April 13. The seaplane carrier Albatross has returned to Sydney as tho result of official orders received last night. Mr. Cantor, baekor of Lieut. Keith Anderson, who left in the ’plana Kookooburra to participate in the search for tho Southern Cross and has not reported since Wednesday, urges that measures sXiuld be taken to search for him. The citizens’ committee, which organised the fund for the Smith-Ulm search, has informed Mr. Cantor that it is unable to deal with the matter. R.A.A.F. ’planes from Point Cook left Mildura this morning for Maree. Neither is fitted with wireless. Captain Matheson, in a Goulburn Moth ’plane, was forced down at Duchess, 60 miles from Cion curry, yesterday, owing to engine trouble.

New Zealand Premier Sends Congratulations <> < KEENEST PLEASURE. ’ ’ WELLINGTON, Last Night. The Prime Minister has forwarded tho following cablegram to tho Prime Minister of Australia: “The news of tho discovery of the Southern Cross ,and the safety of the missing aviators has been received with the keenest pleasure in New Zealand and has boon a source of relief from the grave anxiety which we all shared regarding their welfare.” The following cablegram has also been forwarded to the Premier of New South Wales: “New Zealand shares with New South Wales and other portions of tho Commonwealth in the feelings of universal satisfaction in - connection with the discovery of the Southern Cross and tho safety of Squadron-Leader Kingsford-Smith and his companions. May I ask you to bo good enough to convoy to the relatives of the aviators in your State an expression of our congratulations upon the happy termination of our common anxiety as to the welfare of tho missing men.” A telegram has also been forwarded by the Prime Minister to the uncle of Mr Me William, who is living in Auckland.

Story Told Over Wireless PLENTY OF PROVISIONS FOE, MABOONED PARTY. The following wireless messages were intercepted on Saturday from 2BL, Sydney:— . 12.30, West Australian time: Have made our second trip to Southern Cross and again taken them provisions. We have more than a dozen parcels to drop. We have tea, sugar, meat, ,tinned meats, mosquito nets, citronolla, shirts, trousers, vegetables, fruit, tobacco, fishing lines, revolver bullets, etc. Also 85 telegrams. 12.35: Now in sight of Southern 1.30: Have dropped 14 bags of provisions, now going for Derby. While at Southern Cross, a Western Australian Airways machine landed alongside the Southern Cross in the mud. According to ono of tho Canberra crew, the Southern Cross is on the edge of the water. The tracks made in the mud in landing are plainly visible, but tho tail is slewed Tound at an angle of 25 degrees to them, suggesting that the under-carriage bad been carried away. “After we dropped food,” states ono of _ the Canberra crew, “two men attending a small fire on a hill rushed down like 'greased, 'lightning’ and we didn’t see them again for some time.” Just previous to finding the Southern Cross, tho Canberra had descended to 200 feet to investigate some white markings, which proved to bo rocks. On ascending again, another strange white object was observed and discovered to be the Southern Cross. Two men were on a hill keeping a fire going, but it was so small that it might have escaped notice. The Canberra dropped a note stating that they had tried to call up tho Southern Cross by wireless and as thev had not answered, it was taken that they could not hear the messages. One of the Southern Cross men then wrote on the ground a word something like “receive,” which was taken to mean that they could receive messages but could not transmit.