THE SOUTHERN CROSS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume L, Issue 3931, 16 April 1929, Page 3

THE SOUTHERN CROSS.

Sydney, April 14. Tihe “Sun” slates that the first message from the stranded flyers arrived at,Sydney late on Saturday night from. Uhn., This said that Smithj 'thought he could take off from, the mud flats as soon as petrol and oil were procured. They proposed to bring the Southern Cross jba’ek to Sydney for reconditioning, before starting again on the flight to England. The party were still feeling weak from starvation. Uhn also telegraphed to his wife and the Chief Civic Commissioner, Mr Garlick, extending the thanks of the party for what (Sydney citizens had done for them. 'Smith also'sent a message to his parents announcing “All Well. Returning to Sydney for overhaul, ’’ These messages were lodged at Derby, having apparently been taken thither by the ’plane which landed alongside the Southern Cross yesterday. This was the West Australian Airways machine, which the Canberra found there when she made 't'he second trip yesterday with food for the maroone_d men. The ’plane which landed beside the Southern Cross was piloted by Heath, Lieutenant Anderson’s ’plane, the Kookooburra, is stiff missing. Two R.A.A.F. ’planes which have gone in search' for her have not yet reported from M'arree or Alice Spi'ings. private advice from Wave Hill indicates that there is no news. Police assistance for the search is being sought. PRIME MINISTER’S MESSAGE. On behalf of the people of New Zealand, the Prime Minister (Rt. Hon. Sir Joseph Wjard)! has forwarded the following cablegram to the Prime Minister of Australia (Rt. Hon. S. M. Bruce): — “The news of the dislcovery of the Southern Cross and the safety of •the missingj aviators has been received with the keenest pleasure in New Zealand, and has been a source of relief frota the grave anxiety which we all shared regarding their welfare.” Sir Joseph has also forwarded the following cablegram to the Premier of New, South Wales (the Hon. T. R. Bavin): —

“New Zealand shares with New South Wtales and other portions of the Commonwealth in the feeling of universal satisfaction in connection with the discovery of the Southern Cross and the safety of Squadron Leader Kingsford Smith and bis companions. May I ask you to be good enough to convey to the relatives of the aviators in your State an expression of our 'congratulations upon the happy termination of our common anxiety as to the welfare of the miss nig airmen.” To Mr James McWilliams, of Auckland, an lOicle of T. H. McWilliams, the New Zealander on board the Southern Cross, the following telegram has 'been sent by Sir Joseph Ward: — “May I express on my own behalf and that of the Government, ’our congratulations in connection with the good news which has been received regarding ; the Southern Cross and the missing airmen. The tidings will afford both your wife and yourself relief from the keen anxiety you must have felt regarding the .welfare of your nephew.” A MASTER PILOT AND EXPERT - CREW. “Airmen who are acquainted with Kingford Smith and- Uhn,” said one of the Australian papers while the search was still proceeding, “have the highest opinion of their qualities. Through all the years he has been flying, Kingsford Smith has never had >a seiious crash, a fact which speaks volumes for his air sense, his coolness and resource. He is said to be amazingly intuitive, in scenting the approach of danger, and in an emergency to be able to think and plan 'with a rapidity that commands the admteation of all who know him. “Flight Lieutenant Uhn is a wor-thy.-Lieutenant to such a captain. Iron-nerved determined and confident, he is seen at his best when things go wrong. These two men have been tested in the crucible of circumstances, and have proved the metaJl of which they are made. Neither the days of difficulty in America, when they sought in vain for backing to finance their flight, while their friends gradually ebbed away, nor the long hours of flying over thousands of miles of lonely ocean, with disaster sitting at the back of the cockpit, could raise difficulties they could not overcome. T- H. MAVlilliams, the wireless operator, and H. Litchfield, the navigator, are experts in their own particular line, and men who showed their qualities on the New Zealand-Australian flight.”