NEARING GOAL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23331, 25 October 1937, Page 7

NEARING GOAL

MISS BATTEN'S FLIGHT DAY AHEAD OF RECORD DEPARTURE FOR MARSEILLES(United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) LONDON, Oct. 24. (Received Oct. 24, at 7.30 p.m.) Miss Batten made a perfect landing at Mezze Aerodrome, near Damascus, at 4.30 p.m. on Friday, under ideal flying conditions, and left at 4 a.m., local time. Progress reports state that Miss Batten arrived at Tatoi from Damascus at 11.20 a.m., local time, and resumed her flight at 12.35 p.m. She arrived at Naples at 3.45 p.m., G.M.T., on Saturday, and left again at 5.26 a.m. on Sunday for London. The receipt of a message from Beirut relieved the growing anxiety for the safety of the airwoman, who was expected at Cyprus many hours earlier. In the meantime, messages from Nicosia had recounted the officials’ efforts to warn her about the dangerous state of the air field. A cablegram was sent to Damascus, in the hope that she would land there, warning her not to attempt to land at Nicosia. The Daily Mail states that Miss Batten had passed over Damascus and was heading seaward when her radio picked up the message: “ Nicosia air field unsafe after heavy rain.” Therefore, she turned back. The Final Lap Miss Batten retired immediately after her arrival at Naples, intending to have a good rest before departing on her final lap. Her course depends on the weather forecast. Miss Batten is expected to reach London this afternoon, but she has until Monday to beat the record. The Damascus correspondent of the Evening News states that when Miss Batten left Damascus she was bright, full of life and smiling after 10 hours’ sound sleep. She said her plane had performed excellently, without a single mishap. The most critical moment was the crossing of the equator between Batavia and Singapore, where the weather was very unfavourable for night flying. She left Karachi in glorious moonlight, but approaching Basra the heat became unbearable and continued as she flew low across the Syrian Desert. Stormy Weather Experienced The aviatrix said on arrival at Naples: “ I am dreadfully tired after battling against storms since Damascus. They were worse than any I have previously experienced. The wind gusts were sometimes of gale velocity. I saw waterspouts in the Mediterranean. My engine is running beautifully.” The opinion of the president of the Naples Aero Club is that Miss Batten was unlucky to encounter the worst day of the year. It was so bad that the Dutch liner on the journey eastward turned back after crossing the Alps. DEPARTURE FROM MARSEILLES FINAL LAP OF FLIGHT LONDON, Oct. 24. (Received Oct. 24, at 11.50 p.m.) Miss Batten took off from Naples at 5.26 G.M.T. She arrived at Marseilles at 10.52. Miss Batten left at 11.27 for London. FLGHT TO AUSTRALIA MR BROADBENTS ILL-LUCK * DELAYED BY BAD WEATHER ROME, Oct. 23. (Received Oct. 24, at 6.30 p.m.) Mr H. F. Broadbent arrived at 3.40 p.m. G.M.T. and left for Cyprus at 4.30 p.m. The weather conditions for the aviator are bad, and the regular "service between Rome, Milan, and Turin has been suspended. Messages describing Mr Broadbent’s progress announce that he was forced back owing to bad weather and spent the night at Rome. He resumed his journey to Cyprus at 6 a.m. local time. He landed at Tatoi at 1.35 p.m. local time and took off for Bagdad at 2.45 p.m. local time. A message from Athens -states that Mr Broadbent said he is not optimistic about breaking the record owing to his delay at Rome. He seriously thought of going back to London and starting again, but disliked returning. FLIGHT CONTINUED ARRIVAL, AT BASRA REPORTED LONDON, Oct. 24. (Received Oct. 25, at 0.5 a.m.) Mr H. F. Broadbent, who took off from Bagdad at 10 a.m., is reported to have arrived at Basra.