GILES'S STORY.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19168, 26 November 1927, Page 15

GILES'S STORY.

"A TERRIFIC BUMP." DROP OF 500 FEET. THREE-CORNERED CONTROVERSY. '.vrsTRAUAS AND S'.Z CABLE ASSOCIATION.) (BY CABLE—rRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT.) (Received November 25th, 11.30 p.m.) SAN FRANCISCO, November 24. The Giles flight affair has now developed into ;i three-cornered controversy between the flier, Mr Eosewarne, backer of the flight, and Major K. 11. Bowie, Chief weather forecaster. In a statement in the Hearst newspapers, Captain Giles says the local weather bureau seems unwilling to give credit to a man who did his best. Ho asks: "How can Bowio comment upon the conditions above the clouds far out at sea, while sitting in his office in San Francisco. He relied solely on reports from ships, and thus was ablo to form not oven the roughest opinion of conditions applicable to aircraft." Captain Giles gives a detailed account of his encounter with treacherous weather, including a terrific bump that caused the 'piano to drop five hundred feet into tho clouds, a half loop that set tho 'plane on its back, and tho completion of the loop that righted the machine. The loop broke the centre bracing wire, and so strained the 'plane that he was compelled to drop his petrol reserves. If he had been equipped with a life raft he would have landed on the sea and taken to the raft. Captain Giles describes tho difficult flight back, and insists that no ship in the vicinity of his drop could truthfully report that the weather was clear. The Manoa correctly reported low hanging clouds. Tho Ventura was at least 150 miles further out at sea than the spot where ho met the bump. Attempts to reach Captain Giles, who arrived at San Francisco yesterday failed, he having left the hotel. Mr Rosewarne is reported as saying that ho had received no demand from Captain Giles for an apology, and he belioves the latter will continue. Captain Giles is quoted .as saying that he would liko Clarence Young, of the Bureau of Aeronautics to examine tho 'plane, determine the damage, and say whether repairs can be made at the Hearst ranch, also whether the 'damage was due to bad weather, as Giles contends. The dispute has reached a stage where conflicting reports come hourly, and it is difficult to determine what action will be taken. In some quarters it is believed that the flight may be abandoned. FINAL ATTEMPT TO BE MADE. (BT CABLE—I>RKSS ASSOCIATION— COPTRIQHT.) (AUSTRALIAN AND K.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION.) SAN FRANCISCO, November 24. A Detroit message states that William Eosewarne announ«*i to-day that he is willing to back one more, and this time a final, attempt by Captain Giles to hop to Honolulu. Ho added that thero was no doubt in his mind that Captain Giles had met bad weather.conditions, and he beliovcd that he was a sport aud would play the game. "The test of tho situation will be his next flight," remarked his backer. [William Eosewarne, a contractor, of Detroit, is an Australian, who has lived for years in tho United States and made a fortuno there. His desire is to link his native land with the country of liis adoption. He has already spent a very large sum on the flight, for it has been a chapter of accidents—and expenses—since it was first attempted months ago. The flight is to finish at Wellington, New Zealand.] THREAT TO RESIGN. (AUSTRALIAN AND K.Z CABLE ASSOCIATION.) (Received November 25th, 7.25 p.m.) SAN FRANCISCO, November 24. Captain Giles has • informed his backer, Eosewarne, that nnless ho retracts the statements made in his telegram that Giles is not playing the game, and reflecting on his ability to get started, the latter will resign as pilot for the Australian flight. Captain Giles also states that ho has sent a message to tho British Ambassador at Washington, asking him to start an action through official channels to force the Weather Bureau officials here to retract the remarks made on Wednesday. If Eosewarne does not retract, the biplane will be taken to Mexico or Canada for a new attempt on the flight to Australia. KINGSFORD SMITH'S FLIGHT. (AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION.) SAN FRANCISCO, November 24. The Southern Cross, Captain Kingsford Smith's machine, in which ho intends to fly to Australia, is at present having its motor overhauled, and probably will not start on tho proposed endurance flight until Sunday. The flight may be delayed for several days by the construction of a special runway to assist in the hop-off.