The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-06-05
AIR PIONEERS
ACCLAIMED IN
TROPIC ISLES
Natives and Whites Join to
Laud AviatorS' Success
in Stormy Voyage.
DELAY NEXT H0P0FF
Start for Australia win Not
Be Made Before End
of Week.
DELAY NEXT HoPoFF
BY SIR MAYNARD HEDSTROM
United Press Special Correspondent

United Press Special Correspondent
SUVA, Fiji Islands, June 6
CWednesday)-Dropping down from
a blue tropical sky, the monoplane
Southern Cross Tuesday completed
the longest ocean flight ever at
tempted.
All of the Fiji islands seemed to
be participating in the welcome as
the Southern Cross came to a stop
on the green cricket field, finishing
its fight from Hawaii.
A sapphire sea, the coral reefs.
palm trees and the sudden flight Of
frightened birds, added to the beau
ty Of the landing scene.
Natives, shrieking jubilantly,
Fushed the defense guard which had
surrounded the field as requested in
radio messages from the plane as
1t neared the islands.
Today natives and whites joined
In honoring the four airmen.
Sir Eyre Hutson, governor Of the
Fijis, gave luncheon for Captain
Kingsford-Smith and his compan-
ions.
Natives Arrange Ceremony
Later they will be guests at a re-
ception attended by civic authorities
and army and navy officers sta
toned in Suva.
Not to be outdone in hospitality
by the white race, native chiefs
were arranging a ceremony at which
the f1iers will be welcomed by the
Fiji tribes.
The natives regarded with awe the
four men who came flying out Of the
skies.
Capt. Charles Kingsford- Smith
and his three fellow adventurers
ended their 3,138-mile voyage from
Barking Sands, Hawaii, at 2:23 p. m.
Tuesday 1928 p. m. Monday, Pa
cif1c Coast tine.)
The flight, their second hope in a
Iong journey over the Pacific to
Australia, was over an untried air
route which led the Australian
American crew of four through
threatening tropical squalls and
other dangers in the trail-blazing
hop over the South Seas.
Kingsford-Smith snd his COM
panions probably will not begin the
last stage of their epochal flight
from California to Australia before
the end of the week.
Become Idols of Islands
Meanwhile the four white men,
who have become the idols of these
islands, will overhaul the three
motors of their big plane, recharge
their radio batteries and search for
a suitable clearance from which
they can take off for the 1,7o0 mile
flight to Sydney.
The 450-foot clearing where the
Southern Cross landed, is too small
for take off with loaded plane
although 1t was perfect for landing.
Since dawn Sunday, when they
hoped off from the island of
Kauai, the f1iers had been in the
air "a hours and 33 minutes.
Their trip from Oakland airport
to Suva was nearly eleven days
ahead Of the fastest time ever made
by an ocean liner.
The greatest welcome ever accord
ed in these islands was given to
Captain Kingsford- Smith, Capt.
Charles T. P. Uln1, relief pilot Harry
w. Lyon, navigator, and James
Warner, radio operator.
Gee, we're glad to be here
Kingsford-Smith said, "but we are
tired."'
The crew Of the plane appeared
refreshed today after a night Of
slunber.
Cover 5.546 Miles
In the hop completed today and
the one from Oakland airport to
Honolulu last week, the Southern
Cross covered a distance of 5546
miles of the Pacific. Before them
now lies a 1,795-mile sea fight to
Brisbane, then a 50O-mile hop over
the continent of Australia to Sgd
ney. Upon arriving there they will
have covered a total distance Of
nearly 5000 miles.
The Southern Cross took off from
Oakland airport last Thursday
morning and landed little more
than q day later at Wheeler Field,
Honolulu, the fifth plane ever to
make the nonstop trip from the
California mainland to Hawaii.
The day after its arrival the plane
again was tuned up and taken from
Wheeler field to Barking Sands, the
only place on the islands that af-
forded a runway long enough to
lift the seven-ton ship into the air.
Arising before dawn, Sunday, the
four airmen roared away from the
island of Kauai and sailed out over
the untried, storm -buffeted air lane