ROUND THE WORLD

Hokitika Guardian, 7 April 1922, Page 2

ROUND THE WORLD

ROSS SMITH’S COMING FLY. I UNITED SERVICE TELEGRAMS. LONDON, April 5. Round the world in a suit of clothes, With two shirts and eight pounds of luggage, is a project upon which the Ross Smith brothers and Bennett will set out this month. The intention of the three Australians is to await Anzac Day for a start of their 21,503 mile journey. Bennett has now been promoted to the rank of engineer instead of mechanic, as .lie has charge of the Lion engine. The brothers nicknamed him Lion Tamer. Ross Smith interviewed, said his severest test will be crossing the Atlantic, for there will be a twenty hours’ continuous run. The present plan is to leave St John’s at two o’clock in the afternoon, flying all night. I think it better to start in the afternoon and get well out before night comes on, though there should be only a few hours of darkness in July. With luck we should reach Ireland next day. We will not attempt to sleep. I should greatly have liked to include Australia in the journey, but that would mean seven thousand extra miles, necessitating returning on our tracks. When asked, “Why are you going,” Smith replied frankly—“l have often wondered why lnyself. The idea has been in my mind ever since 1 landed in Australia. Anyhow we want to see a British machine first round the world.”