LONDON AND BERLIN

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 16 April 1928, Page 5

LONDON AND BERLIN

INTENSE INTEREST AND EXCITE MENT

Austnlian Press Association

LONDON, 14th April

Every Atlantic lliglil has been responsible fur ;m ext inordinary series of cirt'liinstaiit i:il reports unfortunately with(.lll foundation, lint watching the i>rc>gress of i In- Bremen from London was thrilling in thp. exlremp.

From thp time slip disappeared from Ireland on Thursday morning absolutely no word was received in England until -1.10 on Saturday afternoon, approximately 35 hours after the start ami after the evening papers were published. In fait it was feared that another tragedy had happened. It was an urgent message from New York stating "the Bremen passed over King's Port. Nova Seolia al 3.45, (Jreenwieh mean time." the position and time corresponding approximately with where the 'plane should he. Relieving it merely another rumour, small attention was paid to it, hut in the succeeding hour came message upon message from various centres along the American coast that the Bremen was seen and heard by several. It was reported that she was (lying so high that she was a mere speck in the sky. In every case the time and position were approximately right. The reports aroused widespread interest.

The climax came at. night after thrilling 'anticipation, when this dramatic message was Hashed out. by the news agency tape machines at 9.45: "Direct wireless telephone message from New York In Berlin announces the arrival of the Bremen al Mitchell field. NewYork, three-quarters of an hour ago. An emu iikus crowd greeted tin- flyers, hands played the Herman and American National Anthems, and the machine lauded." Then followed a vain wait for direct confirmation from New York. An hour passed without result, when came the stunning announcement that each and every message was without foundation. The ell'ecl in Berlin was electrical. Earlier in the day when the machine was overdue at New Koiindland, (ierinaii japcis published the gloomiest. nci-ici ;il ci'cumsl.intial reports but. towards evening they transformed Berlin into a city of wild joy. An uncontrollable crowd seized newspapers and rushed cafes wildly proclaiming the Atlantic victory, and thereafter a second report" definitclv announced that the Ih.-men had crossed ihe Atlantic at 4 o'clock, and was due at New York at L' p.m. The crii.l wireless 'eh-phnne inin.in.■ I hits far is unaccounted lot, bet i- all .ii.i.l e.I to New York iir.v.pi.-nsi hie:

To set lingering doubts al :esl the Germans gave themselves over lo tin rest '.'lined rejoicing. 'I he scenes were reminiscent of Paris on i iie decision of ihe fake NnngcssorColi ii.in..nr.

Crowds stormed Kochl's home, his wife's face beaming with delight. She said: "1 am overjoyed. I always knew lie would win through, and I will tell lorn so presently when 1 speak to him i.ver the Atlantic telephone/' Kven broadcast, stations sent out vivid descriptions of the landing and the welcome news was also spread by thousands of loud speakers in parks and open places, I,ni joy u -;is turned In anger on the realisation that the reports Were WilllOllt foundation.

I he "Daily Express" aviation ccrres pendent reveals that Fil/.iiiauriee, oi

I lie nidil before the departure, said to him: "I don't think there is a sporting chance." Nevertheless he was dpr.per ntely keen He knew the odJ> were

against success, hut he went into the adventure with his eyes open. lie added : "For a decent chance we want throe engines and sixty hours' fuel and wireless. Personally I think navigation is the chief cause of failures. There is nothing to go on when one is flying tincharted seas against, the rotation of the earth. Nobody knows what- magnetic elTecl this will have on the instruments."

I'itzmauiice scoffed al the idea that paraffin oil would avoid the peril of ice on the wings, saying it would all be evaporated before they left the Irish coast.

A noted cioss.Channel pilot advanced the theory that magnetic influence might so disturb the instruments that even the altimeter might, he so affected as in register thousands of feet high, when the 'plane was actually Hying close to the sea.