FLIGHTS AROUND WORLD

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18756, 9 July 1924, Page 11

FLIGHTS AROUND WORLD

MACLAEEN IK JAPAir. FURTHER STAGE COVERED. NOW APPROACHING TOKIO. 8y Tekgrspb—Pwss Aasodaiioa— Copyrish* (Beceived G. 5 p.m-) A. and N.Z. TOKEO. July 7. The British airmen under Captain A. S. MacLarcn, who are flying around the world, have arrived at Kasumigaura from Enshimoto. They are expected at Tokio shortly.

TERRIBLE AIE BATTLE.

AVIATORS* EXCITING TRIP.

OVER MOUNTAIN AND JUNGLE.

LONDON. Jtmo 29. Capt. MacLa«m has arrived a Bangkok, the capital of Siam, and will leave to-day for Hai-phong, the principal seaport of Tongking in continuation of his flight round the world. The flight from Bani goon to Bangkok was a most difficult undertaking. With his companions Capt, MacXaren reached Tavoy, Burma, early on Friday, and intended to complete the flight to Bangkok that afternoon, but low clouds hung over the mountains and storms were getting worse every minute. These conI ditions compelled the machine to fly at 100 ft. from the ground and only by a miracle did it miss crashing on the mountains. 1 Flying-officer Plender-Leith, who was acting as pilot, put up a wonderful performance, while the machine was buffeted like a cork in a torrent. Eventually it was. found to be a sheer impossibility to continue, so the airmen returned to Tavoy, and anchored in the river. Tavoy was kft again on Saturday afternoon. The mountains were still covered with clouds, but the intrepid aviators squeezed through between two mountain-tops and then flew over sheer jungle until they sighted the Tenasserim Eiver. This they followed for some distance, and then flew over the next range to another jungle valley. They had a • terrible passage through severe storms, but it was impossible to land. Eventually, they cleared a third range with the machine bumping and rolling, while below lay one vast jungle. Passing Kanburi and Pathom, they landed at Donmuang aerodrome, dead tired. A message from Calcutta states that the American hydroplanes now at Calcutta were divested of their floats yesterday on the River Hoogly. The airmen then flew to the aerodrome, from which they will resume their world flight, using the machines as aeroplanes, on Wednesday. Their floats will be taken to Karachi by the escorting destroyers and refitted for the flight across the Persian Gulf. •■'

PROGRESS OF AMERICANS. ARRIVAL AT CHARBAR, Eeuter. ' DELHI." July 7. The American* airmen who are flying around the world left Karachi this morning. They have now reached Charbar.