LOWERS RECORD

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 27, 26 October 1937, Page 5

LOWERS RECORD

- Press Assn.

"FEARFULLY TIRED" Miss Batten's Story of the Flight MEDITERRANEAN STORMS

(By Telegraph -

— Copyrigfit.)

(Received 26, 8.45 a.m.) LONDON, Oct. 25. The Daily Mail publishes Miss Batten's own story of her record-breakmg Australia-to-England flight. She says ; ''It is wonderful to be bere after the worst weather I ever encountered. I am fearfully tired, especially in tho eyes owing to the continual strain. The bumpiness of the last long hop across Europe almost exhausted me. 1 losfc all count of time. "One of the worst sections was Allahabad to Karachi, where I was literally fagged out owing to the heat and strong headwinds. I ate at Karachi in a semi-coma and fell asleep with the last mouthful, I was so tired. At Damascus I slept only five hours. "I doubt whether the Tasman Sea at its worst is equal to the terrific Mediterranean storms near Cyprus. Nevertheless, I was always confident of sun. cess. I beat Mr. Broadbent by 14 hours and I suppose I must be satiatied." The donor of chrysanthemums at Croydon was a school friend, Miss Anita Webster, of Auckland. The bouquet carried the inscription: "Congratulations and pride from Cleveland House Old Girls' Association." Lieut.-Colonel Shelmerdine, Director of Civil Aviation, in a tribute to Miss Batten's flight, said: "It is a remarkable achievement to hold the Australian record for both directions." A sheaf of telegrams included Auckland 's greetings. Miss Batten, surrounded with flowers, lingered in bed at Grosvenor House enjoying a rest. "I have just realised," she said, 'that I hold the record both ways. I have not thought about a return flight

or lowering the record. I am feeling fine and have lost my engine deaf ness. ' ' The Times, in an editorial says: "For three successive autumns Miss Batten has held the attention of the British people throughout the world. She would be tbe first to admit that nothing of special value has emerged from the flight, but her courage, endurance, skill and determination to keep the risks to herself have won her a place in the public favour for those whose spirit of adventure will not be denied." The Paris newspaper Le Soir describes Miss Batten as a girl with nerves of steel. Le Journal speaks of her incomparable mastery. L'lntransigeant says that she is the world 's first long-distance airwoman.