THE BIG AIR RACE

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 52, 25 November 1919, Page 7

THE BIG AIR RACE

INTEREST GROWS KEEN ROSS-SMITH & MATTHEWS By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright London, November 21. Tho Kangaroo left Hounslow at 10,37 a.m., in clear weather, and arrived nt Romilly, G2 miles oast of Paris. It encountered heavy f.now at Amiens. Captain Wilkins, Lieutenant Ttondle, and tho crow of the Blackburn "Kangaroo" aeroplano were in tho highest spirits when they departed from Hounslow in bright sunshine. They repeatedly waved and shouted farewell to tho crowds, who gave them a rousing sendoff. As tho machine bounded forward ihe airmon's "Chcrrios" could bo heard above tho whirr of tho engines. Tho "Kangaroo" took off cleanly, and mounted easily to 1000 ft. Slio circled tho aerodromo three times, tho crew waving vigorously until out of sight. Tho members received sheaves of telegrams and letters until tho moment of departure, including messages from Prince Albert, Mr. Winston Churchill, and General Sykes. They carry dispatches to the Governor-General of Australia nr.d others. There is a 25 to 85-inilo wind at 2000 feet over the Channel and in North Franco, and some detached clouds, but the weather generally is propitious and visibility fair.—Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn. THE ROSS-SMITH FLIGHT ARRIVAL AT BASRA. Delhi, Novemltor 20. Captain Ross-Smith has arrived at Basra.—Renter. ROSS-SMITIf. HAMPERED BY BAD WEATHER. London, November 20. Severo weather has hitherto greatly hampered Captain Ross-Smith. Thor'o was a torrential ■ <lo\vnpou" when ho landed at Pisa which reduced the surface of tho acrodromo to a, quagmire, on which the aeroplane lay in • two inches of water. Tho machine was completely bogged, and when Ross-Smith attempted to depart and tho engine started it refused to budge, and Bank deeper and deeper into tho mire. UKimately Italian mechanics dug it out. Tho departure was necessarily postponed, —Aus.-N.Z. Cablo Assn,

ROUTE TO TITE PERSIAN GULP. Sydney, NovemW 24. A special cablo message to the Sydney "Sun" from Captain Ross-Smith states that after leaving Cairo he flowalong tho const to Gaza; thence inland across tho Sea of Galileo to Damascus; thenco to Tadinur, across the Desert of Abnkamel. lie followed (ho Euphrates via Bagdad, Kut, and tho Garden of Eden to Basra. Tho weather till tho last day was blowy and rainy, and unfavourable to good flying.—Press Assn. MYSTERY ABOUT MATTHEWS HIS FLIGHT OVER FORBIDDEN TERRITORY. London, November 21. Tho newspapers aro mystified regarding Captain Matthews, and are discussing whether he crashed into Germany and was interned. The Air Ministry states that • nothing definite had been heard sinco November 2. Captain Matthews did not ask permission to fly over Germany and if he landed thero ho would probably bo imprisoned.—United Service. (Rec. November 24,. 10.25 p.m.) London, November 21. The Snpwith firm states that Matthews telegraphed on November 19 that he was held, ud in two feet of snow at. Gouzenlteim. and suggested that he should return to England _ and re-start. Sopwith's reulied "Keep on." They aro not. concerned with the prize, but wish the machine to reach Australia without unnecessary risks.—Unitea' Service. (Eec. November 25, 0.20 a.m.) London, November 24. Cantain Matthews is at Dagsburg. He was detained owing to a fall of 18 inches of snow. His machine is in excellent condition— Aus.-N.55. Cable Assn. ANOTHER COMPETITOR. (Rec. November 24, 1 a.m.) London, November 20. Lioutenant R. Rarer is negotiaWng with the Beardmore Aeroplane Company with a. viow to competing in tho Australian flight.—Ans.-N.Z. Cablo Assn. Assn.

■ GREAT RUSH OF ENTRANTS AEROPLANE COMPANIES BESIEGED. London, November 21. Though adventures already Attendant on the Australian flight have 6hown grim hazards the enterprise of flyers remains unfettered. Young Australians are pleading with every manufacture) 1 to provide them with an aeroplane. The Bristol Company has a list of mora than a hundred who are eager to embark mid other companies are similarly rushed. Tlio .number is gradually . thinning as the men are called up for repatriation, but.the boys wait till the last moment, hopinsf to "got a bus." Captain Wilkins told tlio Australian Press representative that he had arranged to reach Lyons to-day. Then ho would I>> hot on the track of Captain Ross-Smith, and hoped to overtake him soon, but personally he was less interested in winning the prize than in accumulating all ijossihle scientific information, and ho intended to keep a full and accurato log, specially urepared for fifty-two entries, and which would bo liwdo half-hourly, covering in tlio minutes the way the meteorological and atmosplierio conditions. This would provide valuable data for the future. His equipment includes a large number of instruments in order to record variations, such ns wet and dry biilb thermometers, an . aneroid barometer, a course and drift indicator, a position findinir navigation instrument of his own (feign, a density meter, and an instrument for measuring humidity.— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. THE SIMTON~ TRAGEDY / ACTION nv AUSTRALIAN AUTHORITIES. London, November 20. _ In view of tho vordict at the Coroner's inquest into th« dentlis of the r.viators Lienfonnnt-Coloiiel Douglas and Lieutenant Ross, Australian headquarters will not participate in the investigation of the Fnrbifnn disaster, but has requested the Air Ministrv to snnplv a complote report.—Aus.-N.JS. Cable Assn. ITALY TO AMERICA A CAPRONI VENTURE. Chicago. November 22. Captain D'Annunzio, a son of G'abriele D'Annunzio, sbtes that Sianior Cnproni in planning a (light from Italy to. America in the spring with a large airplane which is now being built.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.