CAIRO TO CAPE

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 10546, 24 March 1920, Page 6

CAIRO TO CAPE

THE FEAT DESCRIBED GREAT BATTLE AGAINST THE ELEMENTS. TROUBLES ON THE! JOURNEY.

By Telegraph—Press Assn Copyrig-ht Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. CAPETOWN, March 22. The official log of Colonel van Rynoveld shows that his total flying timo was 109 J hours. He loft Cairo on February 10th, but a leak in tho radiator obliged him to make a forced landing in tho dark, and the machine was irreparably damaged. The engines were intact, and were convoyed to Cairo and refitted to a new machine; and tho flight was resumed on the 22nd. At Khartoum leaks were discovered in tho wator-jacket», and the cylinders had to be changed. On tho stage from Khartoum to Mongalla the aviators encountered tho most extraordinary experience of their trip. At one timo they lost height to the extent of about loOUft in little more than a minute, and at another they had a sudden drop of 2000 ft. This they attributed to passing alternately over large patches ot burnt and unburnt grass country. Flying across Uganda, they encountered some of which rose as high as 8000 ft. They were forced to land, at Shirati by engine troublos due to the climatic conditions. After leaving Abercorn, 3500 ft above sea level, where they discarded everything indispensable in order to rise easily, they had on iniious time on the way to Ndola. Owing to an interruption in the petrol supplyj the machine gradually lost height while flying over tha dense bush. Matters were black, tout owing to the loss of weight through the consumption of petrol, a level course was maintained to Ndqla. Bulawayo was eventually reached. When they were leaving <>n March sth. the machine failed to rise in a "dead" patch of air, and was completely wrecked. The Union aeroplane "Voortrekker" was Rent to Bulawayo, and the aviators resumed the flight to Capetown. On the way they encountered a thunderstorm, which badly chipped the propeller, and completely tore off the binding. The propeller was replaced and the journey was completed. The Government has awarded a prize of £SOOO, to he divided between Colonel van Ryneveld and Lieutenant Brond. JAPANESE PIONEEiRS. TOKIO, March 22. Three Japanese army airmen flew from Tokio to Seoul, with stops at. Hiroshima and Taiku. The journey occupied three days.