AUSTRALIA BY AIR

Taranaki Daily News, 21 November 1919, Page 5

AUSTRALIA BY AIR

fcOSS SMITH REACHES CAIRO. THROUGH RAIN AND STORMS. By Tilegraph.—Press Ann.—CopyTlght. o Received Nov. 20, 8.45 a.m. Cairo, Nov 17. Captain Boss Smith has reached Cairo. Sydney, Nov. 20. The special correspondent of the Sydney Sun says that messages from Captain Ross Smith show that the journey from Some to Suda Bay, in Crete, was marked mostly by wind and rain. Passing the mountains he flew low over Vesuvius, but the weather was too bad to obtain photographs. Crossing the Mediterranean from Suda Bay he had to fly at an altitude of 2000 feet most of the way owing to clouds and rain. It took two and a-half hours to strike the African coast at Solium. Thence he flew across the desert to Cairo. The 30 flying hours the journey has so far occupied has been mostly through rain and storms, nad the greatest assistance has been rendered by the aerial route stations. The machine was going perfectly. . [Captain Ross Smith started on November 12 and has outdistanced Captain Matthews, who left London on October 21, and is held up by the weather at Afayence.] POULET'S OIL TANK FAILS. Received Nov. 20, 10.30 p.m. London, Nov. 19. Poulet cables from Nasia Abad: "Oil tank of aeroplane has become unsoldered. lam making repairs. Have had great trouble on voyage since leaving Paris."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. Paris, Nov. 17. Poulet's encounter with Arabs led to bloodshed. The natives who attacked (lira had several wounded. [Poulet arrived at Karrachi on November 11, his departure being postponed Bntil the 18th. He appears to have jteached Nasia Abad, in Bengal, India.] THE SURBITON DISASTER. London, Nov. 17. A verdict was returned of accidental death at the inquest on Captain Douglas and Lieutenant Ross at Surbiton. No nhtme was attached to the designers or makers of the aeroplane or engines. At the inquest, J. A. Peters, who designed the machine and piloted a similar one from London to Madrid, said that Douglas and Ross were trained in every detail in order to deal with repairs en route. The machine was in perfect condition when it started. It weighed less than 00001b., being 4001b. less than the Madrid machine. The examination of the wreckage and the subsequent stripping of the engines showed no mechanical defect. Witness produced Ross' brief log, Which threw no light on the accident. There was only one entry, showing that the altitude was 1200 feet when it left Hormslow. Witness' theory was that the machine came out of a cloud in a spin with the engine off. The pilot apparently put her hose down in order to straighten her out, but had insufficient altitude to right himself. Miss Matel Woolley, Captain Douglas' fiancee, intervened during Peters' evidence with a passionate protest that the airmen was allowed to depart without the machine being thoroughly tested. She declared that Captain Douglas told her that.no test had been made with the Wireless equipment on board, except a flight at Honnslow. She asked angrily if five minutes' flight was a sufficient test for a journey to Australia. | Paters said the machine was in the (lir three-quarters of an hour the previous day. A friend of Douglas' in the public gallery constantly attempted to put questions regarding the flying tests between October 30 and the day of the departure. He declared the court was packed, and asserted that the coroner Was failing in his duty. The coroner ordered the police to remove the interjector. After the medical evidence the coroner Bummed up, and said he had no doubt that the Air Ministry and Australian authorities would investigate the points raised irregularly. He had no doubt that death was due to accidental causes.— Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. CRASH OP FRENCH AEROPLANES. Madrid, Nov. 17. A jfrencn aeroplane, flying at a great sdtitude, and carrying seven persona, fell Bear Guadalajara. Three were killed and the others badly injured.