THE BREMEN

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20384, 16 April 1928, Page 7

THE BREMEN

FLIES ATLANTIC OCEAN.

FROM EAST TO WEST.

NEWS THRILLS TWO CONTINENTS.

AVIATORS UNINJURED.

CONFLICTING REPORTS REGARDING

MACHINE.

Following three tragic attempt* to cross the Atlantic from east to west by aeroplane, the two German aviators, Baron Huenefeld and Koehl, and Commander Fitzmaurice, chief of the Irish air force, have successfully piloted their ’plane, the Bremen, across the vast expanse of ocean. The monoplane started for New York from Ireland at 5.30 a.m. on April 12, and has made a forced landing at Greenely Island, off the coast of Labrador. The first gallant attempt to make the flight from east to west by aeroplane ended fatally to two distinguished French airmen. Captains Nungesser and Coli, who left from Paris, and after safely passing Havre were never seen again. Another attempt was made by Colonel E. Minchin and Captain L Hamilton, who left England with the Princess LowensteinWertheim, but they were also lost. The third attempt was made, quite recently, by Captain Hinchciiffe, who had with him the Hon. Elsie M’Kay. On this occasion also nothing more was heard of the flyers after they left land. The chief difficulty of the flight by aeroplane from east to west is stated to be the unfavourable winds caused by the earth’s rotation.

(United Press (By Electric Telei

Association.) graph—Copyright.)

EARLIEST CHEERING NEWS.

at Boston or Quebec in an effort to reach the flyers. It is likely they will be brought to New York in the course of the next few days. There is some belief that if the Bremen is not too seriously damaged she may be able to continue from Greenely Island to New York. The remoteness of Greenely Island, on which the aviators landed, is emphasised by the delay which occurred in word of their safety reaching the outside world. Messengers had to traverse 20 miles between the island and the radio station, either on foot or by dog team, over ice.

ST. JOHN’S (Newfoundland), April 13. The Bremen was reported this evening at Greenely Island. A second St. John’s message states that at 6.30 Eastern standard time the Marconi wireiess operator at Point Amour reported a ’plane at Greenely Island at the western entrance of Belle Isle Straits. The weather was thick and there were no further details.

At Manchester (New Hampshire), at 7.15 an amateur wirless operator picked up a message from the Canadian Government station at Louisberg (Nova Scotia) stating that a ’plane, believed to be the Bremen, crossed the Bay of Fundy at 7 o’clock. The machine was too distant to identify.—Australian Press Association —United Service. A later New York message states: The Postal, Telegraph Company has announced that it has received confirmation from Point Armour, Labrador, that the Bremen waa forced down on Greenely Island. There are no details.

LOST IN THE FOG.

ICEBREAKER TO THE RESCUE.

QUEBEC, April 14. The first message detailing the flight stated that the Bremen wandered about the skies lost in a dense fog for four hours, and that she was forced to land at 5.30, eastern standard. The machine was damaged, and this will possibly delay the flight to New York, Food for some days and shelter were obtainable. The Government icebreaker Montcalm left the Gulf of St. Lawrence to-day under forced steam for Point Armour (Labrador) to bring the airmen to Canada on Sunday or Monday. Two Canadian ’planes and leaving to-day or to-morrow to rescue the airmen.

THE NEWS CONFIRMED

The first definite news from the fliers says that the ’plane is so badly damaged as to be unable to continue her flight for several days. The airmen are in good condition.

A FORCED LANDING.

LACK OF FUEL AND STRONG HEAD WINDS.

WELL CARED FOR.

OTTAWA, April 14,

NEW YORK, April 13. (Received April 15, at 5.5 p.m.)

The Prime Minister has sent a telegram of congratulations upon the safe arrival of the German airmen on Canadian territory. All business was held up while the news was read. Colonel Ralston announced in Parliament that the Bremen was forced down in a snowstorm on Greencly Island, where a lighthouse was situated. He said that the fliers would be well cared for by the lighthouse employees.—Australian Press Association.

Confirmations of the safe landing of the Bremen at Oreenely Island, Labrador, were received by a wireless message to the North German Lloyd office from Baron von Huenefeld, one of the crew, as follows :—“Made safe intermediate landing on Greenely Island, necessitated by lack of fuel and strong head winds encountered on way.’’ The New York Times received a message from the Halifax Radio Station stating that the Canadian press and the Canadian Pacific railways confirmed the landing of the Bremen on Greenely Island. The machine was undamaged and the crew safe.

SCENES OF ENTHUSIASM

INTENSE EXCITEMENT IN NEW YORK.

NEW YORK, April 14, (Received April 15, at 5.5 p.m.)

With the possible exception of Colonel Lindbergh’s flight to Paris no aviation •event has so stirred this city and the rest of the country as the Bremen hop. Apart from the thousands crowding Mitchell Field in expectation of the fliers' arrival, such news as. was . available throughout the night and day was broadcast by radio. The newspaper offices received thousands of messages of inquiry, and even at this late hour it is difficult to make telephone connection with any metropolitan journal, duo to the continuous flow of requests for information. The fliers’ safety is now apparently assured, and messages of felicitation are being sent to them and to Europe, the British war veterans here being the first to wireless congratulations to Commandant Fitzmauriee, Chief of the Irish Air Force/- Commander Byrd has cabled congratulations to the German nation.

The New York correspondent of the Ullstein Agency of Berlin has ; ust wirelessly telephoned his proprietors the following despatch : —“ All circumstances indicate report that Bremen landed Greenely Island is time. Am trying to get confirmation by wireless, and as soon as obtained Junker aeroplane, the only one of its kind in the United States, and which has been kept here as a sample machine, will probably try to reach there, as no other means of getting to the island quickly exists. Greenely Island is heavily icebound, and trading vessels will probably not venture into northern waters for a month. The only other possibility is sending dog sledge teams from Quebec.

There is a complete lack of details ns to the manner of, and reason for, the landing on Greenely Island.

Mr Kenry Schopzel, the North German Lloyd representative, sent tho following message to Baron von Huenefeld : —“ In view of the reported damage and on account of lack of fuel for your machine the Junker Fl 3 will be sent to you to enable yon to continue the flight.” There are conflicting reports concerning the time of tho landing. Moreover, it is now stated that the machine is only slightly damaged, and that the. aviators are uninjured. Efforts are being made to secure an aeroplane equipped with skis

FREE STATE JUBILANT. SOME TIMELY OBSERVATIONS. LONDON. April 14. The Free State is jubilant at the Bremen’s success. Mrs Fitzmauriee was overcome by emotion on hearing the news of tho safe arrival. She said her husband had achieved bis life’s ambition, ns be had talked for 10 years of flying the Atlantic, “ but be will do no more stunt flying if I can stop him. I have not

slept since my husband left,” she added,

Governor-General M'Keill and Mr Cosgrove have issued u statement praising the achievement, and expressing gratification that an Irishman was associated with the venture. The Civic Guard and the Free State Army jointly pay a tribute to the success as a combination of German thoroughness and Irish courage.

Mr Seinpill, president of tbe Royal Aeronautical Society, while warmly congratulating the fliers and admiring their pluck, initiative, and skill, says they must not be led away to believe that the day of frequent crossings of the Atlantic in either direction is necessarily nearer. Personally, he was inclined to consider that the Atlantic air servier will only bo made practicable by airship. Though aeroplanes would not be ruled out, flying boats must be used to ensure safety and regularity.

A SAD NOTE,

LONDON, April Id. Mrs Hinchcliffe said that Captain Hinchcliffe told her before starting that he might have to strike in a north-westerly direction. This is exactly what happened to the Bremen, Fifty miles o tin» north of Greenely Island lies the desolate Eskimo country, where it is likely Captain Hinchclilfe landed. ‘‘ If, as I expect, the Eskimos are taking care of him. I will not resign hope until raid June, when the. melting snows will enable him to communicate with us.”—Australian Press Association.

LONDON, April 14. (Received April 16, at 5.5 p.m.) Dublin reports that after a night of anxiety Mrs Fitzmaurice was informed at 2 o’clock on Saturday morning that her husband was safe, and she expressed deep thankfulness.

FALSE CIRCUMSTANTIAL STORIES.

REPORTED LANDING IN MITCHELL FIELD.

JOY TURNED TO ANGER

LONDON. Anvil 14.

Every Atlantic flight has been responsible for an extraordinary series of circumstantial reports, tin fortunately without foundation, but watching the progress of the Bremen f"om London was thrilling in the extreme. When she disappeared from Ireland on Thursday morning absolutely no word was received in England until 10 minutes past 4 on Saturday afternoon, approximately 35 hours after the start. After the evening papers had published the fact, it was feared that another tragedy had happened. An urgent message was received from New York stating that the Bremen had passed over King’s Port. Nova Scotia, at 3.45, the position and time corresponding approximately with where the ’plane should be, but believing it was niere.lv another rumour small attention was paid to. it, but in the succeeding hour came message upon message from various centres along the American coast that the Bremen had been seen and heard by several. It was reported that she was flying so high that she was a mere speck in the sky. In every case time and position woro approximately right. The reports aroused widespread inlerest. The climax came at night, thrilling anticipation, when this dramatic message was flashed out bv the News Agency tape machines at 9.45: “ A direct wireless telephone message from New York to Berlin announces the arrival of the Bremen at Mitchell Field. New York, threequarters of an hour ago. An enormous crowd greeted the flyers, rnd bands played the German and American National Anthems as the machine landed." There followed a vain wait for direct confirmation from New York. An hour passed without result, when came the stunning announcement that each and every message was without foundation. The effect in Berlin was electrical. Earlier in vhe day when the machine was overdue at Newfoundland the German papers published the gloomiest series of circumstantial reports. Towards evening they transformed Berlin into a city of wild joy. The uncontrollable crowd seized newspapers and rushed cafes wildly proclaiming the Atlantic victory. Thereafter a second report definitely announced thrt the Bremen had crossed the Atlantic at 4 o’clock, Greenwich mean time, and was due at New York at 8 p.m. The cruel wireless telephone rumour is thus far unaccounted for, but it is attributed to New York irrespousibles to set lingering doubts at rest. The Gormans gave themselves over to unrestrained rejoicings. The scenes were reminiscent of Paris on the occasion of the false Nungesser rumour. Crowds stormed Kochls’s home, his wife’s face beaming with delight. She said :“I am overjoyed. I always knew he would win through, and I will tell him so presently when I speak to him over the Atlantic telephone.”

Even the broadcast stations sent out vivid descriptions of the landing and the welcome news was also spread by thousands of loud speakers in the parks and open places; but the joy was turned to anger on the realisation that the reports were without foundation.

NOT A SPORTING CHANCE,

COMMANDER FITZMAURICE’S CONVICTION. LONDON, April 14. The Daily Express’s aviation correspondent reveals that Commander Fitzmaurice, on the night before his departure, said to him; “ I don’t think there is a sporting chance." Nevertheless he was desperately keen. He knew the odds were against success, but he went into the adventure with his eyes open. He added; “ For a decent chance we want three engines and 60 hours’ fuel and wireless. Personally I think navigation the chief cause of failure. There is nothing to go on when one flying uncharted seas against the rotation of the earth. Nobody knows what magnetic effect this will have on the instruments.”

Commander Fitzmauriee scoffed at the idea that paraffin oil would avoid the peril of the ice lodging on the wings, saying that it would all be evaporated before they left the Irish coart. A noted cross-channel pilot advanced the theory that the magnetic influence might so disturb the instruments that even the altimeter might be so affected as to register thousands of feet high when actually flying close to the sea.—Australian Press Association —United Service.

HAPPY WOMEN

GERMAN FLYERS’ RELATIVES

EX-KAISER'S CONGRATULATIONS. BERLIN, Anril 14. (Received April 15, at 5.5 p.m.) The happiest women in Germany art von Huenefold’s aged mother and Koehl s young wife. Cheering crowds surrounded their houses all day long. The former repeatedly came on to the porch over which was nailed a gilded horseshoe and acknowledged the acclamations. The ex-Kaiser has cabled his congratulations to the aviators, paying a special tribute to the German acroplone industry, which, though gagged, was able to construct a machine capable of performing such a feat.—Australian Press Associa-tion-United Service.

DAREDEVIL FITZ.MAURIGK. LONDON, April 14. John Eodfern, linotype operator, of Sheffield, father-in-law nf Commandant Fitzmaurice, says that “ Fitz.” is a regular

daredevil—a typical dashing goodhumoroured Irishman. His marriage was a real love affair. His daughter was only 16 when she met “ Fitz., who joined the British Army when only 15. He served in France with the 17 th Lancers and the West Kents. Unknown to each other “ Fitz.” and I were in the same trench in the Somme in 1916. “ Fitz.” later joined the Air Force, and earned the reputation of a daring pilot. He was one of a party selected for a raid on Berlin in 1918, but the project was cancelled by the armistice. He joined the Free State Air Force in 1921. Australian Press Association—United Service.

DISTANCE COVERED SY ’PLANE,

NEW YORK, April 14. (Received April 15 at 11 p.m.) Calculations made here indicate that the distance between the point of departure and the landing of the ’plane was 2125 miles, although the machine probably flew further, due to the fog. The flight took 34 hours 32 minutes. Wind, and not compass variations, are believed to have been the chief contributing factor which threw the ’plane off its course, a side wind probably taking them further and further north every hour after their departure.—Australian Press Association.

CONGRATULATIONS. LONDON, April 15. (Received April 15 at 11 p.m.) Sir Samuel Hoaro, Secretary of State for Air, and the German Ambassador at London. Dr Sthamer, sent congratulatory messages to Mr Cosgrove. President of the Free Slate, on the success of the flight.—Australian Press Association.