GIBRALTAR STRAITS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19916, 9 April 1928, Page 9

GIBRALTAR STRAITS.

LONDON GIRL'S SWIM. MISS GLEITZE SUCCEEDS. A. aud N.Z.-Sun. MADRID. April 6. A telegram from Cape Tarifa states that tho London typiste, Miss Mercedes Gleitze, succeeded t on Thursday in swimming tho Straits of Gibraltar in 12h 25m. She started from tho island of Paloma and landed at Punta Leona, near Ceuta, Morocco. Tho girl swimmer started on this, her sixth, attempt to swim the hitherto unconquerable straits at 8.55 a.m. and arrived at Punta Leona at 9.20 p.m. In an interview Miss Gleitze said that for tho first hour it seemed as though sho would make no progress at all, but in the afternoon and evening sho improved and felt she would succeed. She finished without difficulty. On her return to Gibraltar she produced a certificate signed by 60 people, all Spaniards, who bore witness that sho had swum the straits. Tho Military Governor of Tarifa also testified to <ithe genuineness of the claim. SWORN STATEMENT ISSUED. DISTANCE ABOUT 24 MILES. » 'Received April 8, 5.35 p.m.) A. And N.Z. GIBRALTAR, April 7. The statement of tho Military Governor of Tarifa says: " Before God and on my honour Miss Gleitze swam from tho lighthouse at Tarifa and landed at Punta Leone." Miss Gleitze says: " Nono but a malicious person can question my swim. I was accompanied by two fishing smacks and rowing boats. The crew of the latter fed mo. They also played a gramophone and sang." Apparently Miss Gleitze swam 24 miles, although tho direct distance between the two points named is nine miles.