NEW YORK DECORATES CONQUERORS OF ATLANTIC.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19108, 28 June 1930, Page 1

NEW YORK DECORATES CONQUERORS OF ATLANTIC.

Mayor Lauds Their Feat As Important Scientific Achievement.

(United Press Association.—By Electric Telegraph.—Cop3 r right.) (Received June 28,10 a.m.) NEW YORK, June 27

7he four flyers, all in new clothes, fresh blue serge suits, and clearly very fit again after a good night’s rest, were met by the Mayor’s reception committee at the Hotel Roosevelt shortly after noon and, preceded by a squadron of mounted police, were escorted down Broadway from Forty-fourth Street into City Hall Square. The flyers, who were seated on the top of a folded down automobile, Waved to the thousands that lined the street on both sides. City Hall Square was jammed for hours before the arrival of the party and, immediately upon their appearance, from the skyscrapers surrounding the (Mayor of New square a rain of torn paper descended upon York.) them. The eastern face of the Woolworth Building appeared as if through a snow storm, although the temperature was nearly 100 degrees.

Van Dyk, turning to the Mayor, as he welcomed the flyers on the steps of the City Hall, said: “ I like this weather better than the North Atlantic weather.” After the reception the flyers were taken to a civic luncheon.

At the civic reception the Mayor, Mr James Walker, handed a scroll of honour to Kingsford-Smith. “ Greetings and congratulations from the people of New York City,” said Mr Walker, “ Speaking through me, their chief executive, they take pride in honouring you for the gallant feat you have just accomplished. You have added thus, sir, another brighter laurel to the wreath which you have already won. “ Our people are well aware of the wonderful record you have achieved as an air soldier with the A.I.F. on Gallipoli and in France. We are thrilled by your flight across the Pacific, and we hail you as the conquerors of the Atlantic It is such deeds as yours, performed not for vainglory, but in the interests of science, that forge new links in the bonds of amity and concord.

“ Take, then, this scroll as an earnest of our people’s very real and sincere welcome to you and your gallant ship.” The Mayor’s address of welcome was broadcast throughout the nation. Kingsford-Smith’s reply was prefixed with remarks of apology that he was a flyer, and not an orator. He took occasion to develop a phrase from the Mayor’s address to the effect that this was not a “ stunt flight.” The flyer said: “ I have no patience with stunt flying, and I am glad that the Mayor stressed the fact that there are serious scientific aspects of such a venture as ours.” The Mayor then decorated the four flyers with medals. Although Kingsford-Smith is desirous of departing for the west to-mor-row, it is considered likely that his advisers here will ask him to remain over the week-end, and they hope also to secure his approval for a tour of the country. It is understood that after his flight to California KingsfordSmith will dispose of the Southern Cross.

Kingsford-Smith and the crew of the Southern Cross will be received by President Hoover on Monday at Washington. The Southern Cross will fly there from Roosevelt Field. The diplomatic representatives of the flyers’ country will present the men.

Kingsford-Smith has sent the following message through the Australian Press Association: “I am delighted that, with my companions, I have at last been able to complete an undertaking which, having been begun on American territory, had its significant

half-way mark in Australia, and is to be completed here. To the Australians, who so keenly shared with me the hazards and fortunate moments in this and previous flights, I can only express my gratitude as to my fellow countrymen.”

DID NOT FLY FOR SAKE OF RIDE UP BROADWAY.

KINGSFORD-SMITH ALLUDES TO POPULAR BELIEF.

(Received June 28, 11.10 a.m.) NEW YORK, June 27.

The crew of the Southern Cross were hailed by New York City and the Mayor, Mr Walker, as the bravest of the brave, “because it took no less courage on your part to attempt, the flight.” The Mayor said that when presenting them with the scroll of honour at the City Hall. Kingsford-Smith, replying, said that most people believe that men who fly across oceans do so merely to get a ride up Broadway. That was not so. “The men who do that kind of work are pioneering aviation and aiding scientific knowledge,” he said. Just as the Mayor finished his address, a bench with twenty cameramen, in front of the speaker’s stand, collapsed, throwing the men and their cameras in a squirming mass.

Kingsford-Smith, alluding to this, said: “I am glad that what has happened did not occur to us while over the ocean. It was the most perfect example of a tail-spin I have ever seen! ”

The crowd shouted its glee at the remark.

AIR SERVICE OVER ATLANTIC IS UNLIKELY.

(Received June 2S, noon)'. RUGBY, June 27. Kingsford-Smith doubts if the North Atlantic will ever be practicable for commercial aviation. The dangers are inconceivable. Study of the weather records shows that almost every day there are bad spots, and west-bound there would always be dead-ends to overcome.