AIRMEN LEAVE FOR HOME

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 398, 5 July 1928, Page 10

AIRMEN LEAVE FOR HOME

THE SUN’S SYDNEY LETTER

KINGSFORD SMITH MAY FLY TO N.Z. IN MOONLIGHT JERVIS BAY THRILLS SYDNEY SYDNEY, June 2S. With the departure of the American airmen for the "United States on Saturday last, much of the enthusiasm connected with the famous four who flew the Pacific has waned. The Australian is a queer mixture and undoubtedly the American element in the quartette had the greater fascination for Sydney folk; maybe because of the international flavour which it gave to the team. A surprise was the departure on the same ship as Lyons and Warner, of Captain Lancaster and Mrs. Miller, the latter as secretary to Mr. Lyons. It is said that the trio will make flights in the United States. Moonlight Flight to New Zealand At a luncheon given by the Journalists’ Association to the Pacific flyers, I had an opportunity to speak to Kingsford Smith, and I asked him if he had any message for the New Zealanders regarding his proposed flight across Ihe Tasman. After remarking that he was not allowed to give news to the press, he said, “If I don’t catch the full moon in six weeks’ time, I’ll have to wait for the next moon. That is all I can say.” Interest in this flight has died down considerably. Maybe the cyclonic storms which have raged have cooled off the ardour, or it may be that the urgent invitations to return to America are pulling the Australians in fnother direction than toward New ealand, though they might easily fly the Tasman and catch their steamer at Wellington. Kingsford Smith and Ulm have decided to go to America for a time, and one cannot wonder at their decision, for over there endless exciting engagements await such air heroes.

Golf Championship Attracts Crowds The usual “whispering army” which follows golfers in championship games had a slow time, in one sense, at the final rounds, for Lee Brown is one of the most tantalisingly deliberate players. Every shot was preceded by a practice swing. Even on the greens he made an imaginary putt, watching the ball, in his mind’s eye, till it had dropped into the tin. Such tactics would have got on the nerves of a sensitive opponent. Fawcett, the champion. however, is not built that way. He simply sat down on the gTeen and lit a cigarette, while Lee Brown, hemmed in by the throng of silent “fans,” got rid of the ball. Then Fawcett arose and played. He has a brisk manner, cool, yet alert, and he never takes a practice swing. Possibly this may have accounted for his superior condition at the end of the 36 holes and the competition. Though Dr. Lee Brown, as a medical man, knew that he was wearing himself out, he still kept on doing it, and at the conclusion of the match he was practically exhausted through anxiety and practice swings. Jervis Bay Trouble

The news of the trouble on the Jervis Bay gripped Sydney with the thrilling clutches of romance. Piracy, mutiny, any doings of the kind on the high seas fired the imagination of Australians. who have the spirit of adventure highly developed. But, as the promise of a really bloodthirsty story petered out. the episode dropped to a low level in public estimation. Those, however, who know the sea and especially the sea when it is floating an Australian ship, realise that Captain Daniel probably had every justification for asking for a warship. The Australian public has a commendable ten-

dency to side with the under dog. In this case the plight of eight stowaways would no doubt warm the sympathies of both passengers and crew, and the effect of this might be subversive to discipline. After the warship was sent for there would be a swift change of opinion aboard, which would nave the effect of leaving the captain rather in the air as regards the need for naval aid. Shipping men here generally believe that he did the next best thing to getting out his gun. That is what the old sea dogs would have done Labour Strife Fades Away Apart from a ship or two here and there which is black, the cook’s strike is over without any free labour cooks having gone to the fishes, as .look Garden suggested might happen on a rolling ship. Jock Garden’s case is of burning interest, but after he is' disposed of industrial questions may be quiet for some time, for money is scarce and strikes unpopular. Not for 40 years has unemployment been so marked in Sydney as at present, and Government and public bodies are starting relief works. A significant feature of the situation is the return to Great Britain of many people who came here to get work and settle. The Orvieto last week had every berth in her third-class filled. On the other hand, no Italians or other foreigners are returning home. And this shows just where the various nationalises settle. The Italians have found almost virgin fields for their shops in our country towns, which just now are prosperous, the British stay in the cities. Another factor is that the Italians stick to one another; one never goes down and out among them. The British are individualists, and usually very homesick. WILL LAWSON.