CHASING LEADER

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21938, 23 October 1934, Page 9

CHASING LEADER

DUTCHMEN'S EFFORT PARMENTIER AND PARTY ARRIVAL AT SINGAPORE ALL FRESH AND SMILING RESUMPTION OF FLIGHT By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received October 22. 7.50 p.m.) SINGAPORE, Oct. 22 A great race is likely to develop between Messrs. K. 1). Parmentier and <J. J. Moll, Dutch competitors, and the Americans, Colonel Roscoe Turner and Mr. Clyde Pangborn. The former flew over the land route from Allahabad to Singapore, losing considerable time. The Americans are understood to have flown direct, thus greatly decreasing the Dutchmen's lead. Mr. Parmentier and his companions, however, reached Singapore this afternoon. Looking as though they had stepped out of a band-box the members of the party alighted from the big Douglas as fresh after a 48 hours' speed test as though they had just dressed for dinner. All were smiling and happy and showed no signs of fatigue. After 35 minutes spent in refuelling Mr. Parmentier took off for Batavia, whence, following the usual mail route to Kocpang, Timor Island, he will fly to Darwin. Batavia was reached at 10.30 a.m. Greenwich mean time and left again shortly afterwards. Interviewed before he left Alor Star Mr. Parmentier said he was extremely tired. Fraulein Rasche, a passenger, said the trip had been wonderful, especially the night flying. She could not get financial backing to compete herself. A message from Batavia states that the ground conditions there and at Sourabaya, Rambang and Koepang are all favourable. Messrs. K. D. Parmentier and J. J. Moll, on arrival at Allahabad, said they had had the smoothest journey in their experience over the route. They hope to catch Mr. Scott. They are nursing their engines, but hope to go full out after leaving Singapore. Mr, Parmentier lost two minutes in taking off. After taxiing a few yards he found one of his three passengers was missing. The machine was stopped and the passenger, who had run frantically across the aerodrome, was picked up.