BRISBANE TO SYDNEY

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 377, 11 June 1928, Page 1

BRISBANE TO SYDNEY

WELCOME BY VAST CROWD FEDERAL GRANT OF £5,000 SYDNEY, Saturday. The four Pacific flyers in the Southern Cross arrived at Sydney at 3 p.m. to-day. They were escorted to the Mascot airdrome by an Air Force squadron. The account of the last stage of the flight from Suva, given by Lieutenant tint states: — “Between 8 p.m. and 11 p.m. on Friday the plane passed through the liorst period of the whole flight. Terrific rainstorms, with violent bmps, caused great concern, one drop twing 400 ft. We rose to 7,500 ft, but (he storm conditions still surrounded the plane, which became difficult to control. Sometimes she needed two men at the controls. “After that we varied our altitude frequently between 500 ft and 9,000 ft. The weather was warm though our hands and feet were numbed with the cold of the upper air. When we sighted land at 9.50 a.m. Captain Lyon got a Ehot with the sextant so he was able to figure out our position. Fire minutes later the coast-line became clear and Ballina was just below the plane.” RUMOUR OF N.Z. FLIGHT

Lieutenant Ulm says that for the present he and his companions do not desire to announce their plans for the future, though they hope to fly round Australia.

A report was current in Sydney last night that the Southern Cross would fly to New Zealand and then return to Australia, afterwards going to England and across the Atlantic to America, thus completing a circuit of the world. The Prime Minister, Mr. Stanley Bruce, in a message sent to Captain Smith at Brisbane, paid a tribute to

the airmen’s great achievement. He announced that the , Federal Govern- | ment would contriP bute a grant of £5,000 to them. THUNDEROUS CHORUS Thousands o f people enjoying outings on the harbour and at suburban resorts had a wonderful view of the plane

13 she reached Sydney. She flew Across the Heads and swooped over the city en route to the Mascot airdrome, where 150,000 voices joined in * stupendous chorus of welcome to 'aptain Smith and his intrepid comr *- es at the conclusion of their ? rochal flight. The giant Fokker was led by escorturg Planes across the city and the lading was effected with wonderful ‘acility. Captain Smith’s aged father JJ" ®°ther were the first to welcome ■“« airman as he stepped from the “achine. Then Lieutenant Vim’s parents welcomed him. T* 1 ® tw ° Americans. Captain Lyon Mr. Warner, were warmly acby the crowd, and Captain sale ’ Che course of his remarks. •u he could not have done the flight

without them. Lieutenant Ulm’s comment was: “We could do it again.” SHOUTED CONGRATULATIONS The Governor-General, Lord Stonehaven, and the State Governor, Sir Dudley de Chair, were introduced to

the airmen. A large force of mounted police with 600 foot comrades were present. They had little trouble, as the crowds seemed to appreciate the needs of the position and were most orderly. After an official reception the flyers

were motored round the grounds so that the huge crowd might see and shout congratulations to them. The airmen responded with nods and smiles, but displayed little emotion. This was not surprising at the end of their long journey. The actual flying time from Oakland to Sydney was SS hours 11 minutes. When he was at Brisbane Captain Smith received a cablegram from the President of the United States, Mr. Calvin Coolidge, congratulating the party on the accomplishment of the flight. The President added that their brilliance and courageous pioneering had strengthened the bonds between America and Australia.