A GREAT ADVENTURE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19512, 16 December 1926, Page 13

A GREAT ADVENTURE.

SIR ALAN COBHAM'S FLIGHT. STORY TOLD IN A BOOK. A. and N.Z. LONDON. Dec. 14. Sir Alan Cobham, the noted aviator, who recently flew from England to Australia find back, ha 3 published a book entitled " To Australia and Back." In a foreword Mr. S. M. Bruce, Prime Minister of Australia, says: " Sir xilan Cobham has demonstrated that the spirit of Drake and Raleigh and Sir John Franklin and Livingstone still lives in the modern world. If science has added to our comfort, it has also opened new fields for conquests by the eternal spirit of youth and high endeavour, For this flight is evidence that the old qualities of the British race remain unimpaired in the hearts of the Empire's best sons. I offer him thanks and homage." In his book Sir Alan Cobham pays a tribute to Colonel Brinsmead for the aid rendered him at Darwin, and states his appreciation that Colonel Brinsmead travelled 2000 miles to meet him there. This was equivalent to Air Vice-Marshal •Sir Sefton Brancker being sent 500 miles beyond Constantinople to meet an airman coming to England. " But," he adds,l quickly learned that the Australians think nothing of distance. Many motored 100 to 200 miles through bush tracks to see our machine. " I was amazed to find at least 150,000 people meeting me at Melbourne. It was the. biggest crowd I have ever seen. It is obvious that the people of Australia are more alive to the importance of Imperial aviation than are those at Home. " Australia is the most perfect country in the world for flying on every day of the year;''