STRANDED FLIERS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16927, 16 April 1929, Page 7

STRANDED FLIERS

REGULAR WILD MEN VIVID PEN PICTURES A REMARKABLE LANDING (Elec.Tel. Copyright—United Press A?<m.) DERBY, April 15. A Western Australia pen picture of the Southern Cross' crew is provided by the aviator, Pilot Heath, and Mr. J. Tonkin, a journalist, who landed near the Southern Cross on Saturday. McWilliams was a regular wild man. He wore shorts and had a heavy beard and hairy limbs, mid presented a fearsome aspect, especially when he smiled. It needed a second glance to identify TJhn, who would easily have passed for an Afghan. His dirty shirt hung half way down his legs. "Smithy" was easily recognisable, but was painfully thin and wan. Litchfield was less unkempt, and was fairly (it, with a radiant face. Captain Heath handed the aviators a budget of telegrams received" since news of their discovery. These opened hurriedly, and read aloud amid great hilarity, culminating in the "Hallelujah Chorus," and the "Frothblowers Anthem." Pilot "Heath was then chaired in order that he might be photographed with tho fliers. Withal they were very weak men who did the chairing. Kingsford Smith asked Pilot Heath to undertake the transport of petrol and further stores, as he knows the ground. Tonkin states that it is marvellous how the Southern Cross landed without damage in such a perilous spot, with her engines almost touching the trees, while behind the machine there are vast stretches of reeds covering a black mud flat. Heath's plane had great difficulty in hopping off again. He will probably return to the Southern Cross tomorrow.

Mr. Bruce, the Federal Prime Minister, informed the Citizens' Committee at Sydney, which dispatched the Canberra to'the relief of the Southern Cross, that his Government would stand behind the company for any expense incurred in the search for Lieut. Keith Anderson. The Canberra's pilot, Captain Holden, was instructed to leave Wyndham at the earliest opportunity to search for the Kookaburra. As the Canberra uses'a certain quality of oil, and such oil was not procurable at Alice Springs, Captain Holden was given liberty to choose his own route, and told to assure himself, that adequate supplies of petrol and oil were available. Holden was unable to get away yesterday, but its expected to leave to-day. Two R.A.A.F. machines from Melbourne have reached Oodnadatta en route to Alice Springs, and were expected to get to the locality of their search to-day. The Southern Cross relief fund at Sydney had reached £7687 yesterday. NO INQUIRY NEEDED BOARD'S INTIMATION (Received April 16, 11 a.m.) SYDNEY, April 16. The Air Accidents Investigation Committee, which was created by the Federal Government in 1927 to inquire into reasons for all forced landings, has intimated that it does not intend to hold any-inquiry regarding the Southern Cross unless directed to do so by the Federal Government. "GALLANT EFFORT" CAPTAIN HOLDEN PRAISED MELBOURNE, April 15. The Prime Minister telegraphed Captain Holden, of the air liner Canberra, as follows: "Heartiest congratulations on your gallant effort in discovering the crew of the Soul horn Cross. You have earned the thanks and admiration of the whole of Australia." NEW ZEALAND'S MESSAGE N.S.W. PREMIER'S REPLY (P«r Press Association.) WELLINGTON, last .night. The Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. Sir Joseph Ward, has received the following cablegram from the Prime Minister of New South Wales: "I have conveyed to the relatives of the Southern Cross fliers your kind messages of congratulations, and they desire me in reply to express their deep" sense of gratitude to you and the people of New Zealand. Permit me to add the thanks of the Government and the people of this State." LOST KOOKABURRA NO WORD YET RECEIVED ANXIETY INCREASING SYDNEY, April 15. There is no news of Lieut. Keith Anderson and Mr. Hitchcock in the Kookaburra. It is pointed out that they had trouble with the compasses in the* early portion of the journey, and it is conjectured that after leaving Alice Springs for Kimberley district last Wednesday, they might have got off the course," and landed at some isolated cattle station. On the contrary, the plane might have been forced clown in the desert, in which case the position of the crew will be one calling for urgent rescue efforts, as they will be without food and water, and life is not long supportable is such a predicament.