Enthusiastic Reception at Westminster on Arrival After Flight to Australia and Back:. The King's Message: Another Historic Achievement: Flight Difficulties Overcome London, Oct, 1.
Capt, Alan Cobham's great flight to Australia and back ended to-day when in the presence of immense crowds of Londoners on the Embankment and in buildings on both sides of the river his seaplane, alighted on the Thames opposi the Houses of Parliament. The weather conditions were ideal and the sun was shining brightly. roar of cheering announced that the machine was in sight. Flying at. a low attitude Capt. Cobham follow. ed the course of the river to Hammer smith and on returning circled twice over Westminister Bridge before gliding down to make a perfect contact with the river. The machine was quickly moored and Capt, Cobham followed by his mechanics was brought by motor Munch to the terrace of Parliament, The terrace was crowded with! Cabinet Ministers, peers and Men bers of Parliament, with their ladies, India was represented by the Maharajah of Bugowan, who is here. to attend the Imperial Conference, and another noteworthy personage present was Prince Feisal, heir of the King of the Hedjaz, On a raised platform sat those who were to take a more immediate part in. the reception. In the centre was. Sir Samuel Hoare, Air Minister, Mrs. Cobham on his left, The others included Air-Marshal Sit Sefton Brancker, Sir R. Waterhouse representing the Prime Minister, Mr, Whitley, Speaker of the House} of Commons, and Sir C, Wakefield. Tt was chiefly through the action of Sir C. Wakefield, " generous supporter of British' aviation, in comte ing forward with " large' financial contribution that the necessary funds were secured for Mr. Cobham's flight and it was in acknowldeiement. of this that the flight was officially. called "Si Wakefield's Might to} Australi The King's Message There was an affecting meeting, Between Mrs. Cobham and her point of view, for they had shown that with adequate care and safeguards they could be surmounted. Throughout the whole journey there had been no delay due to machine or engine failure in spite of the fact that they had not had a complete overhaul since leaving England. His progress: had been hindered only by other _uncontrollable causes such as the sad tragedy that befell him in the loss of his former mechanic, the search for seaplane bases in the Persian Gulg and adverse weather. Referring to the weather he encountered off the Burnia coast on the home-1rd journey Capt, Cobham said that lad never experienced such, rain yur to five inches falling daily for five days. He had been most unfortunate for he had struck the worst storm of the monsoon period and try as he could he could not get Qehind it. But in those Iocalities even mail boats were some times as much as 48 hours late and there was nothing to do but wait for the storm to subside. Even the storms had put them in possession of valuable data for future use.
Chance for the Balloon Capt. Cobham said that throughout his whole journey he found the Keenést interest displayed in the prospects of commercial air routes ing opened and particularly down the Malay Peninsula—from Calcutta, to Singapore—there were hundreds of ideal seaplane bases. He anticipated that neither seaplanes nor aeroplanes would in future be used exclusively on the route to Australia. He anticipated that travellers would {go by rail to Marseilles, boat to wroplane to Karachi, rail to seaplane to, Port Darwin plane norers Australia. But} was not sure that lighter thai would not be more Suitable for. some sections of the] route. He believes than in Autralia there is an immense future for aviation, particularly by privately. owned small machines which Would link up isolated districts. husband: then tremendous cheering broke out from the assemblage on the terrace and the spectators on Westminster Bridge and the Thames) Embankment.
Capt, Cobham was thi warmly greeted with many! hearty handshakes.
Sir Samuel Hoare opened the formal reception by reading the following message from the King: "On, your safe return from Australia I offer you a cordial welcome and con-
Press Tributes newspapers this morning] ing articles to Capt. Alan Cobham's home-coming. Apart from the fact that the airman's achievement is a triumph for man and rouchine, it is emphasized (that, his successful fight to An tralia, following his previous voy-"ages to India and to South Africa, 1as_ wide importanee—an imperial gratulate you heartily on the suc- importance The "Daily Telegraph cessful termination of yet another remarks: "In our times the question historic flight." Sir Samuel proof imperial communications has be-cootied to offer the welcome of th come one of paramount importance British people to Capt. Cobham and, The future of our Empire may be Sergeant Ward and Mr. Capel, his' {said to depend largely on the extent mechanics. He said he was glad to to which its constituent parts can welcome them on the terrace of the [be brought nearer to one another in of Commons—on of the most "time. Mr. Cobham has been able and centres of the to show by actual achievement that British Empire. For generations good deal is already possible in past men who had served the State this direction. had been received there year after The "Morning Post" says: "Mr. year but this was unique occasion Cobham holds that the use of the for the Terrace of Westminister wa aeroplane may be so effective in now receiving one of the greatest the opening up of new countries pilot pioneers of the Empire. that the initial cost of establishing 'After paying tribute to Capt. new routes in such territories should Cobham's achievement, not only in, be regarded as an investment which this flight to Australia, but in hi would be well repaid. In respect of us flights to India and South'
Mr. Cobham, who fle the Air Minister said that from the North to the South of that was not all that Capt, Cobham had continent, considers that aerial done. "I venture to say that s 2 transport "would bring immense pilot he. has succeeded where developments. It is in view of these Politicians sometimes fail, by bring, Practical conclusions, together with ing the peoples of the Empire more dosaly together both in body and ming." He concluded with an cxpression of sympathy for the mother of the mechanic, Elliott, who while: accompanying Capt. Cobham was shot by an Arab at Basra, the salient and indisputable fact that Mr. Cobham has flown to Autralia and back, that the intrepid pilot may justly be described as} the pioneer of imperial communica ions."
Bfr, Cobham has also, it is re-
'A Commercial Fact In\an interview later, Capt. Cobham emphasized that the whole purpose of his flight was to demonstrate that. aviation was no longer mere hazardous adventure but a serious eonimercial proposition. Even the! difficulties, encountered during the flight had proved valuable from this His facile landing on the Thames yesterday at the conclusion of hi Journey t othe ends of the earth has undoubtedly struck the popular The "Daily News" remarks that the mere act of flying-over s0 mary countries and seas stirs the mind
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.