COBHAM IN MELBOURNE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19416, 26 August 1926, Page 12

COBHAM IN MELBOURNE

REMARKABLE RECEPTION.

MOBBED BY THE CROWD.

DAMAGE TO THE MACHINE. a . ABOUT FIFTY PEOPLE INJURED. [from our own correspondent. 3 SYDNEY, Aug-. 20. When Mr. Alan J. Cobham, the ambassador of civil aviation, as the Sydney papers have been, styling him, left this city last Sunday "morning in continuation of his great flight from England to -Melbourne, he little guessed, that the impetuous enthusiasm of the huge crowd that waited for him at the Melbourne aerodrome would nearly prove his undoing, and the cause of many casualties. Yet that was so. After spending four days in Sydney, dunng which he was royally entertained and he himself created a fine impression upon all with whom he came in contact, Mr. Cobham set out from the Mascot aerodrome shortly after eleven o'clock on Sunday morning. It was perfect flying weather and the king of airmen made a perfect flight southwards, covering the distance of nearly 600 miles in little more than four hours. Shortly before half-past three o'clock the great Do Haviland plane was hovering over the aerodrome, ready to land.

Mr. Cobham made two or three circuits of the Victorian capital and then an amazing sight broke upon his eyes. He was surprised to find that the enclosures surrounding the landing ground were black with people—the crowd was estimated by those in charge of arrangements at between. 80,000 and 100,000. Mr. Cobham at first refrained from landing immediately, intending to give the vast assemblage a glimpse of the powers of the De Haviland in the air, but then the airman noticed that the crowd was breaking through the barriers erected by the police and encroaching on the landing space. At once Mr. Cobham decided that ho must land at once if he was to do it at all. The crowd .was already trickling through to the landing space, and these foolish people set off in a panic-stricken rush when the death-dealing propellor of the aeroplane drew near them, as Mr. Cob-ham-taxied across the ground. But im*" mediately the machine came to a standstill, the mob rushed frantically toward the official enclosure. The Aeroplane Damaged. Chairs which had been placed for the official reception, and wireless apparatus for broadcasting purposes, were trampled underfoot. ' The confusion ;,was made worse by the screaming of women and children. It was impossible ty make a passage for Mr. Cobham, and after vain attempts he was lifted shoulder high by aii force men to tho accompaniment of a cheer from tho struggling crowd, and away was fought to the. reception room. The police were handicapped, as they did not have batons and they were forced to use their fists. Tho official party was swept away, and scattered. The Lord Mayor was carried far out into the landing ground. One trooper tried to protect tho aeroplane, but the fabric was.damaged in several places and a strut was | fractured. At least 50 people were injured in the scramble,, a few seriously enough to bo taken to hospital. ■

Mr. Cobliam has taken his enthusiastic receptions as a token of the interest Australians are taking in civil aviation, but those who know their Australians better believe that they are the symbols of several of our national characteristics—our native curiosity, our inclination to worship heroes, our hospitality that, sometimes borders on the uproarious. But at all events Australians intend them as a mark of appreciation of a sterling feat, though Mr. Cobham himself is inclined to regard that feat in a matter-of-fact way as a very ordinary performance- that will become as common as steamer voyages within the next decade or so. After his 'plane Has been overhauled at Melbourne, Mr. Cobham will start on • tho return journey to England in a speedbreaking effort. In the Australian portion of it, lie has slightly altered his original itinerary' and will now first proceed to Adelaide and thence direct north through Central".Australia to Danvin.

■ . Stimulation oi Interest. Undoubtedly tho flight has stimulated interest in Commonwealth aviation circles and proof of this is a tiiooted flight by Australian airmen from Melbourne to London. At present this proposal has not reached the official stage. Officers of tho Civil Aviation Department in Melbourne have freely discussed it. They point out 'that we have the men capable of doing it, as well as machines. They instance tho noteworthy flight made by Australian aviators the same day that Cobham flew from Charleville to Sydney. Leaving Charleville a few minutes before Cobham, Colonel H. C-. Brinsmead, Director of Civil Aviation, with Captain Jones + pilot, ' and Inspector Howard, mechanic, "flew to Bourke, and thence to Melbourne, a distance of 820 miles, in but little more time than Mr. Cobham took to reach Sydney, 600 miles. Captain Jones has many notable flights to his credit.