GILES'S STORY DOUBTED.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19167, 25 November 1927, Page 9

GILES'S STORY DOUBTED.

WEATHER DECLARED ! FAVOURABLE. POSSIBILITY OF FRESH ATTEMPT. (BT CABLE—PRESS ASSOCIATION- COPTRIOHT.) (AUSTRALIA* AND H.Z CABLE ASSOCIATES.) (Received November 24th, 7.5 p.m.) SAN FRANCISCO, November 23. Captain Giles arrived hero and reiterated his claim that foul weather upset and damaged his biplnne. A message from Detroit states that Mr William Rosewarne, the backer of Giles's flight, sent him a telegram of censure and ordered him to get his ship ready to go again, instead of performing for "cheap and vulgar publicity." "The violent conditions reported by Captain Giles were simply impossible, and it is unreasonable to think that they could have existed," declared the United States Weather Bureau officials to-day. They add that ships scattered along the route reported calm seas and light winds. Answering an alleged statement by Captain Giles that a wrong forecast was given him, Major E. H. Bowie, Chief Forecaster, replied: "Wo have made no forecast for Captain Giles since last Saturday, at which time we told Captain Peterson, the flight manager, that we must decline to give the expedition further forecasts, because neither he nor Captain Giles seemed inclined to play the game with us. Last, Saturday, Captain Giles hopped off against our advice." Captain Giles notified his backers by telephone that the aeroplane was unsafe for flving and he would have to make repairs before he could bring 't to San Francisco for another take-off for Honolulu. Captain Peterson refused to comment on the possibility of another attempted flight until Captain Giles's arrival. Captain Peterson declared that it depended entirely on the extent of the damage to the aeroplane. Captain Giles told attendants at the Hearst ranch that he would go to San Francisco to procure the necessary materials to repair the aeroplane, and then fly to San Francisco and make another attempt, as soon as the weather permitted. FRANK SCEPTICISM. WEATHER OFFICIAL'S STATEMENT. (ITOTBALIAW ANB V.t. CABLS ASiOCIATIOIO (Received November 24th, 10.10 p.m.) NEW YORK, November 24. A United Press message from San Francisco states that Giles's story of a severe storm has met with frank scepticism by officials of the California Weather Bureau. The Government Meteorologist, Major Bowie, saidl reports from ships at sea along the entire route of Giles's projected flight indicated fair weather, calm seas, and gentle winds. Major Bowie declared the report from the steamer Ventura in the approximate position where Giles said he encountered a severe storm recorded a smooth sea and a six-mile-an-hour wind. Major Bowie added: "The storm he talks about must have been in' his brain," and charges Giles and Peterson with not playing the game with the Weather Bureau. No forecast had been made for the .flyers since Saturday. "I mean by that that with the reputation of the Weather Bureau at state, we could not afford to take a chance with Giles when he and Peterson were inclined to act contrary to our advice," he said. "Giles, on the occasions we gaee him a favourable forecast, seems to shown no disposition to fly. Then, last Saturday, when we advised him against attempting any sort of flight, he hopped off and .returned because weather conditions at sea were adverse, as we told him they would be. It was then we told Peterson we could not give him further forecasts.. We did give him ship reports, however." HINKLER AND M'INTOSH. {kvamuux and v.s. cablb associativa.) (Received November 24th, 8.30 p.m.) WARSAW, November 23. After the Polish Air Force has repaired their aeroplane, Hinkler and Mcintosh will fly to London, accompanied by Mrs Whitehead, wife of the British Vice-Consul in Lemberg. Later they will make another, attempt to fly to India.