BACK TO SYDNEY

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 638, 15 April 1929, Page 1

BACK TO SYDNEY

DELAY OF SOME DAYS EXPECTED

FLIGHT TO ENGLAND SYDNEY, Sunday. Captain Chateau telegraphs from Wyndham: ‘‘lt will be a matter of days before the crew of tlie Southern Cross will be able to return to civilisation. In the meantime they have ample food.” The “Sydney Sun” says the first message from the stranded flyers arrived a.t Sydney late on Saturday night. It was from Flight-Lieutenant Ulm, who said:“Smith is sad. He thinks he can take off from the mud flat as soon as petrol and oil are procured. We propose to bring the Southern Cross back to Sydney for reconditioning before we start again on the flight to England. We are still feeling weak from starvation.”

Lieutenant Ulm also telegraphed to his wife and to the chief Civic Commissioner, Mr. Garlick, extending the thanks of the party for what the citizens of Sydney have done for them. Smith also sent a message to his parents announcing that all the members of the party are well. He, too, said they would return to Sydney for an bverhaul.

Air-Pilot Woods, in charge of the Sydney “Sun’s” airplane, who has done great work in searching for the Southern Cross in the past 10 days, has telegraphed from Broome that he knows the spot where the monoplane landed. When, his- machine has been overhauled he will fly there and attempt to land alongside and help the stranded party.. PART WIRELESS PLAYED

Wireless experts say they believe the crew of the Southern Cross have been able to receive messages from Sydney and therefore knew the steps that were being taken for their rescue, but they could not communicate in reply. A message from Wyndham to Amalgamated Wireless, Limited, states: ‘.‘Captain Holden yesterday dropped a note to the crew of the Southern . Cross asking if they could hear his wireless. The reply was in the negative. Captain Holden suggests that the Sydney station should keep Kingsford Smith fully advised of the latest news. He presumes it is Sydney’s, short-wave he can hear, as he gave no indication that Wyndham’s GOO metres signals were being received.”

Captain Holden further suggested that Sydney should transmit the following message to the Southern Cross: “We are endeavouring to have the Koolinda sail for Port George to drop petrol for you, also to arrange for the Derby airplanes to supply food, blankets and clothes.” in case a land party is unable to reach the Southern Cross for a few days. Captain Holden has advised the Port George IV- missionaries of the rough position of the Southern Cross.