SOUTHERN CROSS

Hokitika Guardian, 17 May 1929, Page 6

SOUTHERN CROSS

THE ENQUIRY

SMITH EXAMINED

(Australian Press Association)

SYDNEY, May 1G

The air inquiry regarding the landings of the Southern Cross and Kookaburra. was resumed this moiuing.

Squadron-Lcailer Kingsford Smith was the first witness called. Mr Hammond, who is assisting the Commission, said that on March 2~, a telegram was sent by Captain Chateau, at Wyndliam, asking the Southern Cross fliers to delay theii start until they had received an “O.Tv.” advice. A telegram was sent Irom Sydney to Captain Chateau advising him that the Southern Cross was taking off on March 31st. Mr Hammond then read a telegram from Wynham, reading: “Weather fine. Drying winds.” This was sent on March 30th. Kingsford Smith, however, said that lie thought he had received on March 29th another telegram which read:—“Cannot believe Southern Cross leave without definite ‘O K. from me. Conditions unsafe. Musi be recalled.” •CHARTS NOT VERY COMPLETE. , . ... SYDNEY, May 10: > i At'’the: air inquiry/. Mr • Hammond, K.C., asked Smith: ‘Clad you. fixed; oil. any emergency ground in Aus-. India' • ,! ' •Smith: “Yes! Oodnadatta. ’ ■ ' 1 i\fr Hanimond: “You - could have fixed y«ii’ll'* ‘aerial ’there? Smith:' “Yes; hut the ground is a; bit' small for a take off.” ' ' , ‘ Telegrhfifs which passed between Wyndham and Sydney before the night were .produced. Some of these referred to alternative landing grounds at Wyndliam. One advised the carrying of emergency supplies ot food and water. ,Smith was then questioned about the charts they carried. The Missions at Drvsdale and at Port Ocorgc were not shown on the maps, he said, although the maps used were recommended as the most . comprehensible that were procurable. :smitii,i went on to relate the text of dramatic'messages passing between himself ahd 'XIlm ; when hdth realised they were in* difficulties.’ tJl.m s messaee' read“ Let us find some sort of landing ground..\yHli the idea of sayhus;intaq t : W ei can> t> hclf. bv wireless.” ..... ; '. • . • ~ ill,, rend tlic /Iroft of, a. mpssaco for McWilliams to send out, explainingJtlmUu^iAude. ib(T* Only "ton minutes’ petrol. Rend planes. Now lauding near Cdenelg River, 25 gules ’from coast.” Smith said he accepted the full responsibilityoor starting'when they did Hot still ~believed that they did , the ;RjHr pGrlehefgj tjif gtff* pospihlp'"w'afi‘'‘ , ddho to » air for ' gi'onhd rescue parh|. . A)f>sH> said * .weVelliystej.dqali’apd eftpitiHl whpu the Hanherrm them. !t|e newspaper agreeatentl.

' |lr Hammond then .produced the contract existing between the airmen and the “Sun” newspapers and the Melbourne “Herald,” which provided that five hundred sterling should he paid for the. exclusive story of the (light if thev limit Bert Xiinkler’s record, hut only £250 if they did not. emergency rations. :AERl%s6st; Aiyi'Eß/STA gING. v ' Affiy 10. ; At thf; |l,»q}ii(|', | V'lienD cross; ex.'riw.jncd b.v AlrHljiminoml K.C.. : .AV 4 hn is assistfiig^tjjc^Committ^p, A oMnquir.v, V’cijip «J.ry.n ,J y Dea t(p f.' ’S' [»« s i \ ,l ' ( . l s ll ' \ { •*!. desi/iSi!-/!»:....£ , li ii ! , !H , H 1 i - - 0,1 ■ L, /‘- Sontlici-ii Cross, wliicii iiichidcd thieel p-iirs D>f pliers, three sci'cav itriycp, threu spanners,i.iud . si_ new .. Pitir .;, • but ;po lmininer. Tl,iei£ was pc, occasion, foil A 'hamnmr„.in::tiigA(ii', lie said. Some tools were .taken from |,|,c plane before they left' Biehinoml. The emergency wireless set had been removed before tpe flight, hccause trere was no need for it, and its weight being a matter of importance. They left, out everything not actually required. .- , . . Air llaminond: “M li.v did -yoii not. take prei-aiil ioiis on ; this trip the .same as on the Pacific flight?” Smilli: “Wo took all necessary nrecautions. ....Even ...i.J .one. engine failed, we could, have flown a .thousand miles oil”the other two. rhe sandwiches and coffee, that we left with were sufficient for a flight fifty ner cent longer than the one (o AVyrnlham, hut wlfoii we landed, we had only seven sandwiches, and a flas.v and a half of coffee.” Mr Hammond ; “When (lid : N on j lose your aerial?” . Smith: “Half an hour after' departure.” Air Hammond: “Why did you not attempt to affix another?” Smith: “We considered the risk of landing to lie far too great.” Smfill added ; that; the emergency rations that were in the plane when thev left America had been removed without-his or Ulm’s knowledge. Air Hammond: “Then you had no emergency rations at all 9 ” Smith; “By accident, we had none, hut we thought we had.”

THAT MISSING TELEGRAM.. SYDNEY, May 10. At the Air Inquiry Squadron leader Kingsford Smith said that he did not know what.became of the weather telegram that was received immediately before tjiey.. left Richmond. Jt was possible that it was among his flying kit which he left at Wyndham. Air Hammond asked: Why did the Southern Cross take the unchaited and more risky route to Wyndham, instead of going, to Darwin? Smith: Because with a heavily loaded plane it would he totally impossible to got- ofl again at Darwin. Smith spoke highly of the Southern Cross instruments and of his colleagues Litchfield and Mae Williams. The inquiry was adjourned till the morning. A largo er»wd rushed to gain admission to the inquiry this morning.