AIR HERO'S RETURN

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 208, 28 May 1919, Page 7

AIR HERO'S RETURN

ROYAL WELCOME TO HAWKER STORY OF THE FLIGHT AIRMAN'S BAD LUCK (By Telegraph-Press Association-Copyright (liee. May 27, SUO p.m.) London, May 26. Elaborate arrangements were made for the reception and welcome to London when Hawker and Grieve arrive. There will be a great welcome at King's Cross Station by the Mayor and Council of St. Pancras, followed by a procession to the Aoro Club, with an escort composed or many members.

A complimentary luncheon will be tendered to Hawker and Grieve later in the week, and on Saturday a fete will be held at Hendon aerodrome, at which a welcome from ten thousand Sopwith employees will take place. King George, in a messilge to Mrs. Hawker, said: "I rejoice with you at your gallant husband s happy rescue, ami trust he may be long spared to you." Queen Alexandra sent a message: "With all my heart I wish you and the nation joy on the safety of your gallant husband and bis companion. I rojoicn that it was a Danish ship that rescued his precious life."

A flood of other messages has been received from all parts of the world., and the jubilation in Paris exceeds anything witnessed since the armistice. THE WELCOME AT THURSO HAWKER MAKES A BRIEF SPEECH. (Rec. May 27, 10 u.m.) London, May 2C. Tho Provost .of Thurso welcomed Hawker and Grieve on their arrival. Tho Provost said throughout Britain and in every laud the nows of their safe delivorance was ringing and hearts wero rejoicing. Though they had failed in their gallant purpose they had achieved great things. Their names would live for eve* in tho anuals of the Atlantic flight. They had brought new lustre to the daring, endurance, and intrepidity of outrace, At this spot Kitchener had bade farewell to his country. It was now a welcoming point for. two other bravo sons of the Empire.

Hawker replied: "[ thank you for your kind greeting." He refused intcrviows except in the case of one newspaper—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn. MANY CONGRATULATIONS (Roc. May 27, 11.40- p.m.) London, May 27. The King has telegraphed inviting Hawker to Buckingham Palace on Wednesday. Hawker and Grieve hnd astonishing receptions at each Highland station thoy passed through, women throwing flowers and kisses to the aviators, who shook hands with hundreds of men who fought for a chance tx\ enter tho train, even when it was moving.

When tho "Daily Mail" informed Mrs. Hawker that it proposed to give her a share of the ,£IO,OOO prize,, she wrote to Lord Northcliffo thanking him, but adding: ''I cannot and will not believo that my husband isn't alive." Mr. W. M. Hughes (Australian Premier) telegraphed his congratulations oh Hawker's magnificent attempt and safo return. Tho congratulations include a number from trade unions and other Labour organisations.

Tho Australian band has been ordered from Salisbury to play Hawker from King's Cross Station ft) tho Aero Clu'soldiers will keep the route and others will march in procession. Huge crowds are expected.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. i STORY OF THE FLIGHT (Rec. May 27, 11.40 p.m.)' London, May 27. Tho newspapers publish Hawker's account of the Atlantic flight. It is a straightforward' stoiy, destitute of incident or excitement, apart from the engine tronble already described, whicli necessitated tho abandonment of tho attempt to reach Ireland, and made tho aviators turn in order to strike a route which .the Atlantic vessels frequented, Provost Maokay (Thurso) states that a descent was finally made close to the steamer Marie, whicli sighted the. aeroplane a thousand miles from the starting point. The rescue by the Danish steamer was a perilous affair, owing to tho high sea running, but was happily accomplished after ninety minutes of work. This was the only time the aviators were in anv real danger. They now feel particularly fit, and are in the pink of condition and in tho highest spirits, anticipating London' 6 welcome to-night.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. HAWKERJNTERVIEWED (Rec. May 28, 0.10 a.m.) London, May 20. Hawker, interviewed by the "Daily Hail," 6aid that after passing over tho Newfoundland fogs there was a clear sky for four hours; then ~ visibility became very bad, owing to heavy cloud banks. Eventually the* flew into a heavy storm, with rain squalls, though they were abovt» the clouds at about 15,000 feet altitude. About fivo and a half hours after tho start, owing to the choking of the filter, tho temperature of the water cooling the engines rose. They overcame this difficulty by descending several thousand feet.- Everything went well for another few hours, when the circulation in tho pipe becamo choked and the water boiled. He realised that they could not rise without using a lot of motor power.—United Service.

After 12} hours they realised that they could not proceed as they hud been using up their power. Then was reached the fateful decision to play for safety. They changed their course, and began to fly diagonally toward tho main shipping route. Two hourß anil a half later they sighted a steamer and sent up distress signals, which were answered promptly. They flew another two miles and landed ahead of a steamer. Tho sea was exceedingly rough, aud.despite the utmost efforts of the Danish crew ninety minutes elapsed before they got aboard. At great risk to themselves the seamen launched a small boat in a heavy gale. The machine is probably still afloat. "Wo had been 14J hours out, at 8.30 this morning," Grieve states. "A strong gale drove us steadily northward. Sometimes it was impossible, owing to tho pressure of the masses of clouds, to take bearings. We were two hundred miles off the course, and had covered a thousand miles, when wo decided to seek a ship."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. THE FLIGbTtoIiISTRALIA A SOPWITR ENTRY. London, May 26. A Sopwith "Dove" aeroplane, with an eighty horse-power Lo Rhone engine, haa been ontered for tho Australian flight. Bert Sinklor, the Australian pilot, hopes to make his final landing at his mother's home, near Sydney.—Aue.-N.Z. Cable Assn. AMERICAN DIRIGIBLE IN TROUBLE BLOWN TO SEAWARD. (Rcc. May 27, 9.40 p.m.) St. John's (Newfoundland), May 15 (delayed). The American dirigihlo which arrived hero broke loose from hor moorings and was blown seaward. It is reported that no one was on board.—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn.