IN THE AIR.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 October 1919, Page 5

IN THE AIR.

FLIGHT ACROSS AMERICA. MAYNARD WINS THE RACE. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Received Oct. 19, 11.5 p.m. New York, Oct. IS. A Mineola message announces the arrival of Maynard, who thus wins tiie trans-continental ail - race. In a statement he said that his trip demonstrated that a battle-plane fleet could be sent from coast to coast in two and a half days.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. Washington, Oct. IT. According to a message from Dps Moines, Maynard, resuming his journey, has arrived en route to New York, Major Spatz, route to San Francisco, abandoned the flight, and wishes Lowell Smith, whose airplane was burned, to compete instead. AMERICA WAKING UP. TO NEED FOR AERIAL DEVELOPMENT, JAPANESE ARMY LEARNING. Received Oct. 19, 5.5 p.m. New York, Oct. IT. The New York Times' Washington correspondent says that the Assistant Secretary of War, Mr. Benedict Crowell, testifying before the Senate Military Committee, pointed out that Britain was far ahead of the rest of the World in aviation fleveiopment. He..advised that the United States should form an Air Ministry to control military, naval, and commercial aviation. He said that Field Marshals Haig and Foch, and General Ludendorff agreed that, before the mobilisation of armies could be effected in the next war, a great conflict would occur in the air, and that the aggressive njation would be prepared to launch an aerial attack on shipping and munition centres, and even on the cities of its opponents. Field Marshal Foch had said: "To me, the fact has been clearly demonstrated in this war that, if a nation wishes to conquer, .'*• rmist have supremacy in the air." The New York Times, editorially, says it seems that the British Government's habit is to encourage daring always. Its approval of the airplane race from England to the Antipodes is a case in point. Success may crown the flight, but the perils in some parts of the route are so great that a man must he a visionary who will face them. Columbus did not take one-tenth of the risks these bold air pioneers must face. May luck be with them. They will be throwing the dice with death." ■ A dispatch from Tokio says it is understood that the Government is prpparing to appropriate 125 million dollars for the development of aviation, interest in which has been stimulated by the French Aviation Corps, which is teaching the Japanese army.—Aus.-N.Z. Calblo Assn.

FLIGHT TO AUSTRALIA, DIFFICULTIES OF THE ROUTE. London, Oct. 16. The Air Ministry views the last lap of the Australian flight from Bandopg to Port Darwin, following upon a tenthousand miles' journey, as comparable in severity to the trans-Atlantic flight. As Brigadier-General Borton (R.A.F.) reported, it was highly desirable that aerodromes should be constructed at approximate intervals of four hundred miles before flying was permitted eastward at Delhi, all competitors have been warned that this part of the route is largely unready. The competitors, however, chose to make the attempt immediately rather than wait for the New Year. The Ministry has also advised competitors to arrange to convert their machines into sgaplancs at Calcutta. Although the Air Ministry has suggested a certain route as the best according to their information, the Aero Club has decided not to compel competitors to adhere to it, beyond stipulating that they must atop at Singapore, which will be the only control station. The Ministry has, pointed out that though the landings Were generally good between Aboukir and Karachi, it is possible that the unfriendliness of the inhabitants and ,the shortage of water will have to be contended with in the event of a forced landing. Brigadier-General Borton considers thai at least three-quarters of the section between Calcutta and Australia offers a slight chance of successful emergency landings. He specially warns aviators against landing on the seashore or in paddy fields.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. % POULET MAKES FOR SALONIKA. Received Oct. 19, 5.5 p.m. Rome, Oct, 18. Poulet, who is attempting the flight from Paris to Australia, • has left for Salonika.—Ahs.-N.Z. Cable Assn. [Poulet, whoso objective is Melbourne, left Paris last Tuesday morning and made his first stop near Cannes.] A HIGH SPEED, Paris, October 17, Recondite, during a 46-rainute flight, reached 200 miles per hour.—Reiiter.