IN THE AIR.

Hokitika Guardian, 17 December 1919, Page 4

IN THE AIR.

fAUSTRALIAN & N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION! ] ROSS-SMITH INTERVIEWED. DARWIN, December 14. Before leaving here Ross-Smitli, interviewed regarding the possibility of l commercial aerial service between England and Australia, suggested the division of the route into sections as (follows: —London to Cairo, Calcutta to Singapore, Darwin to Melbourne. The first stage with the co-operation of Britain, France, and Italy, could easily ;blo arranged. The next stage from Cairo to Calcutta, is already being considered by the Indian Government, which is contemplating the establishing of an aerial mail in the near future, and ig arranging to erect aerodromes from Calcutta onwards. Owing to the jungle and swamp between Singapore and Java, the Dutch Government lias constructed an aerodrome at Bangka Island. There are also some good aerodromes in Western Java, but the one at Sourabeya is unsuitable. ■Smith favours seaplanes in preference to aeroplanes for portion of the route, owing to the necessity of following the coast, and where suitable seaplane harbours exist, but there are no god landing places for aeroplanes. (Smith thinks that the danger of aerial attack from Asia is very real. There woidd be no need for planes to /travel long distances. They could simply bo released from a parent aerodrome ship, to which they would return after theier deadly work was accom- ) plashed. I