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Otago Witness, Issue 4048, 13 October 1931, Page 27

STRAIN OF THE FLIGHT NERVES BADLY AFFECTED. LONDON, October 8. r. Symonds, the nerve specialist, told Kingsford Smith that he had imposed too great a strain on his system. He refused to sanction his returning within three months. - Kingsford Smith is discussing with his wife by telephone whether be will leave for Australia immediately by steamer with a view to making another attempt to break the double record, or whether she will come to England and remain during the winter. COMING BACK BY STEAMER. LONDON, October 9. Acting on medical advice, Aircommodore Kingsford Smith will return by steamer. He will embark on the Orford to-morrow. The doctors state that his heart is organically sound, but severely strained as the result of nervous exhaustion. “ They scorned my plea to let me fly,” said Kingsford Smith, “ and said I would perhaps collapse over the sea. They would not consent, so I am leaving my machine here, and I am returning for it in March. I am determined to make the record home. After that I am abandoning long-distance flying, unless a regular air mail is established, for which, perhaps, I will do survey work.” LONDON, October 10. Before embarking on the Orford with a suitcase of hurriedly bought clothes, Kingsford Smith explained that he was leaving immediately to get the benefit of the sea voyage. He is anxious to recuperate as soon as possible in order again to attempt the Anglo-Australian record. He regretted that he had no time to discuss the mail service question with Imperial Airways. Mollison, who said farewell to Smith, is planning to leave Lympne on November 2 in an attempt to secure the record from England to Capetown, using the machine in which he flew from Australia.