AVIATION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17730, 15 September 1919, Page 6

AVIATION.

' PROPOSED FLIGHT TO AUSTRALIA. WAR OFFICE APATHY. : Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, September 11. Australian competitors in the flight to Australia are greatly disheartened by the apathy of the Imperial war authorities in . assisting the venture. The latter declines ■ to allow the aviators to fly over foreign countries. It is ascertained that the Sopwith Company has already expended approximately £7000 in preparations for the flight. As / there are six competitors, it is estimated that the initial outlay will be not far short of £50,000. ■ - If the flight be undertaken this year it must begin before October 15, otherwise the weather will preclude an attempt until , next year. If the Australians desire to compete for the prize offered, it will be necessary that the Commonwealth Government should exercise its influence with ; the Imperial authorities in order to pre- ; vent the idea from falling through A and N.Z. Cable. DETECTION OF CRIME. FIRST USE IN ITALY. ROME, September 10. The first use of the aeroplane in the ; 'detection of criminals is reported from Capri (an island off the Bay of Naples), ; where the police suspected an Englishman named Green of running his villa as a baccaret den. They secured an aeroplane, made a night flight, landed in the grounds of the villa, and captured a party of aristocratic gamblers.—A. and N.Z. Cable. B33'S TRIP ABANDONED. LONDON, September 13. ; (Received Sept. 14, at 5.5 p.m.) \ Owing to the probable difficulty of landing, R33 abandoned her visit to Paris and ; returned to England after flying over Holland and French, and Belgian battlefields ; —A. and N.Z. Cable.