Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1919-07-13
A|RPLANE TO
MAKE FLIGHT
FROM. CAIRO
TO The CAPE
British Royal Air Force Will
Cross Darkest Africa in
Air; Start Survey
of the Route.
By Universal Service.

London, July 1.-THE royal air
force, middle east, was left in
position to inaugurate at once the
preparation for establishing post
war aerial routes when the cessation
of hostilities against Turkey came,
on October 81, 1918. Advantage was
taken of the favorable opportun-
ity by Major General Salmond and
parties were selected to survey the
possible air routes from Cairo to
the cape.
1t may at first seem strange that
Africa, one of the least explored
continents, should be chosen as the
first over which to make a trans
continental air service, but the
Cape-to-Cairo route possesses the
great advantage, from the air force
point Of view, Of being entirely un.
der British control. There wa.
consequently no delay in negotiat
ing with other powers.
Two years previously the route
from Sollum to Cairo had beea used
by Major MacLaren when flying
from England to Egypt, and over
this preliminary portion of the jour
ney from England aerodromes had
been established at Sollum, Mersa,
Martruh and Amria (at the edge Of
the Delta, near Alexandria). while
intermediate landing grounds had
been cleared for use in emergency.
Planes in Sudan in 1918.
Also in 1915 aeroplanes had beer
employed in the Sudan against All
| Dinar of Darfur, and an aerodrome
had been constructed at Khartum.
In the absence of good maps o.
the Southern Sudan or Central
Africa it was a problem at Cairo
to pick out proposed route. but
with help from the Air Ministry in
London preparations were pushed
on with such speed that in about a
month after the signing of the ar
mistice with Turkey No. African
survey party was ready to start.
Parties Nos. 2 and 3 were ready
few weeks later.
The continent was divided into
three sections; No. party was to
survey Egypt, the Sudan, and as far
south as Victoria Nyanza; No. 2
covered the central stretch from
| Victoria Nyanza (partly through
what was German East Africa Kit.
uta, at the southern end of the Lake
Tangaryika; No. party had to in
spect the line from Kituta to Cape
Town.
Followed the Nile.
The first party, which had the
longest but easiest stretch to cover,
followed the course of the Nile
almost throughout and were aided
by that river in the transportation
of men and stores. The second
party had a short stretch over little
known country. presenting immense
difficulties from every point OF
view. The southern party covered
tremendous distance, but followed
the course of the railway almost
throughout.
1t was intended that each officer
should at once proceed to one or
more stations on the route and Sc
lect an aerodrome site. He was
then to engage local native labor to
clear and prepare the spot, advising
the leader of his party Of the prog
ress made. Supplies of petrol and
Gil were carried, so that the aero
dromes might be ready to receive
aeroplanes as soon as the sites
were cleared.
Each party consisted of the
leader, five to eight other officers
and less than twenty other ranks,
all chosen from the Royal Air
Force in the Middle East.
The Route Outline.
In the original instructions the
following were the stations to be in
vestigated. The route prepared by
headquarters, Middle East. has been
followed out and found very salts
factory: Nl
No. party Commanded by
y ajor Long, D. S. O).-Cairo
Assiut. Assuan, Wadi Halfa, Meroe.
Atbara, Khartum. Kodok Gas
hoda), Gondokoro, Jinga, Port
Victoria.
No. 2 party Commanded by
Major Emmett).-Mlunza (south
end of victoria Nyanza), Viii.
kituta. .asyea
No, party Commanded by Ma
ior Court Treatt) .-Abercorn (near
Kituta), Broken Hill, Livingstone.
Salisbury, Buluwayo. Palachwe
Mafeking Cor Kimberley-Pretoria).
Bloemfontein, Beaufort West Cape
Town.
The three leaders of the expedi-
ton are all we'll fitted for the work
required. Major Emmett being q
well-known big-game hunter and
Major Court-Treatt having shortly
before the war journeyed through
the Sahara to Timbuktu.