AIR HEROES IN LONDON

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 209, 29 May 1919, Page 5

AIR HEROES IN LONDON

4 AMAZING RECEPTION THE TOPIC OF THE HOUR HAWKER LIONISED IMPRESSIONS OF THE CROSSING , (By Telcgr.aph~Prcss Association-Copyright (Ue«i May 28, 0.30 p.m.) London, May 28. London became wildly excited as Hawker approached tho Metropolis from the north. Enthusiasm of the Australian troops was contagious, and there was much speculation and some nervousness, as to. where it would all end. Haivker had a triumphal night journey through Scotland. ' People gathered at the stations, hoping for a glimpse of the aviators in the train. There was much bagpiping at Edinburgh, wliero an immense crowd accorded the airmen an ovation. Hawker was carried ehoui-der-high to the hotel where they had breakfast. Both men were heartily farewelled on departing for England. There were many stirring scenes along the route through the English provinces. An escort of aeroplanes accompanied tho train from Grantham. Senator Pearce and Mr. Fisher (Australia) welcomed Hawker and Grieve at King's Cross Station. The. Aero Club was obliged to limit the ■ number of motor-cars in the procession to two hundred. The police diverted all traffic from the route. The railwaymen had planned for a signal welcome when the 'airmen travelled home from tho Aero Club. The Australian soldiers took complete charge of the reception at the station. Captain Cave uttered a rousing welcome, and permitted the Mayor of St. Pancras and Senator Pearce only a few moments. The crowd then shouldered Hawker and Grieve. The windows and windscreens of several waiting cars were smashed by tho eager onlookers. Many women fainted in tho crush nlong the route, but the Australians were thoroughly good humoured. Two hundred, hauling a long rope, dragged Hawker's and Grieve's motor-car, preceded by a band. Everywhere were scenes of liveliest enthusiasm, aeroplanes' doing overhead stunts. Dense crowds gathered at the Aero Club, where mounted police we.ro keeping the passage clear. Mr; Fisher and a committee welcomed the aviators. Hawker, in a brief speech, minimised, his effort. He said that his success, such as it was, depended solely on the excellent machine. Lieut.-Conimander Grieve also spoke, belittling his share in the adventure.— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. RECEPTION THJ'I TOPIC OF THE .. HOUR. (Rec. May 28, 11 p.m.) London, May 28. Tho topic of the hour is Hawker'e amazing reception. Hundreds and thousands of men and women gathered between lung's Cross and the Aero Club to lionise the heroes. No ovation accorded a king or general in living memory equalled Hawker's. The size of the crowd and the impetuosity of the Australians made the carrying out of the programme, impossible. All prearranged plans were swept aside, When tlie "Diggers" determined to take charge of tho proceedings the word was passed round: "The 'Aussles* must have him." So Hawker was kidnapped directly ho appeared at tho carriage door. No one knows exactly y/liat happened in the next few minutes after the train's arrival. The Australians climbed to the top of the carriage, pulling their lady friends after them. Then, amid piercing "coo-ees" and tho singing of "Australia Will Bo There," Hawker was carried to a motor-car which Australians had prepared. Whon it was found impossible to move this Hawkor crawled over the heads and shoulders of the crowd in order to reach a policeman's horse, which he rode to tlie Aero Club. Arrived there Hawker was lifted from the horse and borne by a.biirly policeman into the building. j Grieve reached tho club oil board _ a motor lorry. When the aviators, with Mrs. Hawker, appeared at the Aero C'»b' windows, they were wildly cheered. Hawker and his wife, in a motor escorted by tho mounted police, left for a private dinner party. Both aviators will be tho guests at a luncheon at the Savoy Hotel on Wednesday.

An aerial pila- has been arranged to take place at Hondou on Saturday nnd Sunday, in which Hawker and Griovo havo promised to participate. The fooling is growing that tlieso heroes should not; be permitted to risk their lives doing stunts at Hondon.—Aus.-N.Z. Oablo Assn. i HAWKER INTERVIEWED . EAGER FOR ANOTHER TRY (Ree. May 28, 11.5 p.m.) London, May 27. Hawker, interviewed, said that he was williug and eager to attempt tho Atlantic' again. "It depends on the Sopwith Company," he said. "The flight can and will he accomplished very sooii. We had bad luck. There was no physical strain. Tho machine and engine proved perfect. The fault was that we took too many precautions. The machine had been idle for two months, and probably thero was a slight internal rusting which caused tho choking.' I won't have filters next time." , Hawker said ho could not understand why everybody thought they were lost. "Thero are as many ships in the Atlnntic without wireless as there are with it," he said. His chief anxiety was to get a message to his wife. The experience was a most valuable' one, especially in tho matter of navigation. Tho only food tho aviators had during their'flight was sandwich, bar chocolate, and several cups of hot coffee. Hawker was very seasick when he descended to tho surface of'the ocean. His wireless installation proved unless. Otherwise tho .filter getting rusty was- his only trouble. Hawker states'that it is a hundred to one that he will fly tho Atlantic this summer—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. Welcome Worse than tho Flight. Grieve, interviewed, recalled the fact that he had served iu the Navy in Australian waters from 19014, and knew what an Australian welcome would be. "It is much moi'o ( trying than tho Atlantic flight," he said. He had not contemplated!', a flight to Australia. "The Atlantic is still unconquered."—• Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. Other Accounts, A tremendous crowd at King's Cross Station welcomed Hawker and Grieve, who were astonished at the enthusiasm of their reception. Several thousand Australians were among tho crowd. The men climbed tho roofs of the railway carriages and motor-ears. An Australian guard of honour was lined up ■ on tho platform, and tho baud played "Australia Will lie There." Senator l'enree, accompanied by Australian flying officers, welcomed Hawker and Grieve. Australians carried Hawker on their shoulders to his car, and dragged it along tho etreet. Others carried Grieve .into the street. They drove off together amid wild cheerin;;'along u crowded route to tho Aero Club.

An extraordinary ppieodo occurred when the procession jammed. The Australians started to cany Hawker on ilicir shoulders when a bright spirit in the crowd suggested hoisting him on a constable's horse. This was immediately done, and Hawker rode behind the constable for Borne time. Then tho constable dismounted and Hnwker continued to lend the procession on horseback, carrying a big bouquet of roses. A similar welcome was extended at Kingston, where the workmen of tho Sopwith Company dragged hie motor-car a milo and a. Jmlf.-Aus.-N.SS. Cable Assn.

HAWKER'S MAILS PICKED tTP. (lice. May 28, 11.30 p.m.) New York, May 2?. A dispatch from St. John's states that (he steamship Lake Charloltesville picked up parts of Hawker's aeroplane and (lie mails that were carried therein.— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. THE AIBEffICANSEAPLANES N.C. i COMPLETES LAST STAGE. London, May 27. The American seaplane N.C.4 started from Pouta Dclgada to fly to Lisbon this morning, and was subsequently reported to have covered half (lie distance. Sixty destroyers were stationed on the route in caso of accident.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. Ponta Delgada (Azores), May 27. N.C'.t is within 100 miles of Lisbon. [Tho distance from the Azores to Lisbon is about 780 miles.] Later. A wireless message states that N.C.4. has arrived at Lisbon—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. ARRIVAL AT LISBON. (Kec. May 28, 9 30 p.m.) Washington, May 27. It k officially announced that the United States seaplane N.C.I left Pontu Delgada, Azores, nt 0.18 a.m., and arrived at Lisbon at 4.02 p.m. Washington time.—Aus.-NiZ. Cable Assn. DIRIGIBLE FLIGHTS ACROSS THE ATLANTIC AMERICAN INVITATION TO BRITAIN. New York, May 16. The New York "Times" reports that the War Department has notified the officials of the Pan-American Aeronautic Congress that the British Government has been invited to conduct dirigible flights from Britain to tho United States. An authentic report lias been received that the British Government is speeding ftp its plans to start a dirigible on a trans-Atlantic flight to the United States., A start might -he made in a few days.—Aus.-N'.K. Cable Assn. DRIFTING DIRIGIBLE RECOVERED. St. Joh/i's, May IG. Tho American dirigiblo which broke loose and drifted to sea was recovered by a British i steamer.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. prize flightWaustralia ' STARTS ON MONDAY. (Rec. May 29, 1.30 a.m.) London, May 27. Lieutenants Kingsford, Smith, Val Reudle, and Cyril Haddocks, Australians, flying a BlacMmrn-Kangaroo aeroplane fitted with two Rolls-Royce engines, in tend to start on Monday on a prize flight to Australia, via Turin, Brindisi, Alexandria, India, and Borneo. The journey is divided into twelve sections. The machine has a capacity of twejve hundred miles.—United Service. '