THE FLIGHT.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 January 1920, Page 5

THE FLIGHT.

THE SURBiTON DISASTER.

NO DEFECTS IN MACHINE.

■ ■ ' %*■. •: By Telegraph.—Press Assn.-SCopyrleat, Received Jan". 1, 1.30 a.m. London, Dec. 30. _ The Air Ministry report on the Surbiton disaster shows that the machine was first flown on October 17, the total flying time being twenty hours. The damage sustained on November 2nd was repaired and Captain Douglas subsequently made lour flights, amounting to about two hours. On the day before the flight, during a trial flight, the machine carried greater weight than on the day of the disaster. The pilot and navigator were both experienced. Douglas' total flying time wu 363 hours, and Ross' 212 hours. After the accident all the control cables were intact and serviceable. The engine, when stripped, disclosed no defect «cept that due to the impact.—Aus,&Z. Cable Assn.

CAPTAIN SIR ROSS SMITH. DISAPPOINTMENT AT ACCIDENT. Received January 2, 12.5 a.m. Sydney, Jan. 1. Captain Sir Ross Smith, in a letter, Bays that he almost wept when the accident happened. It seemed so silly to come so far and then meet trouble just at the last.

He says that he is going to try torepair the damage, and will do his best to reach Sydney with the machine. He contemplates making the paTts required, which will take about a month.

In another letter he says he hopes to fly to Sydney early in February.—Aug.N.Z. Cable Assn.

"WHAT WILL MOTHER SAY?" London, Dec. 29. When Sir' Ross Smith waß informed that he had been knighted he exclaimed: "Oh rot, what a joke.' His brother Keith said*"Great Scott, what on earth will mother say to having two knights knocking about the place?"

POULET'S PLANS. VEATHER Df SIAM UNSUITABLE. Received January 2,12.5 a.m. Allahabad, Jan. 1.

Poulet, interviewed, said that he was pleased that his friends were subscribing for a new aeroplane to enable hull to continue his journey to Australia, but unless he received an order from the French Government to continue the flight he would return to France. He considers the present season unsuitable, owing to fog over the Siamese frontier being worse than ever, and the rest of the route not good. His present intention is to return some time in 1920 to finish the journey to Australia under the most favorable condi-tions.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

CAPTAIN MATTHEWS. TRYING EXPERIENCES. London, Dec. 2. Mail advices from Captain Matthews, dated Belgrade, show that he was unable to get supplies of petrol in Vienna and was hampered by fogs, rain and snow all through his journey. He was forced to descend in a fog within a hundred miles of Belgrade, where armed men surrounded and arrested both Captain Matthews and Sergeant Kay and took their papers. The aviatoTS Were imprisoned four days in a small room 10ft square and fed on bread and pigs' fat. Ultimately, becoming desperate, they broke away from their captors, succeeded in reaching their machine, ascended in a dense fog and managed to reach the aerodrome at Novisad, 45 miles from Belgrade, which was occupied by French officers. They then had only 20 gallons of petrol left.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.