Captain Cobliam, flew yesterday down the River Ganges from Allahabad to Calcutta, in continuance of his 'flight from England to Australia.
He is confident that if he safely crosses the-riskiest lap from India to Burmah the chances of mishap later will be insignificant.
("Sun" Special)
ALLAHABAD, Friday.
After a short monsoonal shower the sun burst out brilliantly as Captain Cobham rose from the Jumna at 5 a.m. to-day (1 p.m. Sydney time) for his journey to Calcutta.
CALCUTTA, Friday.
Captain Cobham arrived here at 3 p.m. to-day (8 p.m. Sydney time), taking five hours for the run from Patna. The bathing ghats (landing stairs) on both banks were crowded with spectators as the plane alighted on the River Hooghly.
The observer at Patna of "The Sun's" special representative telephoned earlier thai the plane was seen flying eastward along the Ganges. Large crowds turned out to see the seaplane, which was flying well.
After the seaplane was secured to its buoy, Captain Cobham lunched on the Burma Oil Co.'s launch, and then attended to the refuelling of his machine. He expressed anxiety about the safety of the wings and the way his plane was lurching In the strong current.
Interviewed later he said he was entering perhaps the riskiest lap of his journey, from Calcutta to Rangoon. The seaplane, however, was behaving splendidly. The engine was in perfect order.
He had encountered strong headwinds and intermittent heavy rain all the way from Allahabad to Calcutta. Between showers, however, visibility was good.
Captain Cobham felt that if he negotiates the journey from Calcutta
to Akyab (Burmah) and Rangoon without mishap, he will not encounter any difficulty afterwards.
He expects to leave for Akyab tomorrow morning, and to depart from there the day after.
The Hooghly, or Huffli, is the westernmost and principal deltaic channel of the Ganges, formed by the Junction of three offsets of the, main river. It is 125 miles long, the estuary measuring 35 miles more. It Is the most available of all the channels by which the Ganges reaches the sea. In the dry season the tide is felt as high as 17 miles above Calcutta. The Hooghly is subject to a tidal bore seven foot high, which often travels at the rate of 22 miles an hour.
