New Britain herald., 1928-06-06

Smith failed to appear for this part
OF the festivities, the officials ex
pressed the opinion the duty of 10
eating a runway had kept the flight
commander away from the recep-
ton.
The officials warmly applauded
the aviators feat and said it demon
strated the possibility of future use
Of airplanes as means of regular
communication between the United
States and Australia.
''All of You are pioneers in this
special enterprise" the governor
said, and your names will be known
in history as having started and
shown such a flight was possible"
The four fliers were guests OF
honor at ball and afterwards
substantial cash presentation was
made to them by the Fiji colonists.
The Southern Cross, loaded with
about 600 gallons of gasoline and oil.
will require a straight level run OF
considera Bile length. much greater
than the $50 yard stretch on which
they landed in Albert Park Tuesday
monday Pacific date),
Harry W. Lyon, who naNigated
the plane from Oakland to Hawaii.
thence to Suva. and James Warner,
i radioman. are to accompany Kings
ford Smith and Tim to Brisbane at
least This announcement quoted
rumors that the two Americans
were 20 be dropped from the expedi-
ton in Suva.
The two pilots are not expected to
have any trouble hitting Australia
unless they encounter tropical
storms. Their problem will be mere
ly to stay in the air until They strike
the broad front OF their homeland
This point of contact should be at
brisbane.
From Brisbane they are to ny
500 miles southwark either along
the coast or over mountain ranges
to Sydney. the finish post of their
$500 mile course across the Pacific
ocean from Oakland.
The f1iers have received no end of
praise from the native and Euro
pean residents of the Fiji Islands
since the plane landed here. The
legislative council of the Fiji Brit
ish colony adopted a formal resolu-
ton yesterday congratulating Cap
+; tain Kingsford- Smith and his COM
| pa Mons on their safe arrival.
Governor Hutson, voicing an ex-
preston of appreciation, said that
the British empire was proud OF the
performance of the Southern Cross
and its crew.
Even the native Fijians came
forth with honors for the fliers.
During a ball given In the Grand
Pacific hotel, Fijian chiefs staged
the impressive qaloqalovi ceremony
in which they presented to the air
men the coveted Tabua whales
teeth. To receive such a gift is the
highest honor a Fijian chief can be-
stow.
! In checking their plane for the
Brisbane hop. the aviators found
that the Southern Cross arrived
here with only 80 gallons Of gaso-
line remaining in Its tanks. 1t was
estimated this supply would have
kept the ship in the air only about
an hour. The tanks contained about
'1,27n gallons of gasoline at the start
Of the 3,l3S miles from Kauai, Ha-
wall.
! Suva, Fiji Islands, June 8 ttP)-
Eager to reach the shores Of Aus
tralia, the air pioneers of the South
ern Cross tonight plotted the course
Of their last l,795 miles across the
Pacific.
The flight TO Brisbane. on which
Captain Charles kingsford-Smith
and his three comrades leave the
latter part Of the week. will mark
the end Of their hazardous ocean
iourney-the longest ever attempted
over water. Only 500-mile hop
down the coast to Sydney remains
after that.
In Australia, the native land OF
ICaptain kingsford Smith and his
copilot, Captain Charles r. r. Tim,
one of the greatest homecomings in
the country's history awaits the
conquering heroes. 1t will furnish q
stirring climax to the achievement
of linking two Pacific continents by
air
While the world paid tribute to
them in a flood Of congratulatory
messages, the two Australians ana
their American companions, Navlga-
tor Harry w. Lyon and Radio Oper-
ator James Warner. speeded prepar-
atoms for the fight TO Brisbane.
The course, while shorter than
the two previous water jumps, is al
most as dangerous. The stretch OF
ocean between the Fijis and the
continent is a nest of typhoons. Nlo-
lent tropical gales, especially at this
time Of the year, are apt to sweep
down suddenly over this part of the
South Seas. Coral and volcanic Is
la nds dot the route. but 1t is doubt
full If safe landing could be made
on one OF them in fair weather
much less in a torn.
The bushy- haired inha bitants o.
the islands were CannlbalS until q
few years ago. Many Of them. never
having seen an airplane. would b'
. startled and frightened by their first
glimpse OF the giant silver-winget
bird roaring through the air over
head.
If weather conditions are good
however. the fiers should have ar
ideal voyage In the daytime the!
would sail over a placid blue sea
and at night be guided by tropi'