AVIATION.

Hokitika Guardian, 19 April 1928, Page 2

AVIATION.

(s uited Press Association.—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.)

CON ELI CTJ.N G REPORTS. NEW YORK, April 17. Due to further conflicting reports it is at present uncertain whether Fitzmauiice is actually approaching civilization or returned to Greenly with Schiller. According to one source Fitzmaurice and Schiller took off from Natasliquan this morning for Murray Bay. In this event they should have arrived already, hilt it is suggested had weather may have compelled them to descend at Seven Islands. However, a despatch received by J. Gobeil (Superintendent of the Canadian Government Telegraphs at Ottawa) states Schiller and Fitzmauriee returned to Greenly instead of proceeding to Murray Bay and picked up both the German fliers and Cuisinier, whence they are nowproceeding to .Murray Bay with the entire Bremen crew. Thus it is apparently impossible to determine the actual situation until Schiller’s plane makes its appearance.

STORY OF TRIP. ST. .101 IN’ (New Brunswick), April 17. The story of the flight of the Bremen has been received hv the newspapers “Times” and “Globe” from Labrador .Mission. It states the Bremen’s crew were nearly exhausted when they lauded after having lost hope of reaching land. Baron Htienfeld was prepared to shoot his companions if the worst came to the worst. All are modest in reference to the feat.

ATLANTIC FLIERS. FITZM A GRICE’S STORY. NEW YORK, April 18. Airman Schiller has arrived at the (. larkc City airport, at Seveil Islands, 225 miles from Natashquan. He is accompanied by Major Fitzmauriee. .Major Fitzmauriee, on his arrival at ( larke City, said, that lie was proceeding to .Murray Bay for spare parts for installation ton the Bremen. This, in his belief, would, take approximately five days. He said: “ r J he Atlantic flight-.” “ Whv it is just like any other trans-Atlantic flight. For the most part it was made at an altitude of fifty feet, in order to obtain visibility.” lie described the first twenty-four hours of flight as successful. Then he said the conditions grew worse still. The log and wind combined, as if intelligently, to retard the progress of fliers, who were not sure for the time whether thev were off their course.

FLIERS’ FIRST EXCLAMATION. NEW YORK, April 17. The “ Evening Post ” story from llie Grenfell Mission is that of a nurse named .Miss Ferris. The .Mission is If! miles from Grecnlcy Island. Aliss Kerris stated Baron Huhenfeldt left the plane upon the arrival ol the Bremen at the Island, and proceeded to the lighthouse for dry footwear, Me was suffering from the cold. He refused to cat until his companions had left the plane. Their first meal was one of biscuits and fresh milk. Baroil 11iilienfeldt is still feeling cold, and he wishes to reach New York. Pilot Kochi docs not complain. Major Fitzniauriee stated that Ireland was much warmer than Grociiley Island. The first words of all three airmen, in their foreign languages. were “ Thank God! ” All of them were very modest. Pilot Kochi celebrated his thirtieth birthday on April 15tli.

The Murray Bay plane photographed the Bremen and tne Eskimo dogs from the Mission, to which the fliers were unable to proceed. Baron llulioiiloTfl t kissed the hand of the first Canadian lady lo obtain his autograph.

MORfi NEWS OF FLIGHT. NEW YORK, April 18,

Mews from Natnshquan states that the Hremen’s crew were greatly surprised to see Scliiller arrive in hi.x rescue plane from Canada. lo them it looked “ like a million dollars.” and they became wildly excited. The reaction of the flight’s strain was just beginning to attack them, hut Schillers’ coming cheered them greatly. Major Fitzmauriee was not at all anxious to leave his companions, hut he felt it. was necessary. Schiller states that their principal difficulty will he in inducing a plane equipped to leave land or water to rise from die snow.

Pilot Koehl’s narrative of the flight states that the official time in the air was 3t>i hours. Koch! said that the heavy fog of Newfoundland reached a height ol two thousand feet. They tried to fly low hut the high seas drove them up again, where they ran into a tremendous storm. The storm then abated somewhat. hut then fuel began to run low. Thov went over wooded country, and they then came to a river, and a mountain, over which they managed to (limb with difficulty. They were unable to. locate their position, but at last they saw the lighthouse, and they alighted near it. as their fuel was exhausted.

MESSAGE TO COOUDGK. WASHINGTON, April 17. President Coolidge lias received i message signed hv Pilot Koehl, Majoi Fitzmauriee, and Count Von Hnhen(eldt. as follows “ We are deeply moved by your kind message of congratulations. The Gcrmnn-lrish crew ol the German aeroplane Hremen hopes to reach the great republic of the Fiiited States very soon, when they will personally express their great appreciation of and thanks lor your sympathetic interest in their work. ’

CAUSE OF DELAY

(Received this day at 8 a.m.) POINT AMOUR. April 19,

Huron Hueneliold rep.rtcd the la.ilure of the lighting system was the main cause of the firemen's 10-s of four hours’ time before locating the position, since they had to operate the machine in darkness. FITZMAURICE’K DESIRE.

Quebec reported that Fitzmauriee wishes to touch no place of importance in United States or Canada. without his companions, ft is felt here that he will confer with ■Junker reprcisent’ativ.ss at Mun-.'vv Bay and then return to Green ley until the Hremen is repaired. MONTREAL. April 18.

Fred Melchior. United Stdtes Director of Junkers’ operations, said: is of supreme importance that the crew should adopt other means to reach New York with all possible speed.”

It is -stated that lie believes Huenefield does not realise that all his requests for aid can he met and that he is anxious to render all .service to the Bremen, hut he advises the crew to come to Montreal and take other Junkers for New York at once for “they have accomplished the main purpose. of crossing the Atlantic, and although sentiment may induce them to remain with the ship, they should endeavour to reap some of the benefits of their marvellous exploit.”

MOYTE PLANES’ RACE. NEW YORK. April 18. A ’plane chartered hv a cinema concern heat all its rivals for pictures, by heading in the general direction for New York to-night, leaving its rivals helplessly anchored at Seven Islands.