MID-OCEAN BROADCASTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19962, 2 June 1928, Page 11

MID-OCEAN BROADCASTS.

MESSAGES TO HONOLULU. ROARING INTO THE NIGHT. BEARINGS TAKEN FROM SHIP. Australian and N.Z. Press Association. (Received June 1, 7.16 p.m.) HONOLULU. June 1. Signals from the Southern Cross picked up lato yesterday afternoon and early in the evening by the Mutual Wireless Company indicated that the fliers on board were settling down for a night of smooth flying over the darkest half of their route to fame and glory. The first message received at 4.45 p.m. yesterday read: — "We have been trying to take our/bearings from the steamer Wilhelmina, but it is no good. Her signals are swinging badly. We are trying to eat dinner. It is dark now and the sea seems fairly smooth from our altitude —1200 ft. The motors appear to be running well. We are 800 miles from San Francisco now." A later message read: "We are just 12 hours off (he Mills Field, at Oakland. The western sky is illuminated by the sun and clouds are drifting past us. Our altitude is 3500 ft. We are swinging." The last three words of this message were construed here as meaning that the plane was changing her course. At 6.40 p.m. another message came from the daring fliers as they roared into the night. This said: "We have tested our searchlight. It works, but not much. It Is commencing to get dark now and one notices the steady flame pouring out of the exhaust. The engines are doing their duty right royally and they make one feel as safe as the Pyramids in Egypt." At 9.49 p.m. a further message from the Southern Cross said all was well. The airmen were in communication with the Matson Line's cargo steamer Malikio, and were trying to get their bearings from her. Another wireless despatch from the airmen at 10.44 p.m. said they estimated that they were then 1050 miles from Hawaii and expected to arrive here in 12 hours. A few minutes later they sent the following: "All well. The three motors are still spitting fire regularly. It has been a rood trip. We have now been 16£ hours in the air. The plane is "weaving" slightly, but iv still ploughing along. We are about to take our bearings from the Maliko.''