2-000 MILES' FLIGHT

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 148, 12 March 1918, Page 6

2-000 MILES' FLIGHT

HOW CONSTANTINOPLE WAS BOMBED. Tho story of the flight of the Handley Page biplane from London to Constantinople, a distance of over 2000 miles, when Constantinople was bombed and the Gocben attacked, was told at a luncheon given in London in commemoration of the flight by llr. Handley Page, the designer of the 'plane. Mr. Hundley Page said that tlio machine was a twin-tractor biplane, equipped «'ith two 275-li.p. Kolls-Eoyco engines. On board, in addition to the pilot, Commander Savory, the second pilot, Lieutenant M'Clellan, the engineer, Lieutenant Rawlings, and two mechanics, there was all their luggage, beds and bodding, two tool boses containing the spares and tools for the engines, and a further consignment of spares practically equivalent to ii further engine. Strapped on tho sido of tho fuselage were two lift. 6in. fourbladed propellers. AVilh these spare parts, tho machine was over six tons in weight.

The Adriatic was the most difficult: nart of the journey As they made for Salonika Hie pilots wore abln to distinguish knots of hostile horsemen at the foot of the hills hoping that somo mischance would cause the machine to crash. Happily, tho engines did not fail, nor was there ever (he slightest fear on t'he part of the pilots that any trouble would arise. Upon the evening of the attack a i\ hours' journey from their base brought tho pilots and engineer iiito the Sea of Marmora: and the machine headed for Constantinople and the. attack on tlio Goeben. Constantinople was reached at a height of 2(XK) feet, and beueal'h them cnitM be seen the Goeben. with all the lights on, and Constantinople brilliantly lighted up. • Circling twice the machine was brought to 800 feet above the Goeben, and one «alvo of four bombs was dronned. missi'ip the Otnohen hut destroying a submarine alongside. 'Hie nirmon circled round again, and this time all four lwinbs were flropneri on the Ooelien. Tlip drnnpine of flic "ielit bomb , ? seemed to discontent the Turks, fnr nil the lights sudden'v went. out. The pilots then made fnr the headquarter of Hie fiprmnn General Staff, on which they drnnnm! two li<.m)«. and Ti"xt 'hey dmiined f«"i bombs nn tho Turkish Wir Offi('P. This ean="d confiideralile nlnri" in Con=tnnHnonl». ami guns which had not nmvin"«lv been fired were looked upon the ninphine.

The nilor fl->v <lnv" tim £»•. of with guns ftrin" all aromv] fh«ni. .<""' on avrivint nt Hio bn?p 20 bnlM hn'«» wore found in the One lnoVv K'-pt narliaHv di r -i?l>ln'' Hi" nilinrr system of one eniriiie. and P"> return johth»v was cnrriei' nut wit' , I' , " P"ir'ii"p flvni" '-'i one e'ltri ,,ll only. The jnui'pnv from ll.e c->*« In Oo'wtnntinon'» -if) Wl- «.. punied ?"vpn lmnrs. nnrl llv TT-mHlnv ?piw> T>ai(l n tribute to tU Vnl]sMny° meine, which had enabled this to lip done.

irr. TCmil .TnWnn. o f """«-T;nvrn (T,imitcdV fn'nvVod Hint "Hrilisl, ftpiiiut vi« rnsronsili' ,, for the and oo'-oli"" , - tinn nf H'p imat nml succe"<;fiil b"Hl" 'plan" v.-hiHi Lad cpv-.Vd onfr the firptwar flmhl '■' l''>" '.rnrld's history extending over 2000 miles.