AUSTRALIA BY AIR

Taranaki Daily News, 25 November 1919, Page 5

AUSTRALIA BY AIR

FLIGHT OF "KANGAROO," THE DEPARTURE FROM LONDON. By Telegraph.—Press Assn —Copyright. Received Nov. 24, 5.5 p.m, London, Nov. 21. i The crew of the "Kangaroo," were in [ the highest spirits when they departed from Hounslow (outside London), in bright sunshine. They repatedly waved and shouted farewell to the crowd, who gave them a rousing send-off. As the machine bounded forward, the airmen's "Cheerios" could bo heard above the whirr of the engines. The "Kangaroo" took off cleanly and mounted easily a thousand feet. The ! machine then circled three times round the aerodrome, the crew waving vigorously until out of sight. The crew received sheaves of letters and telegrams until the moment of departure, including messages from Prince Albert, Mr. Winston Churchill (Minister for War), and General Sir F. H. Sykes (Director of Civilian Flying). They carry dispatches to the Governor-General of Australia and others. There was a 25-35 mile wind at 2000 feet over the Channel and .in the north of France, with some detached ctouds, but the weather generally, was propitious. Visibility was fair. MANY WANT TO FLY, MYSTEHY OF CAPTAIN MATTHEWS. Received Nov. 24, 5.5 p.m. London, Nov. 21. Though the adventures already attendant on the Australia flight have shown the grim hazards of the enterprise flyers remain undeterred. Young Australians are pleading with every manufacturer to provide aeroplanes. The Bristol Company hns a list of more than 100 men eager to embark, and other companies are in a similar position. The numbers are gradually thinning as the men are called up for j repatriation, but the boys wait till the! last moment, hoping to get a "bus." The newspapers are mystified regard-, ing Captain Matthews, and are discussing whether he crashed somewhere in Germany and was interned. The Air Ministry states that nothing definite has been heard since November 2. Captain Matthews did not ask permission to fly over Germany, and if he landed there he would probably he imprisoned. —United Service. Received Nov. 24, 10.25 p.m. London, Nov. 21. Sopwiths state that Captain Matthews telegraphed on the 19th inst. that he was held up in two feet, of snow at Gourzenheim, and suggesting that he should return to England and re-start. Sopwiths replied: "Keep on." They are not concerned with the prize, but wish that the machine-should reach Australia without unnecessary risks. Received Nov. 25, 12.20 a.m. London, Nov. 21. Captain Matthews is at Dagsburg. He is detained owing to eighteen inches of snow. His machine is in excellent con-dition.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. CAPTAIN ROSS SMITH. HIS FLIGHT IN THE EAST. Sydney, Nov. 24. The Sun's special cable from Captain Ross Smith states that, after leaving Cairo, he flew along the coast to Gaza and thence inland across the Sea of Galilee to Damascus, thence to Tadmor, and across the desert to Abu Kamel. He followed the Euhprates and thence, via Bagdad, to Kut, the Garden of Eden to Basra. The weather, till the last day, was blowy and rainy, which militated against good flying. THE FLIGHT AT A GLANCE. M. Poulet.—Left Paris, Oct. 14, and arrived at Karachi, Nov. 11. Left Karachi Nov. 18. Captain Matthews.—Left London Oct. 21st. On November 21st, he reached Dugsburg, 100 miles south-west of Maytnce (on the Rhine). Captain Ross Smith.—Left London, Nov. 12, arrived at Basra (on the Persian Gulf), Nov. 20. Lieut. Rendle ("Kangaroo"). Left London, Nov. 21. Arrived at Romilly, near Paris, the same day. Colonel Douglas.—Started from Surbiton, hear London, Nov. 13. The machine crashed, and be and Lieut. Ross were killed.