A SERIES OF MISHAPS.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 February 1920, Page 5

A SERIES OF MISHAPS.

PROLONGED FLIGHT TO AUSTRALIA. CAPTAIN MATTHEWS' MISFORTUNE. By Telejrapii.—Press Asm.—Copyright. _ . Sydney, Feb. 10. Captain G. C. Matthews cables from Bunder Abbas on the Sth stating that he left Bushire at dawn on February 3 for Karachi, a direct distance of 1100 miles. He struck a blinding sandstorm after 300 miles and was forced to land on a shelying beach twenty miles west of Bunder Abbas in a cross wind travelling 40 nules an hour. A high tide was also running. "We crashed, and the machine was b&dly damaged, but we aro .trying to reuaiv here. Both are well."—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

[Since Captain G. C. Matthews left Hounslow on October 21 to attempt to fly to Australia, he lias encountered consisteivt bad fortune. Arriving at Cologne on October 20, iio was delayed there for nearly a fortnight by'an accident on landing. Cn November 5 he reached Mayence, and was there snow-bound until the beginning of December. Eventually he reached Vienna, but, unable to obtain petrol there, he was obliged to make fur Belgrade. Forced tp descend before reaching the Sen-inn capital, he fell irjto the hands of Jugo-Slavs, who made him prisoner, believing him to be a Bolshevik. 71c managed to escape after four days, but on hits arrival at Belgrade ho was detained for a month by snow-storms. At Constantinople, engine trouble overtook him. He had to mend a cracked cylinder as best he could, and after much'hard work he proceeded to Aleppo safely. Even then he waa held for one weok by cgiMjinuous rain.j ■I I fr 1 !