SOUTHERN CROSS NEARS END OF EPIC FLIGHT

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 20168, 9 June 1928, Page 7

SOUTHERN CROSS NEARS END OF EPIC FLIGHT

’PLANE ENCOUNTERS WORST STORM YET EXPERIENCED ON THE VOYAGE ELEMENTS PLAY MEAN TRICKS ON AVIATORS ON THE FINAL JOURNEY Fighting their way doggedly through the woi’Ls encountered since they left Oakland, the Southern Cross fliers, at latest reports, wore within striking distance of Brisbane, on the last stage of their epochal flight from America to Australia. It is reported that Captain Kingsford Smith and his intrepid companions will later come to New Zealand, afact that will lend additional interest to to-day’s news. [Australian Press Assn.—United Service] L By Telegraph—Per Press Assn.—Copyright J

THE TAKE OFF FIJIAN CEREMONY. TRIBUTE TO AIRMEN. [ Australian Press Aasn. ] Received June 8, 10 p.m. SUVA, June 8. The Government yacht Pioneer, reports that the Southern Cross took off from Naselai Sands at 2.52 p.m. without difficulty and with plenty of room to spare. The “Vangona” ceremony was performed by a large gathering of Fijians prior to departure. Captain Smith thanked the natives. The motors of the Southern Cross were warmed up and for ten minutes the machine circled, before disappearing in tho direction of Suva. The ’plane passed over Suva at 3.4 p.m flying west. At 4.40 p.m. the Southern Cross wirelessed: “Governor, Suva, please convey to Mayor Marks and all residents our truly sincere and greatful appreciation of all that has been clone for us. Long will we remember your wonderful hospitality. Everything has been done for us and without Suva’s wonderful co-operation our flight could not have been successful. We feel sure it now will be.—Please also personally thank Fijians for their great help. Kingsford Smith.” At 8 p.m. the Southern Cross wirelessed: “Positio latitude 21.12 south, 171.24 east, bad weather, blind flying’ raining. ”

THE ARRIVAL RADIO ARRANGEMENTS SIGNALS BROADCASTED [ Per Press Association. ; WELLINGTON, June 8. The Radio Broadcasting Company of New Zealand has arranged to endeavour to re-broadcast from 2YA, Wellington a running description of the arrival of the Southern Cross at Brisbane. to-morrow. Tho description will be given by broadcast station 4QG, Brisbane and a land lino will connect 4QG with station 2EC, Sydney, which will relay the description per medium

of their powerful short wave station, 2ML, on 28.5 metres, as short waves travel well in daylight. It is anticipated that reception in Wellington will be satisfactory enough to re-broadcast it by the Wellington station, which will be on the air irom 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., specially for the oc casiou.

At b.3G p.m. New Zealand time broadcast station 2 BL, Sydney, announced that at the then rate of progress of the Southern Cross, she was expected to arrive at Brisbane between 8 and 9 o’clock to-morrow morning.

Shortly after 8 o’clock this evening a listener-in at Wellington heard from broadcast station 2 BL, Sydney, that they had just received a wireless message from the Southern Cross as fol-

lows: “8 p.m., latitude 21.12 couth longititudo 171.24 east.’’ The children’s session was then being conducted; by 2 BL, ‘Sydney and the station switched over to their short wave receiving station, which was then receiving morse broadcast signals from the Southern Cross. The clicking of the aviator operator’s key was heard with considerable volume irom Wellington loud “peakers. Shortly after 9 o’clock New Zealand time, broadcast station 2BL Sydney switched over to their short wave receiving station and permitted listeners to hear the operator on the Southern Cross sending a morse message. The message was interpreted by 2BL as follows: “Time on airplane 9 p.m., latitude 21.47 south, longitude 170.01 cast, altitude 5,000 feet. Cloudy, will see you later.” The announcer of 2BL commented that evidently the air piano had passed out of the stormy area which it had encountered. The secretary of the Post and Telegraph Department received the following telegram at 9 p.m., New Zealand time, from the Southern Cross: 9 p.m., position latitude 21.47 south, longti-

tude 170.01 east. Cloudy, 6000 feet.” At 8.45 p.m. the following ,vas received. from the Southern Cross: “We did not want io worry anyone whilst in it, but now we aro about out of it, we will tell you that for tho past two hours we have been battling with the worst weather of the whole flight. At 7,500 to 10,Out) feet there was exceptionally heavy rain, tho bumps giving us severav drops of over 400 feet at a time —generally a scries of mean tricks on tho part of the elements on this the last stage of our journey. As soon as the moon comes up and blind flying cuds, we will have some refreshment. I am too cold to write more. We are all OK will send later. Cheerio,” signed Vim About 9.35 o’clock otnight, New Zealand time, station 2BL, Sydney, called 3LO, Melbourne, and. SCL, Adelaide, asking them t» request an Adelaide amateur transmitter to desist transmitting on top of the wave length of the Southern Cross He was interfering with reception m Sydney. Station 2BL, Sydney, announced that prior to the airplane encountering the storm area, she was making 96 miles an hour. When she hit the storm her speed was reduced to 7,3 miles. At 9-10 p.m-, New Zealand time, the airplane was 180 miles south of New Caledonia and 90 miles north-cast of Walpole Island. At 2.36 p.m., New Zealand time, the airplane Sent the following morse message to Suva and Honolulu: “Cheerio, Harry and Jim.” A later message stated that at 11 p.m. the Southern Cross had covered more than half the distance, and was 838 miles from. Brisbane. Station 2BL commented that the aeroplane was now half-way and would evidently arrive at Brisbane at 8 o’clock to-morrow morning as anticipated by the airmen. .