THE SOUTHERN GROSS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20263, 24 May 1929, Page 11

THE SOUTHERN GROSS.

INQUIRY CONTINUED

VMRNING FROM WYNDHAM.

STATEMENT BY WITNESS

SMITH GIVEN MESSAGE.

PRESS CHARGE DENIED.

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright.' (Received May 23. 0.55 p.m.) SYDNEY, May 23. The Comnntteo of Inquiry set up to investigate the forced landings of tho Southern Cross and the Kookaburra, also tho loss of the search aeroplane D.H.9A. continued its sittings to-day. The tribunal comprises Brigadier-Gen-eral L. C. Wilson, solicitor, of Brisbane; Captain G. Hughes, president of the New South Wales Aero Club; and Mr. C. N. McKay, president of the Victorian Aero Club; Mr. J. IT. Hammond, K.C., assisted the committee. Clifford Bennett, employed at tho Richmond aerodrome, stated in evidence that, when an American engineer, Mr. Jlaidmeut. was overhauling the Southern Cross after the Pacific flight he removed a box of emergency rations. In so doing he remarked to witness: Do not lose sight of this box. It contains emergency foodstuffs for the fliers. The box was placed on the floor of the hangar at Richmond. Witness said he never saw it afterwards. Frank Burke, attached to Richmond aerodrome, said he received a message over the telephone from tho postmaster at Richmond on March 30 signed by Captain Clive Chateau, of Wyndham, saying the weather -was fine, with drying winds. Later witness received another message warning the fliers against starting for Wyndham without receiving a final >" 0.K." He said he handed that message to Squadroti-Leaclor Kingsford Smith just as the flight was commenced. Hirold Litchfield, navigator of the Southern Cfoss, was asked by Mr. Hammond what lie thought of suggestions made in a certain newspaper to the effect that the crew of the Southern Cross had arranged beforehand to loss themselves and that somebody was to find them.

They are malicious lies, replied the witness.

Continuing, Litchfield said that owing to the impossibility of taking observations tin the flight he had to rely on dead reckoning most of the time. After leaving the Port Georgo IV. mission station and turning back to seek it a southerly drift carried the machine to tho south of the mission.

The inquiry was adjourned until Mon dav at "Melbourne.