TRIALS OF AVIATORS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 20105, 26 March 1928, Page 5

TRIALS OF AVIATORS

ATTACK BY BRUTAL TURKS CROWDS OF ARMED PEASANTS Colonel Antoinat and his companions, who started on a flight from Paris to Hanoi, in the Far East, in the aeroplane Georges Guynemer, had a terrible experience at the hands of the Turks, who subjected them to ill-usage and threatened to burn them and J heir machine. The flight was certainly one of the most adventurous undertaken for a long time, and was marked by episodes worthy of a film.

When the aviators left Rome a violent storm caused them to drift over the Mediterranean, and, to make matters worse, tho pilot fainted as a result of the intense cold. Athens was the destination of the aeroplane, but storm and fog made it impossible for it to reach tho Greek capital, and it landed in Adalia, in Asia Minor, the petrol supply having become exhausted. There had been 26 hours of flight since tho ’plane quitted Paris, and Cob el Antoinat had kept to his programme and had flown as much as possible at night-time.

The Turks arrested Colonel Antoinat under the pretext that he had flown over Smyrna, but they released him and his men after vigorous protests. Desiring to avoid further worries, tnd in spite of a strong gale, in which

throe sailing vessels wore lost, tho aviators continued their flight. The aeroplane lurched and came down to a few feet above tho heavy sea.

When at last the machine landed near Mersina it was immediately surrounded by a crowd of armed peasants, who insulted and struck the aviators, and refused to serve them with food and drink. With great difficulty Colonel Antoinat induced the peasants to allow him to proceed. At that moment tho peasants wore preparing to burn the aeroplane and its. occupants, who were half dead with hunger and thirst. Notwithstanding the lamentable condition of the aviators and tho dam go to the machine, Colonel Antoinat was able to resume his flight early on Christmas morning. The weather was still very bad, but the Guynemer succeeded in reaching Alexandretta. Here the petrol supply was replenished, and the flight was continued to Rajak.