THE SOUTHERN CROSS

Hokitika Guardian, 13 April 1929, Page 5

THE SOUTHERN CROSS

THE FIRST NEWS

SYDNEY, April 12. “The Southern Cross found—All well! ”

This news spread like wildfire just before one o’clock to-day, hut people, mindful of the many false rumours that had hene current for the past week, were for a time incredulous. When the appearance of newspaper notices confirmed the glad tidings, a

great sigh of content and thankfulness arose that the intrepid adventurers had survived their twelve days’ isolation in the wilds of a country, tlic desolate and rugged character of which had made the continuance of hope seem almost impious.

THE FIRST MESSAGE.

SYDNEY, April 12,

T.he first message came from the Dnrwin wireless station to the Amalgamated wireless station at La Perouse, Sydney, and it was timed at 11.81 p.m. Darwin time, which is equal to 12. i p.m. Sydney time, and it read as follows:

“ The Canberra signals that she has found the Southern Cross. All O.K. All alive. Have dropped food. Details later.”

The finding of the men who have liecome national heroes was the sole topic of conversation, and when various editions df the newspapers appeared, they were eagerly snapped up for such additional details as they possessed.

NEWS CONFIRMED.

SYDNEY. April 12

A special message to the New Zealand Press Association from Perth, at 10.55 a.m. or 12.45 Sydney time, briefly confirmed the report, adding: “The missing men were found forty miles from Port George, and were all well : and added that food was being dropped to them.

CANBERRA’S SPEEDY SUCCESS. Other message stated that the air liner, Canberra had left AVyndham at 8.38 o’clock this morning local time; and ■ that not quite two and a-half hours later, having followed a course that she had determined upon yesterday, signalled that she had tound the Southern Cross.

The Canberra’s pilot, Captain Holden, having tailed to find the missing party to the northward of the Prince Regent River, had decided that it was possible that they had become lost in the country south-west of the Port George; Mission.

FLYERS’ RELATIVES

OVERJOYED AT THE NEWS

SYDNEY. April 12

Kingsford Smith’s parents, who have been quietly confident all the past fortnight, were overjoyed on learning of their son’s safety. The Australian flag and Union Jack flutter above their home at Lane Cove, and they have been busy all the afternoon greeting friends and receiving congratulations.

MRS ULM’S DREAM

SYDNEY, Aprl 12

Mrs- 111 in said that she dreamed this morning that she saw her husband who told her that natives had helped the party with food. She remarked: “ He offered me a handful of green berries, fie had a map of Australia in his hann, and started to point to a place north of Derby. 1 never lost hope. They had such experience that I knew they would light to the last. Charles always told me not to worry. Life was too sweet to him to give it up without a hi" tight.”

The relatives of the airmen are receiving congratulatory messages from all quarters. Among the first were telegrams from Mr Rruee (Federal Premier) and Mr Bavin (N.S.W. Premier), and the Labour Party leadcis.

SYDNEY ELATED. SYDNEY, April 12.

There were remarkable scenes witnessed in many places to-day when the news of the finding of the Southern Cross got abroad. The usual solemnity of the Stock Exchanges, where the bidders were immersed in financial calculations, were suddenly broken by an outburst of cheering, and business was forgotten. At the Nationalist Party’s Congress, when the Prime Minister, Mr Bavin, announced the news, prolonged cheers were given for Captain Holden, the pilot of the Canberra. There were similar scenes at the sports gatherings.

HODDEN’S PACKER

SYDNEY, April 12

One of the most pleased men m Sydney is Mr I l '. R. Eager, who is a part owner of the Canberra, and who was one of the prime movers in arranging Pilot Holden’s search.

■ FOUND AND SAFE —-o THE CREW ALL WELL GENERAL REJOICING □ (Australian Press Association)

THE NEWS IN LONDON

LONDON, April 12

Welcome news that the Southern Cross had been found was received first through the Central News. Sydney. at three a.in. Australians in London never-wavered in their belief that the airmen would be found. The press has displayed the utmost concern since their disappearance.

VANCOUVER REJOICING

VANCOUVER, April 12.

News of the finding of the Southern Cross caused general rejoicing here, where many rememeber Ivingford Smith’s family.

TEXT OF TH'iK RADIO REPORTS

SYDNEY, April 12.

The Amalgamated Wireless Coy supplies the latest information which has been intercepted from the air liner Canberra :

”12.9 p.m. Darwin time—The Canberra is still flying around the Southern Cross—(Signed) Anderson.” This signature raises the query: Is Keith Anderson safe, or did he find the Southern Cross, and is the Canberra radioing his information, as he had no wireless?

At 9.45 a.m. the following message from the aeroplane Canberra was sent to the Southern Cross: “After visiting Port George Mission, we- will search all of the bays and inlets and as far as Cape Londonderry.” “11.33 a.m. Darwin time—The Canberra confirms the finding of the Southern Cross. All alive. Have dropped foodstuffs.” “11.38 by wireless, from Canberra to Southern Cross—lf you can hear us walk into open ground, Mac!” “11.34 a.m.—From Canberra- to Darwin Radio—They must be eating! Have not seen them for a few minues. Dropping more food.”

“11.47 a.m. Darwin time—Found alive. All well. Position south of ■Port George .Mission, on a mud flat.”

“11.58 a.in.—Can see the whole crew- now. All safe.”

A MYSTERY SOLVED

SYDNEY. April 12

Regarding the previous uncertainty caused by the appearance of the signature “Anderson” to an early rescue message, this lias now been cleared up. It was not the signature of the airman, hut of a telegraph operator at Darwin.

ANDERSON’S FATE

NO ALARM FELT,

MELBOURNE, April 12

The airman, Anderson, and his mechanic, Hitchcock, still have not reported .

SYDNEY, April 12

Anderson’s backer. Air J. Cantor, of Sydney, is confident that the airman, who lias not been heard of for two days, is safe.

His smutdi plane would take Anderson well out of the way of communications, though he had instructions to report to-day. His objective was to enter the search area trom the south-east of Kimberley, and to obtain information from the cattle stations before proceeding further.

SEARCH FOR ANDERSON

AIELBOURNE, April 12.

The Minister of Defence to-day conferred with the Aviation Department regarding the possibility of arranging a search for Keith Anderson and uis mechanic, Hitchcock. Tt is known that after leaving Alice Springs at 8.30 on Wednesday morning, they reached AVoodford. one hundred miles further on. They then continued on the direct route to WyiuTham. No further news has been received from them since.

SEAPLANE CARRIER SAILS

SYDNEY. April 12

The seaplane carrier “Albatross” has not yet sailed on route for AVviidham. The preparations, however. are hurriedly proceeding. The pilots for the six planes aboard el her had to lie recalled from Alolbourno. They arrived here to-day and the ship will sail immediately.

LATER

The seaplane carrier “Albatross cleared Sydney beads at 12.34 p.m. and is now going full speed westward

Although her company knows that the aviators have been found, the ship cannot turn back till slit* receives specific orders Irom the Na-.v Board. She carries six planes and twenty thousand gallons of petrol.

CANBERRA’S EARLY REPORT'S

THE FLIGHT TO PORT GEORGE

SYDNEY, April 12

The Amalgamated Wireless Coy supplies the following earlier reports from Canberra. Half an hour after leaving Wyndham the plane wirelessed: "We have just sighted Mount Trafalgar and Mount Waterloo, to the north. 'l’lie St. George's Imsin is sliii about fifty miles away."

9.22 a.in.: “We are now crossing over tin* Princess .Mary’s Ranges. \Yc should he at the Prince Regent Riveshortly.’’ 9.37 a.in.: “In live minutes we will cross the Prime Regent River at the point where it runs into the St. George’s Basin. We are on the way to the' Port George Mission, t/.i see if they can give more definite infurma tion.”

A .MISSING LINK. The story of the finding of the Southern (.’ros.s. as at present available. is marked hv a hiatus at thipoiiu. as the next message is the on* timed 9.15 a.in., viz., “Canberra t i Southern Cross, after visiting Poet. George, etc.” Thus far there is no actual description of the finding of the Southern Cross men. but a message timed at 11.5 a.in. says: “We have now left the Southern Cross, and are about to pass over the St. George’s basin, near Patrick Island.’

THE ACTUAL POSITION

OFF GLENELG RIVER

SYDNEY, April 12,

After locating the Southern Cross, the Canberra climbed higher up :n order to pin-point the Southern Cross’s position, and at 12.30 p.m. the Canberra radioed: “It is approx:mately the Gieitelg River, about twenty miles from George Waters. ’ At 12.10 p.m. the Canberra radioed “Advise Smith, Ulm, Litchfield and McWilliams’ families • that these airmen are well, and have plenty of water, as they have a good creek running near them.”

“CA NBERRA’S RETURN.

SYDNEY, April 12

Thu Amalgamated Wireless received the following additional message from the air liner Canberra: “2.15 p.m.: The Canberra is at a height of four thousand feet and her speed is ninety miles per hour. AVe are on an easterly course for Wyudluun. We have just passed the Lawry River. Our Imshmeii are not feeling very well, owing to humps.”

CANBERRA REACHES WYNDHAM

SYDNEY'. April 12

The air liner Canberra, on her return from the Glonelg River, reached AVyndham at 3.53 p.m., AA yudlnim time.

SYDNEY, April 12

Two R.A.F. planes have left Point Cook for Alice Springs to begin a search for Keith Anderson.

LOCATION OF 'THE PLANE. The Glonelg ltiver, like the Prince Regent River, flows westward. into

the Indian Ocean. The Gienelg which is about ten miles south of the Prince Regent, is a small stream, distant about 225 miles almost due west of AVyndham, which stands at the head of the narrow Cambridge Gulf, which is an arm of the Joseph Bonaparte Gulf. The direction taken by tho Canberra on the (light yesterday which located the missing plane, was practically due west from Wyndham across the Prince Regent River to the Gienelg.

OPTIMISM JUSTIFIED. (Received this day at 8 a.m.) SYDNEY, April 13

Shepherd (Secretary for Defence) speaking at Melbourne in the afternoon said the finding of the Southern Cross justified the optimism of Colonel Brinsmead (Controller of Civil Aviation) that the plane would bo found in the neighbourhood of Port George on ono of the mudflats thereabout. They had no official confirmation, but accepted the reports as correct and were nowawaiting advice from the Canberra at Wyndham. Shepherd added that it seemed that the method of transport of the aviators from the flats must be worked out by the men on the spot, but the department would co-operate. The telegraph lines are congested tonight and no detailed account of the days thrilling happenings are yet available from AVyndham.