ATLANTIC CROSSED

Hokitika Guardian, 26 June 1930, Page 6

ATLANTIC CROSSED

KINGSFORD SMITH’S SUCCESS

LANDS IN NEWFOUNDLAND

United press Association— By Electric

Telegraph—Copy right).

NEW YORK, '.-Jmm

The “Southern' Cross’’ was &>0 miles from Cape Race, in Newfoundland, at 8.3.. p,m. . to-day, _ .Eastern American standard tinie.

A further copyright message from the Southern Cross states; “All., is quiet. We are above a fog bank at a height of 2,500 feet. 'Everybody is happy. All O.K. Our position at 0.1/ a.m. Greenwich mean time 'was :'• Latitude 42.12 deg.-'north; longitude 45.6 deg. west; true course 254. deg.; distance to go to Cape Race, 250 miles. NEW YORK, June 24.

A later radio from the Southei n Cross stated: “11.45 p.m. (New York time) —We climbed through a dense fog and got clear at 2600 feet. It is very still and smooth above the fog: We will get our directions by radio.— Smith.”

A LOVELY SPECTACLE.

NEW YORK, June 24

The Southern Cross radioes as. follows: “Very successful with bearings. Here is our position at 2.30 G.M.T.: Latitude, 49.00 deg. north-; longitude.40,40, deg. west; true course 252- deg.q speed, 80 miles, ah hour. A later message said: “Lovely sky over this inimitable sea of fog.. It. is remarkable. The whole world is a peculiar 'blue, and the sunset has flashed a vivid red gjlare in a bowl of blue fog.”

NEAR CATOS RACE

(CopyriglLt—Tvingslord Smith Messligfes.)

NEW YORK, June 24

At 12.09 a.m. New York time, Kingsford Smith radioed: “0.K., old boy; have been messing about, trying to get hearings. It is very dark, and we are now flying blind. The motors are ringed with flames We--still arc 160 miles from Cape Race. It is a dickens of a struggle to keep awake now. The drone makes you tiled. Kingsford Smith, for a lengthy period, has been trying to work the radio station at Cape Race, but has not been successful. 5 -k t , He stated at 11.02 p.m. (New York time): “We. are within 100 miles of Cape Race, and the. ‘big stiff’ doesn’t reply.” Then calling all stations, Kingsford Smith radioed: “It doesn’t look as it we shall get a bearing just when we want it.” 1 PLANE’S RADIO AT FAULT. VANCOUVER, June 24. A message from the Halifax Canadian Government Wireless Station at Cape Race reported at 11.40 o’clock 'to-night that the radio reception set of the Southern Cross was apparently out of adjustment.' The 'plane’s signals could be heard plainly, but attempts to give the plane its bearings failed. The Southern Cross was then near Cape Race PERIOD OF SILENCE. NEW YORK/June 25. A brief • message from Kingsford Smith stated (—“There is now a faint streak of dawn. .We will try for new bearings now.” Following this message another period of silence set in, with the radio stations of the “New York Times,” Cape Race, the battleship “Wyoming,” and the liner “Aquitania” nil trvine to resume communication with the* plane. The air, however, was full of interference.

It was apparent from the last messages that Kingsford Smith had been unable to obtain accurate bearings and that he had rather over-estimated the distance he had covered. However, it is believed that the plane certainly is near Cape Race now. Both short waves and 600 metre waves are being used by those trying to reach the plane’s tiny note from a none-too-strong receiving set. The weather reports from the vicinity of Portland, in Maine, now indicate that there is a thunderstorm there. CONTINUED SILENCE. (Copyright.) NEW YORK, June 25. The New York Times’s Halifax correspondent reports: “At 2.40 a.m. nothing further had been heard on tin. short wave from the Southern Cross.

HELD UP BY FOG „ i . —Qi ■ DIFFICULTY IN LOCATING LANDING

POSITION REPORTED

TJie last communication received lie re was at 12.20 a.m,.,' when the : signals were weaker thaw when- they were*' previously --heard. The plane’s silence, need not cause undue apprehension as it-may be due to the fact that the operator lias fallen . asleep. He mentioned it in bis last ..message received here.'However, it is.possible that the (•plane jis now so close to us . that the /signals trill ,be -skipping. Many of these i short waves do that . sort of thing. There is no further interference either from the Navy or the Rome Station. We -are keeping a continuous watch. It is raining here at present, with a light westerly breeze. The visibility is still good to seaward. The temperature is sixty degrees.” HEARD AGAIN. NEW YORK, June 25. A later message to- the “Times” from a reliable source states: From a reliable source wc learn that the Sable Island Radio Station heard the Southern Cross at about 1.45 a.m. on the 600 metres wave length.” ■' Halifax further reported as follows: At 2.30 a.m.-, local time, Sable Island, heard the plane calling Cape Race on 600 metres.

NEW YORK. June 25

It has been reported from Sydney, in Nova Scotia, that the Marconi Station at Glace Bay, shortly ; after midnight, was in ypniimmic-atiqn with the plane ad, a height of four thousand feet, with the fog exceptionally heavy. The motors were then working well. The Capo Breton Flying Club advised Kingjsi'ord Smith of the location of the local flying field, and it offered any necessary assistance. ...The steamer “Translyvania’’ reported that she, with .another vessel, had communicated witli the Southern Cross, which gave its bearings at approximately 3 a.m. New York time. LOST FOR SEVERAL HOURS. BEARINGS AT LAST SECURED. HALIFAX. June 25. Due east bearing was given by the Southern Cross by Cape Race Radio Station at 2.26 a.m., thus indicating that the plane had been circling at the south-eastern tip of Newfoundland for some hours in an endeavour to establish its position. The Cape Race Radio Station gave the Southern Cross a bearing of 70 degrees true lit 3.10 a.m. The plane had then been aloft tor 29 hours, and it had nine hours’ supply of gas lelt. : CHANGE OF PLAN. ! NEW YORK, June 25. Tjhe steamer •■.America” lias received a message from the Southern Cross stating that Kingston! Smith plans to land either at St. John, Newfoundland, or at Harbour Grace, Newfoundland. The steamer Transylvania lias reported that it has worked with the Cbm.oass Station a Chebucto 'head the Nova Scotia, giving a bearing to the Southern Cross, which, apparently has now begun to Lear to the southwards from the Cape Race Naval radio station.

CAPE RACE PASSED. NEW YORK. Julie 25

Cape Elizabeth, in Maine, received a radio message at 12.15 a.m., stating that the Southern Cross had passed over Cape Race. It is obvious that the plane has wandered blindly in the tog lor a long time—for approximately live hours after they should have passed Cape Race. They radioed to the station there that they were “due cast of Cape Race.” 1 The steamers Pennsylvania and Minnesota- are apparently m close communication with the plane, and are turning their searchlights towards the sky in an endeavour to guide .the Southern Cross, which now seems to have its bearings, although it does not report them closely. COMPASS TROUBLE AND ALL NIGHT FOG, (Copyright.) NEW YORK, June 25. The “New York Times” hits' re-

sinned communication with the South- I ern Cross and has received Lom it the following message: “There Jins been a very bad fog all night. Trouble with our compass has held us up quite a. lot. Afraid we bill have to land in Newfoundland or Nova Scotia- loi petrol alter all! Sorry wo have to do this, but the delay was enormous. We will advise which place later.’

DECISION TAKEN

TO GO TO HARBOUR GRACE

HALIFAX, June 25. Capo Race radioed at 4.30 a.m.—“’l'iie Southern Cross is now bound lor Harbour Grace in Newfoundland.”

FOG DELAYS LANDING

APPEAL FOR A (PLANE

NEW’ YORK. June 25

Tiie 'Bay off Roberts (Newfoundland) Western Union Cable Station lias reported that the Southern Cross was flying overhead and looking lor Harbour Grace. The Southern Cross wirelessed that it could not find the Harbour Grace field, which was under the fog, so it was hoped that they would send a plane up. ■ Later on, the New York Times’s Radio Station heard the Southern Cross calling the Louisbourg Radio Station as follows“ Please, can you do something to guide is to-the-field ? Can you send a machine up, quickly, above the log:? Please ring the Harbour Grace field and tell-them'to send a machine above the fog!”

THE PLANE'S HANDICAPS

NEW YORK; VJune 25

With increasing urgency the Southern Cross sent out a : VC.Q,” signal asking all radio stations to. .pick up and transmit its message to Harbour Grace for a plane to be sent for their guidance. The plane 1 had obviously wandered for three hours in a wide circle in an effort to get its bearings, and this, it is believed.: added to the exhaustion of the Liei, necessitating a descent in Newfoundland. The “New York Times” received a message from the Southern Cross at 5.05 this morning, requesting the following lie cabled urgent to England: “Stannagc Sproxon, Buckminster. Arrived New Foundlaim. Banded safely. Love. John.” ;-...

This is interpreted as Stannage’s desire to reassure his family, although the plane was then still in the air.

SOUTHERN CROSS LANDS

AT HARBOUR GRACE

HARBOUR GRACE. Newfoundland, June 25. The Southern Cross landed here this morning at live twenty-two o’clock.

parents get news

SYDNEY, June 25

Kingsford Smith’s' aged parents residing. at the Sydney 'suburb, Longucvilie, heard the news of Smith’s safe landing at Harbour Grace about nine, Sydney time to-night. They were ovei , joyedi!'!' T ''2':'' ; LL''Ss'i:: Wii “ : T:f' V The. mother remarked: “We were not at all worried because the flight had to be interrupted for petrol. The main thing isthat"vthe: .crew landed safely.; on tile,, oilier .-'side- : of the 'Atlantic.. That’s everything- to us. We arc now looking forward to hearing something of ..KiiigsTord’s next move.” SMITH'S' PARENTS EXCITED. .SYDNEY, June 25. Kingsford Smith’s parents at Sydney, who were bubbling over with excitement, were , greatly relieved tonight when tliey were told the Southern Cross was nearing; its destination. They have arranged for a > wireless chat with him after his arrival at New York. Lm"‘"iian'\ Ulm, interviewed, said that Ire was t};? !• if lost miserable person ali o. He wbuld ,-have given anything to be ■ with ; “Sblithy.” but his duties hero pr: veute.F7tj ( : -c- • i li!av;xg for new york. HARBOUR; GRACE, June 25. The •Southern Cross will leave at daybreak on Thursday for New York. Kingsford Smith said the shortage of gasoline was responsible for the failure to reach .United States. They would fly to San Francisco after reaching New York, thereby completing the round the world flight. NEW YORK, June 25. Kinball (meteorologist) stated the Southern Cross would have fairly good weather for the flight to New I ork, after clearing the fog in the proximity of Newfoundland. He added there were westerly winds off Halifax and cloudiness and souf.h-wcst winds off Nantucket, but they should not prove a serious hindrance.

It is estimated the flight which is more than twelve hundred statute miles, should, however, consume only twelve hours.