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Ashburton Guardian, Volume 48, Issue 79, 13 January 1928, Page 5

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THE MISSING AIRMEN.

’PLANE TO COVER WIDE AREA. WEST COAST OF BOTH ISLANDS. FURTHER. REPORTS OF SIGHTING. /Per Press Association.) BLENHEIM, This Day. Owing to the absence from Wellington of Major Wilkes (Director of Air Services) no instructions had. been received by Captain Buckley up to late last night in connection with the continuation of the aerial search for the Tasman flyers. At 7 o’clock this morning Captain Buckley succeeded m getting into touch with Major Wilkes by telephone-. He then received orders to leave Blenheim, fly to Cape Farewell, turning there and flying southward around the coast as far.as Karamea and returning direct to Blenheim. At the conclusion of this patrol, Captain Buckley has been ordered to fly to New Plymouth, a distance of about 470 tm'lga by air line from Blenheim. As frig fuel supply will not be sufficient for a return to Blenheim he will probably I«nd at Trentham, Considerable time was spent this morning in going over the De Havilanu, making adjustments to the engine, which did not function too well m the latter portion of-the flight yesterday. The cruise to Cape Farewell and the northern portion of the West Coast of the South Island was commenced at ILK) this morning. FORCED JO RETURN. BLENHEIM, This Day. Captain Buckley was forced to return at 12.20 owing to engine trouble. Visibility was bad.

OVER THE TARARUAS. WELLINGTON, This Day. ’ The sky is somewhat cloudy but the weather ip fine. Captain Findlay got .away from Trentham at 9.55 to resume his aeroplane search over the Tararuas. WARSHIP LEAVES AUCKLAND. AUCKLAND, This Day. The warsHp Diomede sailed, at 11.30 this morning to join in the search for the missing aviators. SIGNALS ARRANGED. RADIO STATION NOTIFIED. (Received This Day, 12.50 p.m.) SYDNEY, This Day. > Regarding wireless signals coming from the monoplane “Ao-tea-Roa,” it is stated that though Captain Hood Twirl only an elementary knowledge of the Morse code, and could transmit only single letters slowly, he was given a series of code letter signals, consisting of from, two to four letters, indicating that it was the Ryan monoplane calling. The call signs and the interpretation code were sept by wireless to Government Radio Station at Wellington and to ships within wireless distance of Sydney and Wellington, but it is considered doubtful if any wireless operator who was not in possession of the call signs and code signals could _ interpret any wireless message received as coming from t-he monoplane At Richmond aerodrome, while finally attending the engines, Lieutenant Moncrieff was handed a small pocket flash-lamp, which he retained. This, however, if used for signalling, would be visible only a very short distance. It could not possibly have been seen from the monoplane when 3000 feet up, assuming that the airmen were using it to signal, unless with the aid of most powerful night glasses. Air Mechanic Ward, who assisted to get the ’plane off, states that he gave 'Lieutenant Moncrieff two bundles of ■cotton waste and a length of tubing as he sat at the controls. This would enable him to saturate the waste with petrol and drop two or three flares. REPORT FROM WELLINGTON. SEEN BY FIFTY PEOPLE.

WELLINGTON, This Day. Other observers now corroborate the story that the ’plane was seen from Mount Victoria, above Wellington. It is asserted that it was plainly visible over Island Bay and headed north, passing behind the hills to the westward, which would coincide with the report of its appearance at Paekakariki. It is positively alleged that 50 people or more saw it and raised a loud cheer. Farther calculation by radio men, based on the last signals, are that at 5.30 p.m. the machine was only 100 in3es from Wellington. HEARD AT OTAKI. STATEMENT BY TWO RESIDENTS. OTAKI, This Day. A local resident of standing, says he and his wife distinctly heard an aeroplane pass over, going in the direction of MiHtinborough. They are willing to sign an affidavit to this effect. WANCANU! SETTLERS' STORY. WANGANUI, This Day. A man named Winter, a resident of Maxwell (about 15 miles from Wanganui) telephoned to the “Wanganui Herald” this morning that he and five other residents saw the ’plane at 8.40 pu Tuesday night. He added that he

had intended to come into Wanganui to-day and give a sworn statement it necessary to the postmaster. Maxwell is high up, and on a clear day residents would have a splendid view of the sea for a considerable distance. FURTHER REPORTS RECEIVED. WELLINGTON, This Day. The Secretary of the General Post Office has received further messages in reference to the aeroplane. One from Wanganui says that six persons at Maxwell sa\v it. Manakau, near Otaki, reports that two settlers named Kilgour distinctly heard the drone of a ’plane, which stampeded calves in a paddock close by. Mr C. A. Kiddy, of Pet one, states that he was on top of Horowiki, looking out over the Straits with his wife and brother-in-law, and saw a red glow after the ’plane was reported off Stephen Island. The ’plane was travelling toward Trentham, but he could not hear the motor or see the outline of the machine.

MISTAKEN FOR AEROPLANE. CLAY PATCH ON HILLSIDE. WELLINGTON, This Day. The Petone police received word about three o’clock yesterday afternoon that what was thought to be the missing aeroplane could Be seen in the Horokiwi Hills, near the Government trig station, ' between Porirua and Trentham. Constable MacNamara proceeded to investigate, and after % a rather warm tramp over several miles of hilly country found the "aeroplane” to be a patch of bare clay which, although not by any means freshly formed, had not previously been noted by local residents.