THE SOUTHERN GROSS.

Evening Star, Issue 20140, 3 April 1929, Page 8

THE SOUTHERN GROSS.

On Saturday last the Southern Cross left tho aerodrome at Richmond, near Sydney, her objective being London. Squadron-leader Kingsford Smith had as companions tho three men who crossed the Tasman with him —.Flightlieutenant Ulm and Messrs Litchfield and M’William. it was planned that tho first stage should be to Wyndham, which is on the northern coast of tho continent, in the State of Western Australia. Tho distance is about 1,800 miles, and it was hoped to cover this stage in one hop. Tho next section was also to be a non-stop one —from Wyndham to Singapore, 2,030 miles. Hopes were, entertained that tho last part of the llight from Bagdad to London (2,513 miles) would bo accomplished without landing, and that England would be reached in about thirteen days after leaving -Richmond. It was an ambitious programme, but in the light of tho past achievements of these airmen coniidencc was felt in the result. In a brief speech before their departure, Squadron-leader Kingsford Smith expressed his belief that they would win through and do something towards linking up the Empire air communications. Ho added that the Right was purely of a business nature, one of tho objects being, it was understood, to hasten the arrangements for the shipping from Europe of the aeroplanes to bo used in tho Melbourne to Brisbane service. After ibe departure of the Southern Cross the news that came through to Sydney was of the scantiest, but early on Sunday morning it was announced that the piano had been forced down 20U miles from Wyndham owing to her petrgl supplies giving out, a safe landing having been effected. Later information indicated that fog and heavy rain made the task of locating Wyndham almost impossible, and the Southern Cross overflew’ her mark. This seems extremely’ likely’. The country round about is wild and inaccessible, and for iveeks past reports had come to hand of continuous rains in the locality, making the task of hopping off very’ difficult. As a consequence the flight had been postponed till more favourable news was received. To-day a cable message from Sydney suggests that the airmen were misled'by a faked message before their departure declaring that the ground was drying rapidly and that there was good weather all along tho route. Whether they were misled or not, from what can be gathered from the meagre amount of information available it appears that the present difficulty lias been occasioned, or at any’ rale accentuated, by unsuitable weather.

Anxioty will continue till the position is made clear. ■ Apparently the airmen are safe, but assurance will be welcomed that the journey to England is not seriously impeded. In their epoch-making Hight from San Francisco to Australia Kingston! Smith and Hlm and their companions gave a remarkable exhibition of courage, daring, and skill ; and Lite same qualities were exhibited by the four airmen—one of wliom is a New Zealander—in the crossing and recrossing of the Tasman. Everyone will hope that the Southern Cross will surmount the present difficulties. In this connection the words a “sale landing ” have been used. It is to bo hoped that they arc justified, for it would be a matter for regret if tho career of the famous airship came to an abrupt end in the Australian wilds. ,