AVIATION

Hokitika Guardian, 23 July 1928, Page 2

AVIATION

“ITALIA’S” SURVIVORS. A PATHETIC SCENE. Australian Press Assn.—United Service KING’S BAY, July 21. A copyright message states that the Russian ice-breaker “Krassin” anchored after an hour’s difficult manoeuvring. Her deck displayed bunting, and red Soviet flags were at ber masthead. Ronmgne boarded her, and fifteen minutes of suspence ensued, then the pinnace sped towards the “ Citta di Dlitnno,” whose crew shouted excitedly as it identified the survivors. DVhen the name of - Bekouinck, tho Czecho-Slovakian scientist, was called, his sister broke down sobbing. Several sailors cried like children. Cecioni. who had been described as dead, came stoutly aboard on crutches scorning the sailors’ proffered assist-' ance. General Nobile was on deck and looked very pale, and he was obviously ill. He watched the scene with burning eyes. Then he picked up his crutches and embraced and patted Cecioni on the back, after which he resumed his seat.

Then Viglieri, tall, lean, and weary, approached, and stood at attention before he shook hands with the leader. After Viglieri had greeted the crew, and amidst tense silence, Bokoumek, rushed up with a jovial smile, exclaiming: “Here I am—back front iny holidays!” He turned to comfort his sister as she threw herself sobbing on his breast. Biagi pale and emaciated—kissed Nobile without saying a word. Zappi, who was almost unrecognisably gaunt, followed. Biagi and then came Professor Trojani in Russian clothes and leggings with an airman’s badge. The Krassin’s crew were wonderfully kind, clothing and comforting the castaways. They even gave them a fountain lien apiece to write to their relatives. Dlariani, whose foot had to be amputated, hoarded the Citta di Milano by motor launch. K Later on, the Italian cinematographer, grasping a heavy camera tripod, unexpectedly fell into the sea, and he sank three times before he was rescued, out he witjS still gripping his apparatus amid hysterical laughter. The survivors then spent some liouis in their cabins, reading their family letters and hundreds of other messages from Italy. ' < The Krassin has landed the remains of the Italia’s control cabin, and many of the objects found at the camp, including the famous red tent, also tho wireless set to which the survivors their lives, and the broken of Lundborg’s seaplane, all of will be shipped to. Italy to be preserved as sacred mementoes.

AIR RACE ROUND BRITAIN LONDON, July 21. . The King’s Cup air race round Britain began to-day. Tlie leading machines at the end of the first day at Renfrew were: First Flight Officefi Atclierley, in a Gloster Grebe (40min. 56sec. start, arrived 5-19-2 1 p.m.; second, Oapt.-Broad, in a De Haviland Dfotli (94min. 32« w. start) arrived 5-20-53 p.m.; third, DV. Hope (holder) in a De Haviland Dloth (115 min. 40sec. start), arrived 5-27-19 p.m.; fourth, C. Unwin, in a Bristol machine (4niin. 41sec. start)'arrived 5-34-12 p.m. LONDON. July 22,

In the King’s Cup air race round Britain, a Hope Dloth arrived first, Unwin’s Bristol Fighter 2nd., Dliss Spooner’s Dloth third, a Broad Dloth fourth. The winner averaged 1054 miles an hour for the full distance of 109 w miles. Summer-son's Ayro Avenger (fictile fastest time, Dliss Spooner won the trophy for member’s light piano Clubs.