HELD TO RANSOM.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 200, 24 August 1928, Page 7

HELD TO RANSOM.

FLYERS IN MOROCCO.

Frenchmen Reported In Pitiable Plight. WIFE'S IMPASSIONED PLEA. ("Times" Cables.) LONDON, August 23. The Paris correspondent of the Times" reports that grave anxiety is felt about the French airmen, MMs. Reine and Serre. Moors have been holding them to ransom since they were forced to land at Rio de Oro, Spanish West Africa, early in July, while they were en route to South America. The situation is complicated by the fact that a powerful tribe is threatening to exterminate the tribe which captured the airmen, unless they secure the release of Moorish prisoners now in French hands, as well as a high ransom. A French official visited Rio de Oro, but he did not secure the release of the airmen. It is reported that his failure was due to the Government refusing to exchange prisoners. To send a relief expedition is not possible, because Rio de Oro is situated in the Spanish zone. ( The airmen have sent letters to their families telling of their pitiable condition. They say they cannot wash and are covered with vermin. Madame Serre has written an indignant letter to the newspapers protesting against the Government's attitude in leaving the airmen to their fate while it waits for the Moors' cupiditv to abate. She demands the release of the prisoners by the payment of the ransom.

HOPE REVIVED. Chances Held Out For America's Lost Flyers. ONTARIO TO GREENLAND HOP. (United Service.) (Received 11 a.m.) MONTREAL, August 23. The Danish sheriff of South Greenland reports that there is a new hope for the missing American aviators Hassell and Cramer, who left Rockford Illinois, to fly to Stockholm, Sweden, in three hops, being on the second from Cochrane, Ontario, to Greenland, when they were last sighted. The sheriff reports that the aviators may have actually gained the Greenland coast and possibly landed in some outlying Eskimo settlement. The 'plane was distinctly seen early on Sundav near Fiskenesset. DOLE FLIGHT SEQUEL. Last Message In Floating Bottle. WRITTEN BY MISS DORAN. (United Service.) SAN FRANCISCO, August 23. An apparently genuine message from Miss Mildred Doran, who was lost in the air race from California to Hawaii for the Dole prize in August last year, has floated ashore in a bottle at Aberdeen, State of Washington. The message, which i 3 written on faded paper, and is scarcely decipherable, runs:—"Gas all gone, water running low; been floating four days. (Signed) Mildred."

The race from Oakland, California, to I Honolulu, for a prize of £5000 given by Mr. Dole, a wealthy fruitgrower, was contested by four 'planes. They started on August 16, and the Woolaroc and the Aloha reached HonoJulu. The Golden Eagle, with two airmen, and the Mias Doran, which carried Misa Doran and Mr. J. A. Hdlar. pilot, and Lieutenant V. R. Knop, navigator, were not seen again. Miss Doran, who was 22, was a school teacher of Flint, Michigan.

ATLANTIC ATTEMPT.

LEVTSTE BUYS A JUNKERS

(Australian and N.Z. Press Aisociation.) LONDON, August 23.

The first passenger to cross the Atlantic in a 'plane, Mr. Charles Levinc, who flew with Mr. Clarence Chamberlin in June last, from New York to Germany, flew yesterday to Berlin, with the intention of purchasing a Junker monoplane, with which he says he will attempt a non-stop transatlantic flight Miss Mabel 8011, who desired to accompany Mr. Levine and Mr Chamberlin on thn

flight back to New York which was not undertaken, announces that she hopes to accompany him.

'PLANE CRASHES. OCCUPANTS BURNED TO DEATH (Australian and S.Z. Press Association.) LONDON, August 23. Two pioneer members of the Nottingham Aero Club were flying in a Moth 'plane when it crashed near Hacknell. The machine burst into flames, and the pilot, Mr. Robert Blake, a son of Sir Arthur Blake, High Sheriff of tho County of Nottingham, and the passenger, Mr. William Richardson, were burned to death. Some Boy Scouts who were camping j near the spot rushed with water buckets, but were unable to approach 1 within 20yds of the burning machine.