BRILLIANT AND WONDERFUL ACHIEVEMENT.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 15090, 12 December 1919, Page 5

BRILLIANT AND WONDERFUL ACHIEVEMENT.

VALUE OE PREVIOUS SURVEYS. DARWIN MADE "THI-: FRONT DOOR OF AUSTRALIA; (Elec. Tel. Copyright— United Press Assn. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association/. ' LoNdon, Dec 10. The news of Ross-Smith's arrival at DarwiH ci-fcatcd the keenest interest. The newspapers pay a -Warm tribute to the Wonderful feat of endurance and skill. Ministers, sharing m the public interest, followed the final stage of tlie flight, and 1 are sending congratulations through official channels; Mr; Holt Thomas, contractor for the London to Paris mqjl service, told the Australian Press Association that he regarded the flight as one of tho finest aviation exploits on record, reflecting tho greatest credit/ on pilot, crew, plane, engines, and designers. The magnificent performance demonstrates that by flying m relays aerial services soon will become practical throughout tho world. The Australian Press Association intervitvwed General Sykes, Director of Civilian Aviation. He .said that froih every viewpoint Ross-Smith's performance was a brilliant and wonderful one, and would live m the history of "aviation. It Avas intensely satisfactory l to know that the flight had been accoriiplished by an. Australian crew ort a British machine, equipped with British engines, and assisted by a British organisation. Although faced with bad weather, nothing had seriously impeded the remarkable progress. ' 'General ' Sykes added: "Tn" order -to view the feat m. its true perspective, it is necessary to regard, it- as a great pioneer undertaking. It is part of- the spade work, of which much remains to be done . before the dream of Empire air routes can be realised. No one more than Ross-Smith will- appreciate that a large measure of his success is due tb the' "ground work undertaken be~ fore and during the flight, such a* arranging landing grounds, meteorological reports, and facilities for crossing foreign, countries. It'is by the improvement of . these arrangements that we look forward to the .development of Imperial air. routes. No. doubt each Do-! minion will forge its own link m this invisible Imperial chain to suit its own recmircments. Doubtless flying boats will be suitable m some places, aero--planes in 7 others. Ross-Smith's achievement is greatly helpful. It 'will, show where gaps' m nieteorologicar and ptjier information, occur, and .teach. us.Xsomei, thing of • the 1 air ' currents of which we are at present ignorant. ..Although the ■••flight,'* is a wonderful endurance test," the future of long-distance flights lies jji. the. relay system. We must not yet expect to establish a weekly' service with Australia. ..---. •■"•. "• ; ' '. " * '■'"' •"■ "The ■ Commonwealth Government deserves credit for its 'initiation and promoting of the " contest" m, bringing tdgether _the two „ends of_ r the. r Empire, and the Dutch Government has shown the .great value of .international, cooperation, m, the East. Indies. Onels admiration for * Ross-SmitH does:, riot deter one from expressing appreciation of M\ Poulet's wonderfully plucky effort." DARWIN, Dec. 11. One of the airmen, interviewed, said that much of the 'trouble" was ; caused through having only one machine, arid using it' throughout'. Passing through such varying climates caused stresses and strains, and very heavy work m adjustment. Stays and parte expanded arid contracted, and had to be constantly- altered. The mechanics worked well into tho night, and had to start again at rom* o'clock m the morning. Much of the success of the voyage was due to Ross-Smith's companions liaving previously surveyed tho most difficult part of the route through tho islands betAveen. Australia and India. One of -the. -aviators stated that ho beljdved that when the route is properly mapped < out with ; Tegular lauding grounds, stations, 'land relays of machines it will bo utilised for commercial purposes." Ho understood that'<th«; Vickert> people had tlio niatter m baud. The aviators ai'e ' -the guests of the Administrator, of"* the Northern Territory during their stay. • Ross-Sriiith, .speaking at the welcome, dinner, expressed: gratification at • Avinning the race. • . The Mayor declared: that- the avfoators had 'made Darwin the front doAr; and. not the back ~dooi\ of Australia/ The - gentlemen who had arrived from the, . clouds had' initiated a great development m, the Territory. At the close of the dinner, a lady kissed the .aviators all round. _....---•■ Besides the £10,000 prize money provided by tho Commonwealth Government, £1000 m prizes is offered" by the Kodak Company for a series of Photographs, en. route, £600 by the wydttey Sun arid Melbourne Herald, and a trophy valued atfliOO. b.y a fnember of the Sydney TattersaH's Club, for the first flyer to land. . - . Tlie Sun' states ,Uiat .owing to, tho congested state of the telegraph -wires from Da-rw.i n> Ros^-Smith's exclusive story is delayed. -