FRANTIC CROWD

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 254, 26 October 1937, Page 7

FRANTIC CROWD

Jean Batten At Croydon GREATEST WELCOME EVER NEW FLIGHT RECORD (By Telegraph—PrebS Association—Copyright] LONDON, Oct. 24. Miss Jean Batten landed at Lympne at 3.45 p.m., beating the record by 14hrs. lOniin. ’Planes flew out to meet her and a great crowd welcomed her at Lympne, cheering her as she encircled the landing ground and taxied toward the control tower. Tired though smiling, but almost immaculate, Miss Batten was lifted from the little silver monoplane. The crowd tried to touch her coat and pat her back as, to cries of “Good old Jean!” she was carried by Royal Air Force sergeants into the captain’s office. A guard was mounted round her machine. 7he crowd then surged to the customs office, where the usual formalities took place. “Well, Major,” said Jean to Mr. Dupe, the aerodrome officer, “here I am again.” Mr. Dupe replied: “This is your finest show; jolly fine, Jean.” Miss Batten’s limbs were so cramped that they had to carry her to the aerodrome buildings. Then after a brief interval she took off again for Croydon, to which two air liners and a number of private machines escorted her. Demonstration at Croydon. Miss Batten received perhaps the greatest demonstration accorded a re-cord-breaking flyer at Croydon. A great roar of cheers greeted the tiny ’plane when it circled the aerodrome and landed. 'Phen the crowd broke through the police cordon, overwhelming the official welcoming parties, which included the High Commissioner, Mr, W. J. Jordan, and Mr. H. T. B. Drew and others, besides Jean’s mother. There was another roar as she came to a standstill on the tarmac. As Jean stepped out an admirer immediately thrust into her arms an enormous bunch of chrysanthemums. Thon her mother, who had been pushed into the background, rushed forward and folded Jean in her arms. Jean, her mother, and Mr. Jordan made speeches, Mrs. Batten saying that she had never been so anxious. In a short speech at Croydon Miss Batten said that Lhe last part of the flight was terrible. She met terrific storms botwen Damascus and Athens, and the machine was thrown every way, but the weather near Rome was worse. She thought at one stage that she would lose control of the ’plane altogether, and sighed with relief when she found Marseilles. The London section was comparatively tame. She was glad the flight was over, but was annoyed with herself for losing so much time. Mr. Jordan declared that he was proud to welcome on behalf of New Zealand Miss Batten, the Dominion’s greatest airwoman, perhaps the greatest in the world. Her feats would remain in the undying memory of all New .Zealanders. “Hare and Hounds.” Then followed the most amazing scenes ever seen at Croydon. The crowd went wiki, pushing and fighting to get near the ’plane. It is estimated that 8000 people joined in the rush. The police, realising that strong tactics were essential to save the aviatrix’s ’plane from damage, charged, scattering the people like a fan and then forming an invincible blue wall round the official party and escorted them safely to the hangar. A rumour was quickly circulated that Jean would make a secret exit from Croydon. Pandemonium broke loose, hundreds taking part in what might be described as a made hare and hounds, with Miss Batten as the hare. Running every way, colliding with one another, and shouting direction of where Jean was ! departing, women were knocked down and walked on as a kind of frenzy seized the spectators, but they were tricked after all, only people standing six deep in the roadway some distance from the aerodrome seeing the official car whisk past en route to the Lon--1 don hotel. I Five hundred people warmly wel- ' corned Jean at Marseilles. British friends presented her with flowers. TRYING CONDITIONS BUSS BATTEN’S STORY Received Oct. 25, 9.5 p.m. LONDON, Oct. 25. The Daily Mail publishes Miss Batten’s own story: “It is wonderful to be here after the worst weather I have

ever encountered. I am fearfully tired, especially in the eyes, owing to the continual strain, and the bumpiness of the last long hop across Europe almost exhausted me. I lost all count of time. One of the worst, sections was Allahabad to Karachi, where I was literally fagged out owing to the heal and strong headwinds. I ate at Karachi in a semi-coma and fell asleep at the last mouthful. I was so tired. At Damascus I slept only live hours. 1 doubt whether the Tasman Sea at its worst is equal to the terrific Mediterranean storms near Cyprus. Nevertheless, I was always confident of success. I beat Broadbent by 14 hours and suppose I must be satisfied.” The donor of the chrysanthemums at Croydon was a school friend, Miss Anita Webster, of Auckland. The bouquet carried the inscription: “Congratulations and pride from Cleveland House Old Girls’ Association.” The Shelmerdine, in a tribute to Miss Batten’s flight, said: “It is a remarkable achievement, to hold the Australian record in both directions.” FATHER AND BROTHER KEEN INTEREST IN FLIGHT [ Per Prfess Association. ] AUCKLAND, Oct. 25. “I am naturally pleased at Jean’s success,” said Mr. F. H. Batten, father of tlean Batten, in a statement to-night. “She is my only daughter,” he added, “and I am naturally proud of her. I feel very pleased and relieved that she has reached her destination safely.” Miss Batten’s progress during her plight was closely watched by her father, who was guided by accounts of her former flight and by maps. He stated that he received a communication from his daughter about six weeks ago in which she said she had a flight in mind. While there were no members of the family to farewell her at Sydney, she would be greeted by Mrs. Batten at her destination, as she was in London. The latest record-breaking venture Was also followed with interest by Mr. Batten's son, John Batten, well known as a screen actor. Mr. Batten, jun., arrived in Auckland recently and this is the first time he has been in the Dominion during one of his sisters flights. Congratulations were conveyed to Jean by Sir Ernest Davis, Mayor of Auckland, from Russell. Sir Ernest at present is making a cruise of the coast in the north in his yacht Morewa. FORCED LANDING MR BROADBENT’S BAD LLX MAY ABANDON FLIGHT BAGHDAD, Oct. 24. Mr H. F. Broadbent made a forced landing in a desert sixty miles from Baghdad in the course of his flight to Australia. He borrowed a donkey from the Arabs and rode four miles until he was able to obtain sufficient petrol from a motor-car to resume his journey to Baghdad. Upon arrival at Baghdad he said he would abandon the flight to Basra unless there was a great improvement in the weather. He had experienced head winds all the way from London.