AFRICAN AIR RACE

Evening Star, Issue 22458, 1 October 1936, Page 11

AFRICAN AIR RACE

HALSE IN THE LEAD CLOUSTON HOPES TO RESUME Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, September 30. (Received October 1, at 1.30 a.m.) Halse is now six hours ahead of Scott. Llewellyn arrived at Juba and resumed. An Italian plane is taking a spare piston to Clonston, who hopes to leave in the afternoon. HALSE REPORTED TO HAVE CRASHED CAPE TOWN, September 30. (Received October 1, at 10 a.m.) An unconfirmed report states that Halse crashed near Salisbury and was sent to hospital. Halse arrived at Mbeya (Rhodesia) at noon (British standard time) and left at 12.10 p.m. for Salisbury. Halse was not feeling well, and may land at Mpika or Broken Hill for a rest. He was delayed at Mbeya longer than he anticipated owing to magneto trouble. During his enforced wait Halse made every effort to rest and shake off the feeling of weariness and sickness, due to the bumpy conditions. Later came the report of his crash near Salisbury. Scott arrived at Kisumu at 2 p.m. (British Eastern standard time), and departed 20 minutes later. Llewellyn passed over Entebbe at 2.15 p.m. (British Eastern standard time) en route for Pmika. ARM DISLOCATED JOHANNESBURG, September 30. (Received October 1, at 1.5 p.m.) Halse said; “The instruments gave trouble for the greater part of the day. I was unable to find Salisbury. Stability and visibility were bad from the smoke of numerous veldt fires. Having only five minutes’ daylight I decided to laud and selected a suitable field, but when slowing up the machine struck an ant heap and overturned.” Halse’s arm was dislocated and was set under an anaesthetic. He is now sleeping. Other reports say that the machine was completely smashed. Waller arrived at Khartoum. HIGH AVERAGE SPEED (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, September 30. (Received October 1, at noon.) Up to the time of his accident, Halse had taken just on 35 hours for a flight of 5,520 miles, at an average speed, neglecting halts, of 157.6 miles an hour. SCOTT AND LLEWELLYN LEADING SMITH DOGGED BY ILL-LUCK. JOHANNESBURG, September 30. (Received October 1, at 11.55 a.m.) After leading all day by some hours, Halse crashed this evening at Bomshawo, about 20 miles from Salisbury, and only 685 miles from his goal. He was not seriously injured, but bruises on the head necessitated his entering Salisbury Hospital. He was also completely exhausted. The extent of the damage to the machine at present is unknown, but Halse has withdrawn from the race. The struggle for first place now lies between Scott and Llewellyn. They were flying neck and neck until the morning, but then took different routes. Scott was last heard of at 2.20 p.m., when ho left Kisumm. He expected to reach Broken Hill this evening. Llewellyn passed over Entebbe this afternoon, and was reported subsequently going well. The day’s outstanding surprise was the news that Smith was still participating. lie left Skoplje, but was again dogged by ill-luck and made a forced landing 20 miles outside Salonika. He says he is resuming after repairs. EARLIER MESSAGES GLOUSTON STRIKES TROUBLE LONDON, September 30. A' message from Nairobi states that Halse arrived at Kisumi at 7.24 a.m. (British standard time), and left at B a.m. for Salisbury. Scott and Llewellyn arrived at Khartum at 5.45 a.m. and left together at 6 a.m. Clouston landed at 2.45 a.m. (local time) -and complained of engine trouble. It appears that he has run a bearing, and it is doubtful whether he will be able to continue. Halse will thus be able to get a valuable break, rendering possible bis arrival at Johannesburg at noon. There is no sign of Waller. It is conjectured that lie may have omitted Khartum. HALSE IN THE LEAD LONDON, September 30. Halse, who is instructor to the Johannesburg Aero Club, took 360 min from Cairo to Khartum, compared with Scott’s 367 and Llewellyn’s 420. A later Cairo message stated that Waller landed at Korina, 325 miles irom Khartum. His petrol was exhausted, and he was refuelling and would continue to Khartum. Halse covered the 4,367 miles to Kluhnn. in 24h 28min., •

LIEUTENANT CLOUSTON [Per United Press Association.] NELSON, September 30. Lieutenant A E. (Houston, the air race contestant, is 28 years of age, and is the son of Mr and Mrs R. E Glouston, of Nendorf, Nelson. Born at Motiieka, he went to school at Collingwood At the age of 14 years he went to sea, w'hich was a calling he followed for some time until he suffered an illness. Returning to land, he became engaged in the motor business in Nelson and on the West Coast. Later he took up flying at 'Blenheim, training under Captain Chandler, and after a few months, at the age of 21 years, lie sailed for England, where lie was with the Fairey Aviation Company for some months until he joined the Royal Air Force. At present he occupies the position of chief test pilot to the Air Ministry, and has been given time off to permit him to participate in the race.