AERIAL MAIL.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 December 1919, Page 5

AERIAL MAIL.

BRITAIN TO AUSTRALIA. A JOURNEY BY "SECTIONS By TeleEraph.—Press Assn.—Copyileht. Received Dec. 14, 5.5 p.m. Darwin, Dec. 14. Captain Ros3 Smith, interviewed regarding the possibility of a commercial aerial service between England and Australia, suggested a division of the route into sections as follows:—London to Cairo, thence to Calcutta, to Singapore, Darwin, and Melbourne. The first Btage, with the co-operation of Britain, France, and Italy, could easily be arranged. The next stage, Cairo to Calcutta, is already being considered by the Indian Government, which is contemplating the establishment of an aerial mail in the near future, and is arranging to erect aerodromes from Calcutta onwards. Owing to jungle and swamp between Singapore and Java, the Dutch Government constructed an aerodrome at Banka Island. There are also some good aerodromes in Western Java, but the one at Sourabeya is unsuitable. Captain Ross Smith favors seaplanes in preference to aeroplanes for a portion of the route, owing to the necessity of following the coast, and where suitable seaplane harbors exist, but where there is no good landing place for aeroplanes. Captain Ross Smith thinks that the danger of an aerial attack from Asia is very real. There would be no need for 'planes to travel long distances. They could simply be released from a parent aerodrome ship, to which they would return after their deadly work was accomplis' :d.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Ossn.